Service Recognition

• For each year a member contributes significant service toward USPS goals, the member earns a recognition known as a Merit Mark.  Shown below is the insignia for 7 years of recognized service (seven Merit Marks). Merit marks are displayed on the left sleeve of a shirt or jacket.

• When a member earns 5 Merit Marks, he or she is recognized as a Senior Member. A Senior Member is allowed to display the following mark below their insignia of grade.

As an example, shown below is the insignia of someone who has achieved the grade of JN and is a Senior Member.

• If a member earns 25 Merit Marks, he or she is recognized as a Life Member. A Life Member is allowed to display a mark similar to the Senior Member's mark except that the "V" is surrounded by a gold laurel wreath.

Educational Recognition

• Educational Proficiency is awarded to anyone achieved a grade level of at least Advanced Piloting (AP) and completed at least three Elective Courses. Shown is an AP insignia with the Educational Proficiency bar below it. The bar is also added to the JN and N insignia to denote Educational Proficiency.

• Educational Achievement is awarded to anyone completing all Advanced Grade Courses, which results in a grade of Navigator (N), and all Elective Courses. This is the highest educational recognition award given by USPS. A person with this award is know as a Senior Navigator, and uses the printed grade designation of SN. In the past, a Senior Navigator was referred to as a "Full Certificate" and used the printed grade designation of N.

• Note: Grade, Service and Educational Advancement insignia my be combined. An individual might be a life member with a grade of AP with Educational Proficiency.They would have an insignia with an AP grade, an Educational Proficiency bar under that and a life member V and laurel leaves under the bar.

Special Recognition

• 25 Year Member - Anyone who has paid dues for 25 years is allowed to wear a 25 year membership pin. This device has a silver braid. There is no written designation for this qualification. Note: A 25 year member is not necessarily a Life Member but a Life Member is a 25 Year Member.

• 50 Year Member - Anyone who has paid dues for 50 years is allowed to wear a 50 year membership pin. This device is the same as a 25 year pin except that it has a gold braid. There is no written designation for this qualification. Note: Sustaining and Life Members gain credit for paying dues for each year after achieving that status.

• Chapman Award - The Charles F. Chapman Award for Excellence in Teaching recognizes outstanding USPS instructors. There is no written designation for this qualification.
  
  

• Certified Instructor - Anyone certified by USPS to be a qualified instructor. This is awarded to anyone who has completed the Instructor Development Course or who has comparable teaching experience. Recertification is required every 4 years. They may wear the pin shown below. CIs may wear special shirts designationg them as USPS Certified Instructors. There is no written designation for this qualification.
  
  

• Vessel Examiner - Anyone who has completed the Vessel Examiner course, has passed the examination and performed at least 5 examinations under the supervision of a qualified examiner. A minimum of 5 examinations must be done every year to maintain qualification. VEs may wear special hats, shirts and patches designating them as USPS vessel examiners. They may also wear the pin shown below. There is no written designation for this qualification.

• Port Captain - Anyone who is an approved Port Captain may wear the patch shown below and fly a flag indicating they are a Port Captain. There is no written designation for this qualification.

• There are other USPS special qualifications but they are not covered by this document. Suggestions for additons may be sent to Dan Bartell, danb@usps.org.