Diver Badges
Special Operations Diver Badge: A silver badge 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height
consisting of a diver’s head in full gear in front of two crossed Sykes-Fairbain
Commando daggers points up. Around either side of the diver’s head is diving
shark with tail fin behind the dagger point.
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The diver is wearing a low volume mask, typical of combat diving operations and
mouthpiece with inhalation/exhalation hose of a stealth rebreather. The daggers
recall the heritage of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) operational swimmers
of World War II. The shark represents stealth, speed, power and efficiency in
dispatching its prey.
Special Operations Diving Supervisor Badge: A silver badge 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm)
in height consisting of a diver’s head in full gear in front of two crossed Sykes-Fairbain
Commando daggers points up. Around either side of the diver’s head is diving
shark with tail fin behind the dagger point.
​
The diver is wearing a low volume mask, typical of combat diving operations and
mouthpiece with inhalation/exhalation hose of a stealth rebreather. The daggers
recall the heritage of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) operational swimmers
of World War II. The shark represents stealth, speed, power and efficiency in
dispatching its prey. The star and laurel wreath represent the Special Operations
Diving Supervisor Badge qualification level.
Salvage: A silver diving helmet, 1 inch (2.54 cm) in height, with the letter “S” 3/8
inch (.95 cm) in height, superimposed on the chest plate. The width is 23/32 inch
(1.83 cm).
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The diver’s helmet is the basic equipment and the letter “S” is superimposed on
the design to reflect salvage activities such as harbor clearance, rock and concrete
blasting, steel and timber removal and the removal of propellers for replacement.
Second Class: A silver diving helmet 1 inch (2.54 cm) in height. The width is 23/32
inch (1.83 cm).
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The diver’s helmet is the basic equipment used in diving operations.
First Class: A silver diving helmet 15/16 (2.38 cm) inch in height, between two dolphins,1 inch high (2.54 cm). The width is 1 3/32 inches (2.62 cm).
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The badge includes the design of the diver’s helmet to reflect diving operations and
includes the dolphins to suggest the function of diving, without the helmet required of
a deep sea diver.
Master: A silver diving helmet 7/8 inch (2.22 cm) in height in front of a trident 1 1/4
inches (3.18 cm) in height between two dolphins. The width is 1 3/32 inches (2.78 cm).
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The trident is added to the design of the First Class badge which is symbolic of a marine spearhead and stands for valor and strength.
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The requirements for each award are contained in AR 611-75. Several progressive requirements to attain each level of qualification have been established.
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The Second Class, Salvage, First Class and Master Diver Badges were approved on 15 February 1944. On 17 September 2004, the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1 approved changes to the Army Scuba Diver Badge. The Scuba Diver Badge was renamed the Special Operations Diver Badge with a new design approved and an additional skill level, the Special Operations Diving Supervisor Badge, was created.