The Coast Guard has issued its new Response Operations Ashore Insignia (ROAI). In an Aug. 14, 2024, ceremony at Sector Maryland-National Capital Region, Capt. Mathew Fine formally inaugurated the new insignia and pinned Chief Petty Officer Ryan Bradford and Petty Officer 2nd Class Keo Brown.
Fine, who is chief of the Office of Shore Forces (CG-741), beamed as he introduced the new insignia. “This represents the first new Commandant-approved insignia across the service in over 20 years. We can now officially recognize the remarkable efforts and professionalism of the Response Ashore community in maritime safety, security, and stewardship. Our team is extremely proud to be a part of bringing this to fruition,” he said. The workforce was so excited about the new insignia, his office told MyCG, that the initial stock sold out almost immediately.
Perhaps the most excited members were Bradford and Brown, who were awarded permanent and temporary insignias, respectively. Bradford was moved by the honor of being pinned first. “It feels good to be one of the first to get the pin and be recognized for it,” he said. Brown felt especially proud to earn the award after serving in a range of roles and locations. “After so many years of being in the Coast Guard — I’ve been here for about eight years now, going on nine — getting an award like this is something special.”
First approved by Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Linda L. Fagan in 2023, the ROAI features a compass rose, framed by a life ring, overlapping a crossed oar, and rifle and surrounded by breaking wave crests. The insignia is pewter with gold accents on the compass rose, life ring, oar, and rifle. And it’s the first uniform device in the entire U.S. military that displays breaking wave crests.
The ROAI identifies members who are credentialed, trained, and experienced in executing the Coast Guard’s roles of maritime safety, security, and stewardship. Insignias are worn on members’ uniforms and signal members’ professional achievements.
The Office of Shore Forces spearheaded the insignia initiative, but the insignia itself was designed by Laura Young, a Coast Guard civilian employee at the Coast Guard's Clothing Design Technical Office (CDTO) in Natick, Massachusetts. She combined symbols submitted by CG-741 that reflect the response ashore community. Young is the service's expert on designing and certifying new Coast Guard devices and insignias.
It is a meticulous design process, Young told MyCG, in which every piece of an insignia is handpicked and carefully researched. “As much as I am the designer, what I’m really doing is facilitating the members’ vision,” she said.
How can I earn the insignia?
The ROAI has options for both a temporary and a permanent entitlement. The qualifying competencies are different depending on whether you are an officer, chief warrant officer, enlisted member, or civilian. Additionally, the Office of Shore Forces updated the eligibility criteria in April 2024 based on workforce feedback. The updated criteria are outlined in ALCOAST 190/24.
To earn a temporary entitlement: You must attain at least three qualifying competencies, be assigned to a response operations ashore billet, and be certified by an issuing authority (usually your unit commander).
To earn a permanent entitlement: You must attain at least four qualifying competencies, serve at least five years in a designated response operations ashore billet, and be certified by an issuing authority.
Members continue to be authorized to route insignia requests through their chain of commands. Once approved by the issuing authority, the accomplishment can be added to the member’s record. For details on how to apply for the insignia, please see the resources listed below. The insignia is expected to be available for purchase soon through the CG Exchange system.
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