The emblem of the American Navy, often referred to as the Navy Seal, carries a rich history that mirrors the evolution of the U.S. Navy itself. Understanding this symbol provides context to the values and heritage embodied by naval personnel, including elite units like the Navy SEALs, though it’s important to note this historical seal is distinct from the modern Special Warfare insignia associated with SEAL operators and their distinctive Navy Seal Uniform.
The journey of the Navy Seal began in the nascent years of the United States. On May 4, 1780, the Continental Congress adopted the first American Navy seal for the Board of Admiralty, the precursor to the Navy Department. This initial seal, intended for naval officer commissions, was described heraldically as:
"the arms, thirteen bars mutually supporting each other, alternate red and white in a blue field, and surmounting an anchor proper. The crest a ship under sail. The motto Sustentans et Sustentatum. The legend U.S.A. Sigil. Naval."
This early depiction featured a ship under sail, flying the national ensign at its stern and a commission pennant at the mainmast. Interestingly, the Continental Navy, for which this seal was created, was short-lived, dissolving in 1785.
When the Navy Department was re-established in 1798, a new seal emerged for naval officer commissions, distinctly different from its predecessor. This seal, used from 1798 to 1849, incorporated elements that would become foundational to the modern Navy seal: the sea, a ship under sail, an eagle, and an anchor. These symbols began to visually represent the core domains and values of naval service, aspects that are implicitly reflected in the professionalism and readiness associated with personnel, from officers to those in specialized roles, even when considering something like navy seal uniform standards.
Around 1850, another shift occurred, bringing the design even closer to the official seal we recognize today. It’s important to note that neither the 1798 nor the 1850 seals had formal authorization. For the century following the 1850 design, variations in the eagle’s posture, ship’s form, and anchor’s shape were common. Some iterations included land, while others depicted only water. Furthermore, various Navy Bureaus and Offices utilized diverse seal designs. By the years leading up to 1957, a clear need for a standardized, official seal was recognized by Navy leadership.
The drive for uniformity and clarity led to a concerted effort in the post-World War II era to redesign the Navy seal. Recommendations from Secretaries of the Navy, heraldry experts, and historians culminated in a final design. This design received presidential approval from President Eisenhower and was officially established by Executive Order 10736 on October 23, 1957.
This definitive seal is described in detail:
"On a circular background of fair sky and moderate sea with land in sinister base, a three-masted square-rigged ship underway before a fair breeze with after topsail furled, commission pennant atop the foremast, National Ensign atop the main, and the commodore’s flag atop the mizzen. In front of the ship a Luce-type anchor inclined slightly bendwise with the crown resting on the land and, in front of the shank and in back of the dexter fluke, an American bald eagle rising to sinister regarding to dexter, one foot on the ground, the other resting on the anchor near the shank; all in proper colors. The whole within a blue annulet bearing the inscrip tion “Department of the Navy” at top, and “United States of America” at the bottom, separated on each side by a mullet and within a rim in the form of a rope; inscription, rope, mullet, and edges of annulet all gold."
The inclusion of land in the design was symbolic, representing not only the Navy’s shore-based support infrastructure but also its amphibious capabilities. The inscription was updated from “Navy Department” to “Department of the Navy” to reflect the Navy’s global reach, encompassing operations at sea, in the air, and ashore. This comprehensive scope mirrors the diverse roles within the Navy, from traditional naval operations to specialized units, each with their own operational requirements, though again, distinct from specific uniform insignia like that on a navy seal uniform.
Adopted in 1959, this seal became the central element of the official United States Navy flag, further solidifying its place as a key symbol of the service. The seal stands as a visual representation of the Navy’s history, mission, and values, a legacy that continues to inspire and inform all who serve, whether in traditional roles or within specialized communities.
