The Coast Guard Honor Guard Badge is a qualification badge of the United States Coast Guard

United States Coast Guard

The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...

 which recognizes those personnel who are/have been permanently assigned to the Ceremonial Honor Guard Unit of a U.S. Coast Guard command located in Alexandria

Alexandria, Virginia

Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...

, Virginia

Virginia

The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...

. The badge was inspired by the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Guard Identification Badge

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Guard Identification Badge

The Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Identification Badge is a military badge of the United States Army which honors those select few soldiers who have been chosen to serve as members of the Honor Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It is the second-least awarded badge in the US Army,...

.

To be awarded the Coast Guard Honor Guard Badge, a service member must qualify in at least two fields of expertise the fields include, "Body bearing, Colors Detail, and Firing Party". Once a member is qualified in two of these fields they are issued a temporary badge. The badge is authorized to wear at this point while serving out the Honor Guard commitment. At the end of the members Honor Guard term the member is evaluated and can earn the right to wear the badge permanently throughout their Coast Guard career.

The badge is then worn directly above all awards and decorations on the left side of the Coast Guard uniform. The badge is worn on the right pocket following departure from an Honor Guard assignment.

Recently, Coast Guard Honor guard badge became and Identification badge, and given to every honor guard member upon complition of Honor Guard Tour. Although it can be issued before an Honorguardsman departs, and the conditions are still the same - qualify in 2 out of 3 specialties.