United States Navy Miniature Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist Insignia

Criteria: The Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist (SCWS) insignia is a military insignia of the United States Navy. The warfare pin recognizes the training and qualifications of members who serve in Construction Battalions (CB or Seabees), or other construction units, in the United States Navy.

To be awarded the insignia, a service member must have completed the prescribed Naval Construction Force Personnel Qualification Standards (PQS), which entails required coursework, qualification tasks standards, written examination, and a field exercise. Upon final completion of all prescribed training, a “murder” board, which usually last eight hours, is taken. Upon completion of the “murder board,” a final board (usually two-fours) is given. Once the member has completed all of the above requirements, they are designated a Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist. The Seabee Combat Warfare insignia is primarily presented to members of the Civil Engineer Corps (CEC) or the Construction Battalions (CB); however, the insignia is not limited only to this branch of the Navy. Any sailor of any rate or any officer can qualify, given they are assigned to a qualifying unit (NMCB, UCT, CBMU, ACB, or as of late 2008, NCR) and have completed the prescribed course of instruction.

The insignia is issued in two degrees: silver for enlisted personnel and gold for officers. The insignia features an armed Seabee, superimposed over a crossed sword and rifle (a Springfield M1903) atop oak leaves. The Bee is also the insignia for the Navy Seabees as a whole.

The authorizing instruction, “Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist”, OPNAVINST 1410.1, Department of the Navy, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, DC 20350-2000, was released in March 1992. The design evolved over the coming months followed by approvals and production of the device. During the same period the initial applications for the insignia were prepared, reviewed and considered for approval.

The first person to wear this insignia was its designer Commander Ross S. Selvidge, CEC, USNR, at the Navy Reserve Center, Los Alamitos, CA, in March 1993.