A silver oak leaf with a red letter “A” is worn by the holder of four offices in the Coast Guard Auxiliary, two appointed by the District Commodore—District Directorate Chief (DDC) and Auxiliary Sector Coordinator (ASC)—and two appointed by the National Commodore with Chief Director concurrence, Deputy Directorate Chief DIRd) and Division Chief (DVC). The insignia is referred to as the Division Chief or DVC insignia (for example, "An ASC is authorized to wear the same appointed position insignia as a Division Chief on National staff").
The silver oak leaf is used for the O-5 grade in the insignia system of the Armed Forces of the United States to indicate a rank of Commander (Navy, Coast Guard) or Lieutenant Colonel (Army, Air Force, Marines), but here it is intended to convey the organizational level of the wearer whether than rank authority. Red “A” is always used in the Coast Guard Auxiliary to indicate the wearer is serving by appointment as a Staff Officer rather than through election to an office. Appointments are made by elected officials, and they begin and end with the term of the appointing leader.