The Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist belt buckle is available in gold for Chief Petty Officers and silver for Petty Officers (E-4 to E-6) and junior enlisted Sailors (E-3 and below) who have earned their Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist (EAWS) designation and the right to wear the breast insignia. This buckle is not manufactured for Officers because they would instead wear the Naval Aircrew Warfare buckle.
The Navy’s Enlisted Aviation Warfare Qualification and breast insignia were established in 1980 as way to distinguish enlisted Sailors serving in Naval Aviation but were not aircrew members. While general qualification standards for the EAWS included evidence of professional and military motivation, completing all Personnel Qualification Standards set forth by commanding officers, and a recommendation for the designation by the chain of command and approval by the commanding officer, the lion’s share of EAWS qualification included completion of the requirements set forth in OPNAVINST 1414.2A.
Those requirements were disestablished with the release of OPNAVINST 1414.9, and the Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist qualification program is now under the command of the Commander of Naval Air Forces and is mandatory for all Sailors serving in a subordinate command.