Submarine Warfare insignia The Submarine Warfare Insignia ( usually known as " " dolphins " or " fish " " ) is a badge worn by qualified submariners . By Country . Australia . The Royal Australian Navy Submarine Service was established four times since 1914 and comprises six " Collins " class submarines . Recruits undergo highly specialized training before earning their " dolphins " . United Kingdom . British Royal Navy Submarine Service first issued badges to crew members during the 1950s and adopted the dolphin badge in use today in 1972 . The " dolphin " is a second specialization earned after completing initial training in a chosen trade . United States . Enlisted men and officers of the United States Navy wear the uniform breast pin to indicate that they are qualified in submarines . The Submarine Warfare Insignia is considered one of the Navy ' s three major warfare pins along with the Surface Warfare Badge and the Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist insignia . To earn the right to wear the pin , prospective submariners complete an extensive qualification process that lasts about one year ( for both enlisted and officers , though the two programs differ significantly ) and covers virtually all of the submarine ' s systems . Once he has earned the right to wear the " dolphins " , ( SS ) is added after his name . History . On 13 June 1923 , Captain Ernest J . King , Commander , Submarine Division Three ( later Fleet Admiral and Commander in Chief , U . S . Fleet , during World War II ) , suggested to the Secretary of the Navy ( Bureau of Navigation ) that a distinguishing device for qualified submariners be adopted . He submitted a pen - and - ink sketch of his own showing a shield mounted on the beam ends of a submarine , with dolphins forward of , and abaft , the conning tower . The suggestion was strongly endorsed by Commander Submarine Division Atlantic . Over the next several months the Bureau of Navigation ( now known as BUPERS ) solicited additional designs from several sources . Some combined a submarine with a shark motif . Others showed submarines and dolphins , and still others used a shield design . A Philadelphia firm , which had done work for the Navy in the field of United States Naval Academy class rings , was approached by the Bureau of Navigation with the request that it design a suitable badge . Two designs were submitted by the firm , but these were ultimately combined into a single design . It was a bow view of a submarine , proceeding on the surface , with bow planes rigged for diving , flanked by dolphins ( in the form of artistically stylized heraldic dolphins ) , in a horizontal position with their heads resting on the upper edge of the bow planes . Today a similar design is used : a dolphin flanking the bow and conning tower of a submarine . On 20 March 1924 , the Chief of the Bureau of Navigation recommended to the Secretary of the Navy that the design be adopted . The recommendation was accepted by Theodore Roosevelt , Jr . , Acting Secretary of the Navy . Originally , the submarine insignia was to be worn by officers and men qualified in submarine duty only when attached to submarine units or submarine command organizations . The right to wear the pin was revoked if the service member transferred to a non - submarine billet . In 1941 the Uniform Regulations were modified to permit a service member to wear the submarine insignia for the duration of his career , once so authorized . Appearance . The officers ' insignia was at first a bronze , gold plated metal pin , worn centered above the left breast pocket and above the ribbons and medals . Enlisted men wore an embroidered insignia sewn on the outside of the right sleeve , midway between the wrist and elbow . The device was two and three - quarters inches long , embroidered in white silk for blue clothing and vice versa . In 1943 , the Uniform Regulations were modified to provide that " Enlisted men , who are qualified and subsequently promoted to commissioned or warrant ranks , may wear enlisted submarine insignia on the left breast until they qualify as submarine officers , at which time this insignia would be replaced by the officers ' submarine pin . " In mid - 1947 , the embroidered device shifted from the sleeve of the enlisted men ' s jumper to above the left breast pocket . A change to the Uniform Regulations dated 21 September 1950 authorized the embroidered insignia for officers ( in addition to the pin - on insignia ) and a bronze , silver plated , pin - on insignia for enlisted men ( in addition to the embroidered device ) . Over the years a number of minor design variations , particularly in the appearance of the bow waves , have occurred . Various unofficial or commemorative badges based on the device have also been made , and may have occasionally been worn with the tacit approval of local naval authorities . The 1971 " diesel boats forever " pin would be an example of this type . In the modern Navy , the submarine pin is either a silver or gold chest pin , worn above all ribbons unless a second superseding qualification has been achieved in which case the submarine pin is worn below ribbons on the breast pocket . Basic enlisted submarine qualifications . Upon reporting to his first submarine the unqualified submarine sailor , or " nub " , short for " " N " on " U " seful " B " ody " ( a derogatory term ) , completes a few days of indoctrination and is then assigned a Qualification