View source for SSBN Deterrent Patrol insignia

{{Short description|US Navy uniform badge}}
{{multiple images|image1=Silver Navy Submarine Patrol Insignia.jpg|image2=SubGoldPatrol.jpg |align=right |direction=vertical |width=200 |caption2=SSBN Deterrent Patrol Pin, in silver and gold, without service stars.}}
The '''SSBN Deterrent Patrol Insignia''' is a uniform breast pin worn by officers and enlisted sailors of the [[United States Navy]]'s [[submarine]] service who have completed strategic deterrent patrols in [[nuclear weapons|nuclear ballistic or cruise missile]] submarines.  It is awarded for different criteria than the [[Submarine Combat Patrol Insignia]] awarded for submarine patrols during [[World War II]].<ref name="Hagan 2004"/><ref name="bupers2002"/>
Design of the SSBN pin shows a silver [[Lafayette class submarine|''Lafayette''-class submarine]] with superimposed [[Polaris missile]] and [[electron]] rings which signify the armament and nuclear-powered characteristics of the Fleet Ballistic Missile Deterrent Force.<ref name="Thornton1997"/> A scroll beneath the submarine holds up to six [[award stars]], with one gold star authorized for each successful patrol, or a silver star for five successful patrols. At twenty (20) successful patrols, the SSBN pin is upgraded to a gold design. This insignia qualifies the veteran as a combat veteran, making the veteran eligible to join the [[VFW]].

After the insignia was approved, awards were made retroactive to the first strategic deterrent patrol of [[USS George Washington (SSBN-598)|USS ''George Washington'' (SSBN-598)]] which was completed on 21 January 1961.  The strategic deterrent patrols of the five [[Regulus missile submarines]] were not initially deemed worthy of this insignia, but this decision was reversed in 2004.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.navynucweps.com/History/Regulus%20GMU10/RegulusPatrol.pdf |title=Patrol Insignia for Regulus veterans |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=Summer 1997 |website=Navy Nuclear Weapons Association |publisher= |accessdate=12 November 2014}}</ref>

The SSBN pin is worn on the left uniform pocket, typically below award ribbons.<ref name="bupers2002"/>  The badge is considered a "secondary insignia", meaning that the badge is worn secondary to a primary warfare pin, such as the [[Submarine Warfare insignia]].  Personnel eligible to wear other secondary submarine insignias, such as the [[Submarine Combat Patrol Insignia]] or the [[Deep Submergence Insignia]], may only wear one such insignia at a time according to their personal desire.  The badge does not need to be worn if the command does not require it.<ref name="bupers2002"/>

==See also==
*[[Submarine Warfare insignia]]
*[[List of United States Navy enlisted warfare designations]]
*[[Badges of the United States Navy]]
*[[Military badges of the United States]]
*[[Obsolete badges of the United States military]]
*[[Uniforms of the United States Navy]]
*[[Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal]]
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==References==
<references>
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<ref name="Hagan 2004">{{Cite book
| publisher = Naval Institute Press
| isbn = 978-1-59114-459-5
| last = Hagan
| first = John
|author2=Jack Leahy
 | title = Chief Petty Officer's Guide
| date = August 2004
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=J3WFVp5XZKAC&q=submarine+warfare+insignia+dolphins+ernest+king&pg=PA241
}}</ref>
<ref name="Thornton1997">{{Cite book
| publisher = Naval Institute Press
| isbn = 978-1-55750-843-0
| last = Thornton
| first = W. M.
| title = Submarine insignia & submarine services of the world
| date = August 1997
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=9OGCCIuodXAC&q=submarine%20warfare%20insignia%20dolphins%20ernest%20king&pg=PA138
}}</ref>
<ref name="bupers2002">{{Citation
| last = Navy Personnel Command
| title = MILPERSMAN 1200-010: SUBMARINE PATROL INSIGNIA QUALIFICATIONS
| date = 2002-08-22
| url = http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/reference/milpersman/1000/1200Classification/Documents/1200-010.pdf
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110815104813/http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/reference/milpersman/1000/1200Classification/Documents/1200-010.pdf
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = August 15, 2011
}}</ref>
</references>
{{submarine insignia}}

[[Category:United States military badges]]