United States Navy Miniature SSBN Deterrent Patrol Insignia

Criteria: The SSBN Deterrent Patrol Insignia is a uniform breast pin worn by officers and men of the United States Navy’s submarine service who have completed strategic deterrent patrols in nuclear ballistic missile submarines. It is the successor to the Submarine Combat Patrol Insignia awarded for submarine patrols during World War II.

Design of the SSBN pin shows a silver Lafayette-class submarine with superimposed Polaris missile and electron rings which signify the armament and nuclear powered characteristics of the FBM Deterrent Force. A scroll beneath the submarine holds up to six service stars, with one gold star authorized for each successful patrol (after the first, the pin being number one) or a silver star for five successful patrols. At twenty (20) successful patrols, the SSBN pin is upgraded to a gold design.

After the insignia was approved, awards were made retroactive to the first strategic deterrent patrol of USS George Washington (SSBN-598) which was completed on 21 January 1961. The strategic deterrent patrols of the Regulus missile boats were not initially deemed worthy of this insignia, but this decision was reversed in 2004.