COAST GUARD AUXILIARY VICE NATIONAL AND DEPUTY NATIONAL COMMODORE HARD/ENHANCED SHOULDER BOARDS

The design of the shoulder boards worn by Coast Guard Auxiliary Vice National Commodores (VNACO) and both elected and appointed Deputy National Commodores (DNACO) is taken directly from the Coast Guard and Navy, with the only difference being the colors of the lace and embroidered insignia.

Just as on the Navy/USCG boards, the two stars that represent these offices and positions are oriented so that one star has a single ray down and another a single ray up and are positioned so that each of the single rays is pointing at the other star. Above the stars is a Coast Guard shield mounted on a single fouled anchor—the insignia of a USCG Chief Petty Officer.

Hard shoulder boards are worn on the Coast Guard Auxiliary’s Service Dress White and Dinner Dress White Jacket uniforms and are manufactured in Large (5.5 inches in length) and Small (5 inches) sizes. Enhanced shoulder boards are smaller versions that are attached to shirts and sweaters by sliding those garment’s shoulder epaulettes through a tubular loop on the board.

Regulations limit the wear of Enhanced board to the Wooly-Pully and Cardigan sweaters and to shirts with epaulettes that are worn as Dress uniforms, a stipulation that prevents Enhanced boards from being worn with the Undress Blue—Winter uniform.