Card , a qualification due date , and a Sea Dad ( officially known as a " command sponsor " ) . The Sea Dad monitors the non - qual ' s progress during the qualification process and his adaptation to life aboard the boat . The term " nub " may also be used as an acronym for " New Underway Buddy " or " No Use to the Boat . " No one is exempted from the qualification process and no concessions are made to rank or rate . Although submarine qualification methodology has changed throughout the decades the basic goal has remained : 1 ) to provide the submarine sailor with a basic knowledge of all systems on board , their uses , operations , and interrelationships with other systems and 2 ) to ensure all personnel can operate effectively under pressure in shipboard situations . Submarine damage control techniques are stressed throughout the qualification process . Progress is tracked by the Chief of the Boat . Each item on the qual card is worth a specified number of points ; unqualified sailors must obtain a predetermined number of points per week . Failure to achieve the required number results in placement on a " delinquent list " ( also causing the sailor to be referred to as " dinq , " an acronym for " delinquent in quals " ) and the assignment of additional study , monitored by the Sea Dad . Each system signature is weighted and each phase has a maximum number of points . The qualifications process aboard the boat uses publications , training videos , computer programs and hands - on training with qualified personnel , but the principal focus is on the actual operation of the damage control , atmosphere control , weapons , countermeasures , reactor , mechanical , hydraulic , pneumatic , electrical , and electronic systems on that particular submarine . Once the qualifying sailor feels he has the requisite knowledge for the system he will ask a designated Qualification Petty Officer ( QPO — an expert on the system in question ) for a " checkout " . The QPO will ask prepared questions concerning the system . He can also ask the sailor to draw a line diagram and explain the system in various states and configurations . If the QPO feels the sailor has met his expectations , he will sign the sailor ' s qual card and those points will be included in the sailor ' s weekly point count . If the QPO isn ' t satisfied with the sailor ' s knowledge level , he will require him to study further and return for another checkout . Occasionally , this process is used as a means of harassment and revenge . The qualification structure can be broken down into phases . The example listed below is only a basic guide and is not the rule for all submarines . For most phases of qualification , knowledge of basic rather than elaborate equipment operations is required , with the exception of damage control equipment and procedures . Among the most important goals of submarine qualification is providing each member of the crew - regardless of designated specialty - with the training to combat casualties anywhere on the submarine . In case of fire , flooding , or other casualty , each submarine sailor must be confident that he can trust the man next to him to know the purpose , location , and proper use of each item of damage control equipment , as well as the location and operation of isolations for each electrical / air / hydraulic system . Block Reviews and Walkthroughs . Each phase ( or " block " ) of the qualification card has an overall " block review " where the qualifier ties in all the phase ' s systems and is verbally tested for his level of knowledge . After completion of all blocks , the qualifier must complete compartment walkthroughs , where a senior , qualified sailor quizzes the qualifier as they walk through the submarine . If all walkthroughs are completed successfully , the qualifier ' s chain of command recommends that he be examined by a qualification board . The " Qual Board " . This is the most dreaded part of the New Qualifier ' s qualification process . The board is made up of a Submarine - qualified Officer , a Chief Petty Officer and a Petty Officer . Submarine Damage Control is the biggest factor discussed during the Board . During the Board , the examinee may be asked to draw and explain any of the systems he has learned about during the qualification process . After the Board the examinee is dismissed and evaluated by the members of the board . If the examinee passes the Board , he is then recommended for qualification to the Commanding Officer of the Submarine . Some boats have implemented an idea requiring the qualifier to perform on his feet , called a " Snapshot Board " . Qualified personnel set simulations for the qualifier to treat as a real casualty . They have to make initial emergency report then lead the fight against the casualty . This type of board was formed to assure the qualifier has practical knowledge , not just book smart . The Commanding Officer reviews the Board ' s recommendation and upon his concurrence , the newly - qualified individual is presented his " Dolphins " by the Skipper and designated as " Qualified in Submarines " . The Dolphins presentation is considered an important event as it means the newly qualified submariner will be treated as a full member of the crew , instead of an object of scorn and ridicule . Appropriate annotations are made in the new Submariner ' s service jacket to reflect his qualification . Submarine Qualified Personnel are designated " SS " after the rate , such as STS1 ( SS ) or MM2 ( SS ) . Post qualification life . After the sailor is designated " Qualified in Submarines " , he is treated with a greater amount of respect and given more responsibility . He is required to continually qualify in areas other than his primary duty . This is to ensure in - depth cross - training is accomplished . This process continues throughout a submarine sailor ' s tour . In addition to the basic submarine qualification process and his requirement to qualify in his most senior in - rate watch station , a submarine sailor usually will become qualified in numerous in - port and at - sea watch stations not directly related to his own specific rating . When a submarine sailor ordered to serve a tour ashore returns to sea duty ( or whenever ordered from a boat to another submarine of a class on which he has not already sailed and earned his qualifications ) , he is again required to " re - qualify " on the new submarine , but will never again be a NUB [ Non - Useful - Body or Non - qualified Useless Body ] . This qualification is normally completed by a walkthrough check with a senior qualified member of his chain of command or a submarine - qualified officer . Officer submarine qualifications . In principle , the officer submarine qualifications are very similar to the enlisted submarine qualifications - they are designed to ensure that each junior officer has a basic level of knowledge of all the major systems on board the boat , and is capable of performing damage control efforts throughout the submarine . However , the Officer Qualification goes well beyond the basics of system knowledge and damage control that are required for enlisted personnel . The Officer Qualification is based heavily on the officer ' s ability to drive , and fight , the ship . The newly - reported junior officer ( JO ) starts with smaller qualifications , including " Basic Engineering Qualifications " , Battery Charging Line - up Officer , Rig for Dive Officer and Periscope Operator . These initial qualifications enable the JO to support his fellow officers by performing important ( but tedious and sometimes time - intensive ) tasks . While the various qualification cards that comprise the officer ' s qualification package are usually pursued in parallel , the focus for the first few months aboard is decidedly engineering . After having completed a year of nuclear power training , the new JO will learn the engineering systems of his new submarine and qualify as Engineering Officer of the Watch ( EOOW ) and Engineering Duty Officer ( EDO ) . These are , respectively , the underway and in - port watch stations ultimately responsible for the supervision , maintenance , and safe operation of the submarine ' s nuclear power plant and associated engineering systems . With EOOW and EDO under his belt , the JO can pursue tactical ( or " forward " ) qualifications . First comes Contact Coordinator , the officer or senior enlisted who assists the Officer of the Deck ( OOD ) track other vessels and maintain safe navigation in accordance with the Rules of the Road while the submarine is on the surface . Next comes Diving Officer of the Watch ( DOOW ) , the officer or senior enlisted who supervises the Ship ' s Control Party in safely driving the ship and properly executing casualty procedures . Upon completion of EOOW and DOOW , the JO has acquired most of the systems knowledge and will focus on his tactical development . Finally , the JO will complete his Officer of the Deck ( OOD ) and Ship ' s Duty Officer ( SDO ) qualifications . ( The OOD qualification is actually two qualifications , one for when the submarine is surfaced and one for when it is submerged . ) Like EOOW and EDO , the OOD and SDO are the officers who supervise the ship ' s operations underway and in - port . They are at all times the direct representative of the submarine ' s Commanding Officer , acting on his behalf whether it be tactical employment or in - port force protection . As with the enlisted qualifications , upon completion of his Qualification Card , the junior officer must complete a Qualification Board , although by this point he has already stood half a dozen qualification boards for his subordinate qualifications . In an officer ' s case , the board is led by the Commanding Officer . Finally , the officer must be observed by an officer of command rank , other than his Commanding Officer , in performing the duties of OOD , including the taking of the ship to sea and returning to port and docking . For this observation , the officer may be temporarily assigned to another submarine for a short period so that the CO of that ship may perform the observation . If the junior officer passes his Qualification Board , the Commanding Officer recommends to the Squadron Commodore ( a post - command officer ) that the junior officer be Qualified in Submarines . Although Commodore ' s concurrence is generally somewhat of a formality , The Squadron Command will appoint a post - command officer to do a ' walk through ' with the JO to ensure the standards of the Squadron are met . For staff officers ( Supply , Medical ) a separate board is convened by the Squadron ' s Staff Office to insure expertise in the staff officer ' s field . Traditionally , the final interview is conducted over a cribbage game , and the ' pinning on ' ceremony is usually held at the Officer ' s Club , where he receives his gold dolphins .