Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist 

The ESWS pin is worn on Navy uniforms and serves as an indicator of a Sailor's knowledge and proficiency in surface operations. It fosters a sense of unity among sailors, regardless of their specific roles on a ship, and emphasizes the importance of teamwork in achieving operational success. Earning the ESWS qualification is not only a personal achievement but also contributes to the overall effectiveness and readiness of the Navy's surface forces.

Features of the pin

The ESWS pin is a military badge of the United States Navy that is issued to those Naval personnel who are trained and qualified to perform duties aboard United States surface warships. The Surface Warfare Pin was first proposed in 1972 and, by 1980, several classes of the Surface Warfare Pin had been approved for issuance. There are presently five classes of the Surface Warfare Pin: Line, Supply, Staff, Special Operations, and Enlisted. The Line and Enlisted Surface Warfare Badges may be earned by United States Coast Guard personnel assigned to Navy commands.

Unlike other warfare pins available to enlisted and officers, the ESWS and SWO pins differ by more than just color (gold for officers and silver for enlisted is a common theme in U.S. Navy uniforms). The blade weapons behind the hull on the SWO pin are swords, symbols of naval officers and their authority, while those on the enlisted pin represented the cutlasses issued to enlisted sailors for battle in days of sail. The ship breaking through the water on the pin represents a “modern warship” of 1978.

The Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist (ESWS) pin, signifying expertise in shipboard operations, originated from a proposal in 1972, with the program officially approved by the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Thomas Hayward, on December 1, 1978, becoming a mandatory part of Navy training by 1997. The pin, which signifies completion of the ESWS program, became available for the first time in April 1979.

Qualification Requirements

To earn the ESWS pin, sailors must meet specific criteria:

• • Permanent Assignment: The individual had to be permanently assigned to a Navy afloat command (a surface ship).

  • Voluntary Participation: The program was initially voluntary; there are no financial rewards associated with it. It was the goal of every hard-charging petty officer to get their pin. Over the years, it gradually became mandatory for those seeking promotion to E-6, and then it became mandatory for all ranks. 

  • Experience: Must be a petty officer with at least 24 months of service on a surface ship.

  • Performance: Must have a performance mark in the top 30% for Chief Petty Officers (CPOs) and a score of 3.4 or higher for petty officers.

  • In-Rate Qualifications: A sailor needed to complete initial in-rate job qualifications within their division before starting the ESWS program.

  • Personnel Qualification Standards (PQS): The core of the program was the completion of various PQS manuals, which required knowledge in the following areas:

    • • • Damage Control: In-depth knowledge of firefighting, flood control, and other emergency procedures.

        • Engineering: Understanding the ship's propulsion and auxiliary systems.

        • Deck Operations: Knowledge of seamanship, anchoring, and flight deck operations (if applicable).

        • Combat Systems: General knowledge of the ship's weapons and sensor systems.

        • Ship's Maintenance and Material Management (3-M) System: Proficiency in the system used for maintenance scheduling and tracking.

        • Platform-Specific Knowledge: PQS included a "common core" of general naval knowledge, as well as specific PQS tailored to the type of ship (e.g., carrier, destroyer, etc.).

  • Ship Tours: The qualification process required personnel to tour various departments of the ship and have departmental representatives and qualified trainers sign off on their understanding of each major operating function.

  • Oral Examination Boards: After completing the PQS, a sailor had to pass a series of oral boards, culminating in a final board, often called the "Murder Board," conducted by senior enlisted leaders (E-7 to E-9) and/or senior officers, to demonstrate comprehensive knowledge.

  • Chain of Command Recommendation: The commanding officer's (CO) approval was the last step, based on recommendations through the chain of command. 

The ESWS qualification is a significant achievement for enlisted personnel in the U.S. Navy. It signifies a high level of expertise in surface warfare and is a key milestone in a sailor's career.

As of November 2020, the ESWS program has been updated to allow sailors more time to focus on their primary ratings and watch stations before enrolling in the ESWS program. This change aims to enhance the quality of training and ensure that Sailors are well-prepared before pursuing the ESWS qualification.