The symbology surrounding the official plaque of the USS ORLECK deals with its capabilities, relevance in today's modern Navy and the Navy of the future.
The shape is the Grecian Shield Pattern with the Unit's name in a band across the top of the shield. The trident, a weapon historically associated with the sea faces both skyward and seaward. The upper trident represents ORLECK's capability in Anti-Aircraft Warfare while the lower trident, slightly larger, symbolizes ORLECK's primary mission, that of Anti-Submarine Warfare. The orbiting electrons indicate that while ORLECK is a conventionally powered Man-of-War, it is a vital component of the modern Navy, even in this Nuclear Age. The electrons represent the continuing modernization of ORLECK's electronic capability.
The banner beneath the shield is folded symmetrically and contains three parts. The word "Vigilance" was the slogan of the Cruiser-Destroyer Force, Pacific Fleet, of which ORLECK was a member. In 1975 the Cruiser-Destroyer Force became part of the Naval Surface Forces Pacific. The ship's side number appears on the center band and the word "Foresight" is on the left band. Foresight is a required characteristic of a vessel to meet new challenges to our nation's freedom.