Two crossed quill pens reflect the administrative nature of the Chief Warrant Officer specialty of Personnel Administration. The insignia was originally used during World War I by Guardsmen in the Yeoman and Ship’s Writer ratings, was authorized for Ship’s Clerk Warrant Officer specialty in 1942, and was subsequently adapted for the Personnel Administration specialty.
The Personnel Administration Chief Warrant Officer sleeve device is worn only the Service Dress Blue (SDB) coat and features the specialty mark and a Coast Guard shield embroidered with gold thread on blue serge fabric to match the SDB. Place the device on the sleeve so its outermost edge (below the bottom of the shield) is parallel to the cuff and the shield is 1/4-inch above the CWO rank stripe, then horizontally center the shield and crossed pens on the outside of the sleeve.
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