DVIDS – News – NASSIG Security Forces Celebrate 49th Anniversary and New Insignia Program

The US Navy master-at-arms rate is nothing new despite only recently celebrating its 49th birthday on August 1, 2022.

According to Naval History and Heritage Command, the master-at-arms rating has existed since Charles I ruled England. “Sheriffs of the Sea” were responsible for maintaining the weapons aboard the ship and had to be skilled in “close combat under arms” and be able to train their shipmates in “hand-to-hand combat”.

The master-at-arms rate was also one of the first eight chief petty officer ratings, but in 1921 the rate was abolished, with the duties and responsibilities being divided and distributed as collateral duties to other ratings.

In 1942 the rate saw a comeback but rather than the Master-at-Arms name they were called Specialists Shore Patrol and Security, before being changed to Shore Patrolman in 1948 and reinstated in 1953.
On August 1, 1973, the master-at-arms rate was reinstated and the date declared to be the rate’s official anniversary.

Today, according to the description of the career path for the Master-at-Arms, “AMs will, individually or as part of a force, be capable of conducting force protection operations to defeat threats at sea. , on land and in expeditionary environments. . Force Protection is a program that includes three pillars: counter-terrorism, physical security and law enforcement. Specifically, MA will provide scalable force protection and security providing layered defense for designated assets and critical infrastructure worldwide. Additionally, MAs will operate in an integrated sea/coastal/landbound security environment, providing mobile and fixed defensive operations in support of commanders conducting base defense, expeditionary/combat operations, security strategic assets, law enforcement, remediation, and special events and operations. with other services, host country partners and civil authorities.

In addition to celebrating their 49th anniversary, the Naval Security Forces here at Naval Air Station Sigonella had the opportunity to be among the first in the fleet to qualify for the new Navy Security Force insignia, a 10-year qualification program.

The badge is a pin that can be worn on the uniform similar to that of a diver, EOD or Special Warfare badge or “badge”, as the pin changes depending on the skill level of the apprentice, the journeyman, master or officer’s skill level.

The qualification levels for Navy Security Forces insignia are NSF Specialist, NSF Senior Specialist, NSF Senior Specialist, and NSF Officer.

“We are now at the forefront of efforts to ensure that the Master-At-Arms community has its own pride and heritage,” said Principal Chief Peter Limson, Designated Executive Officer for the Qualification Program. NSF at NAS Sigonella. “The insignia program has taken 10 years to develop and has been endorsed by 11 admirals in accordance with our 11 mission platforms.”

The NSF qualification establishes performance standards that can be used to assist in the officer posting, promotion and selection processes, and provides visual recognition of a sailor’s professional expertise.

The program is segmented into six phases. The first phase involved the convening of the initial qualifiers and the selection committee, the review and validation of the qualification process, the training, the completion of the PQS, the written tests, the composition of the oral jury and the final selection processes .

Phase two was the release of the qualification program to include training and electronic PQS and initial qualifications for the NSF officer and senior specialist based on priority.

Phases three and four, currently underway, involve achieving formal program compliance, initiating a force-wide training program for all levels, NSF Qualified Officer, the master and senior specialist convened councils on all fully qualified candidates at all levels, establishing the initial qualifiers of phases one and two as quality assurance and quality control monitors, qualifiers and mentors and observation committees, award program qualification certificates and badges, and finally collect lessons learned and feedback for the first program review.

“The NSF pin is a long time coming,” said Lt. Nathan Ouellette, NAS Sigonella Security Officer. There is a long history of the MA rate; a story of how it got here that is now taught in ranks with the many platforms we operate on. I really wish we had something like this when I was drafted.

Phases five and six will not take place until November 2022 and will begin with the formal review of the program based on the analyzes of the first four phases.

The program is voluntary, and each member wishing to qualify will be required to complete the Personnel Qualification Standards for the designated insignia level, pass a written test, and then pass an oral examination in addition to paying for rank-specific prerequisites.

“Captain. Shoemaker is the first commander to establish this program in our area of ​​responsibility and the most proactive qualification program,” Limson explained of launching the program on NAS Sigonella. “The program cannot really be implemented without the command having a safety officer and as such our safety officer, Lieutenant Ouellette, and the assistant safety officer, Chief Warrant Officer Juan Skewes , provided guidance for establishing the appropriate PQS for the specifics of NAS Sigonella.

On July 27, 2022, NAS Sigonella’s first security staff member sat down to take the written tests to qualify for the NSF badge.

Staff had to pass a 50-question written exam with a minimum pass mark of 80% before they could move on to the oral jury.

After completing and passing the test, security personnel then faced an oral jury where they had to demonstrate their knowledge while answering questions from the jury members on topics such as anti-terrorism, physical security and the law application.

To date, NAS Sigonella has 18 NSF Master Specialist and NSF Senior Specialist qualified security personnel and nine are now designated as NAS Sigonella NSF Insignia Program Unit and Division Coordinators and assistants.

To celebrate this historic achievement, NAS Sigonella Security Forces hosted a cake cutting in celebration of their 49th anniversary and a pinning ceremony for new NSF Badge Program qualified personnel on August 5, 2022.

Congratulations to the newly qualified NSF specialists: MAC Bryan Roelike, MACS Jonathan CoLONDONRamon, MACS Jonathon Walter, MACS Laymoun Ferguson, MAC Justin Zeise, MAC Anthony Crooks, MAC Dimitris Mack, MAC Christopher Coolahan, MAC Jordyn Japec, MAC Matthew Eybers, MAC Terry Draper and Senior NSF Specialist: MA1 Stephen Barrette, MA1 Raul Hernandez, MA1 Eric Fowler, MA1 Nicolas Sterling, MA1 Ryan Gray and MA1 Gary DiMarzio.