Coast Guard uniform regulations call for embroidered, sew-on insignia of rank to be worn on the collars of the Operational Dress Uniform (ODU), first introduced in 2000 with a modified “untucked” version following in 2008. Insignia are worn centered on an imaginary line equally bisecting the collar point; bar-shaped insignia such as for Chief Warrant Officer 3 are oriented with its long axis resting on the line. Full guidance on collar insignia on the ODU is found in Section 4.A.3 of COMDTINST M1020.6J.
Technical expertise has always been a key component in the makeup of Chief Warrant Officers, so it’s no surprise that the number and types of CWO specialties in the Coast Guard is always up for change. Between 2003 an 2018, for example, a total of eight new Coast Guard specialties were introduced—almost one every other year—either to address the Guard’s shortcomings or expanding responsibilities. They include Diving Specialist, Investigator, Intelligence Systems Specialist, Operations Systems Specialist, Informations System Management, Maritime Law Enforcement, and three Marine Safety Specialties (Deck, Engineer, Response).