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Badges of the United States Air Force

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Badges earned by a U.S. Air Force officer from the 308th Rescue Squadron, circa 2008
Air Force skill level badge symbols

Badges of the United States Air Force are specific uniform paraphernalia authorized by the United States Air Force that signify aeronautical ratings, special skills, career field qualifications, and serve as identification devices for personnel occupying certain assignments.[1]

Most Air Force badges are awarded in three degrees or skill levels. Aeronautical rating badges for pilots, combat systems officers, observers, and air battle managers are awarded at basic, senior, and command levels; while flight nurses and flight surgeons are awarded ratings at the basic, senior, and chief levels. All other aviation badges are awarded at the basic, senior, and master levels. Occupational badges are normally issued in basic, senior, and master level for officers. Enlisted wear the basic badge after completing technical school, the senior badge after award of the 7-skill level, and the master badge as a master sergeant or above with 5 years in the specialty from award of the 7-skill level. A star and wreath system, worn above the Air Force badge, denotes which degree or skill level a service member currently holds.[1]

Chaplain, aeronautical, space, cyberspace, and missile operations badges, along with the Air Force Commander's Insignia are mandatory for wear on Air Force uniforms. With the most recent changes to Air Force uniform regulations, restrictions have been lifted on the wear of other service's skill badges that Airman have earned. Unless otherwise stated, the badges listed below are presented in order of precedence. Precedence of badges within the same category depends on the airman's current assignment.[1][2]

The Air Force is the most restrictive service with regards to which Air Force badges may be worn on the uniforms by other branches of the US Armed Forces. Most badges issued exclusively by the Air Force may only be displayed on Air Force uniforms. The exception to this rule is the Space Operations Badge.[1][3]

The Air Force previously authorized continued use of a number of aviation badges originally issued by the U.S. Army during World War II. Such badges are no longer authorized and are now categorized as obsolete badges.

Aviation Badges

Sources:[1][4]

Aeronautical Rating Badges

Aircrew Badges

Graduate Patches

Joint Service Qualification Badges

As of 17 January 2014, Airmen are authorized to wear any qualification/skill badge they have earned on Air Force uniforms. The qualification badges listed below are joint badges that are specifically awarded by the Air Force as well as other services.[1][4]

Occupational Badges

An Air Force Occupational Badge is a military badge of the United States Air Force which is awarded to those members of the Air Force community who are engaged in duties “other than flying”. The purpose of the Air Force Occupational Badge is to denote and recognize training, education and qualifications received in a particular career field and to provide recognition in an outwardly displayed badge.[1][6]

The first Air Force Occupational Badges began appearing on Air Force uniforms in the late 1950s. Prior to this time, the only Air Force badges authorized were the Pilot Badge and other aeronautical rating badges, such as the Navigator Badge and Flight Surgeon Badge.

Operations Career Group

  • Space Operations Badge*
    Space Operations Badge*
  • Cyberspace Operator Badge*
    Cyberspace Operator Badge*
  • Multi-Domain Warfare Officer Badge[7]
    Multi-Domain Warfare Officer Badge[7]
  • Weather and Environmental Sciences Officer Badge[8]
    Weather and Environmental Sciences Officer Badge[8]
  • Meteorologist Badge
    Meteorologist Badge
  • Operations Research Analyst Badge[9]
    Operations Research Analyst Badge[9]
  • Information Operations Badge[10]
    Information Operations Badge[10]
  • Operations Support Badge
    Operations Support Badge
  • Command and Control Badge
    Command and Control Badge
  • Weapons Director Badge
    Weapons Director Badge
  • Air Traffic Control Badge
    Air Traffic Control Badge
  • Missile Operations Badge
    Missile Operations Badge
  • Radar, Airfield, & Weather Systems Badge
    Radar, Airfield, & Weather Systems Badge
  • Intelligence Badge*
    Intelligence Badge*

The following operations insignia are worn as beret flashes on specific Air Force berets instead of the left breast of Air Force uniforms. Both the breast insignia and the following beret flashes signify the same thing, an Air Force specialty.[11]

Logistics Career Group

  • Munitions Badge[12]
    Munitions Badge[12]
  • Maintenance Badge
    Maintenance Badge
  • Missile Maintenance Badge
    Missile Maintenance Badge
  • Logistics Readiness Badge
    Logistics Readiness Badge
  • Supply and Fuels Badge
    Supply and Fuels Badge
  • Transportation Badge
    Transportation Badge
  • Logistics Plans Badge
    Logistics Plans Badge

Support Career Group

  • Administration Badge
    Administration Badge
  • Cyberspace Support Badge (Enlisted)*
    Cyberspace Support Badge (Enlisted)*
  • Band Badge
    Band Badge
  • Public Affairs Badge
    Public Affairs Badge
  • Historian Badge
    Historian Badge
  • Manpower and Personnel Badge (Enlisted)
    Manpower and Personnel Badge (Enlisted)
  • Emergency Management Badge
    Emergency Management Badge
  • Civil Engineer Badge
    Civil Engineer Badge
  • Services Badge (Enlisted)
    Services Badge (Enlisted)
  • Force Support Badge (Officer)
    Force Support Badge (Officer)
  • Force Protection Badge
    Force Protection Badge

Professional Career Group

  • Judge Advocate Badge
    Judge Advocate Badge
  • Chaplain Badges (These badges have precedence over all other badges and are mandatory to wear.)
    Chaplain Badges (These badges have precedence over all other badges and are mandatory to wear.)
  • Paralegal Badge (Enlisted)
    Paralegal Badge (Enlisted)
  • Chaplain Assistant Badge (Enlisted)
    Chaplain Assistant Badge (Enlisted)

Acquisition Career Group

  • Acquisition and Financial Management Badge*
    Acquisition and Financial Management Badge*

Medical Career Group

Duty Badges

Main article: Identification badges of the Uniform Services of the United States

Sources:[1]

Duty Tabs

Authorized duty identifier tabs (worn on left sleeve)[1]
Current duty Approved tab/patch
Infrared Spice
brown
Advanced Air Advisor Tab (Authorized for permanent wear)
Air Advisor Tab (Authorized for permanent wear)
Air Mobility Liaison Officer
AMLO
AMLO
Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear
CBRN
CBRN
Combat Aviation Advisor (Tab version authorized for permanent wear)
CAA
CAA
Combat Controller
CCT
CCT
Combat Rescue Officer
CRO
CRO
Contingency Response
CR
CR
Deployable Aircraft Ground Response Element
DAGRE
DAGRE
Explosive Ordnance Disposal
EOD
EOD
Fire Fighters
FIRE
FIRE
Force Protection
FP
FP
Forward Area Refueling Point
FARP
FARP
Joint Air Component Coordination Element
JACCE
JACCE
Medical
MED
MED
Office of Special Investigations
OSI
OSI
Pararescue
PJ
PJ
Security Forces
SF
SF
Special Tactics Officer
STO
STO
Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape
SERE
SERE
Tactical Air Control Party
TACP
TACP
Tactical Call Sign (e.g. A01)
HR44
HR44

Award Badges

Sources:[1][14]

Notes

  • * = also issued to Space Force guardians
  • No asterisk indicates that the badge is issued only to airmen

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j AFI36-2903: Dress and Personal Appearance of Air Force Personnel, dated 7 February 2020 (enacted 18 March 2020), last accessed 26 March 2020
  2. ^ AF uniform policy update: welcome back morale t-shirts, badges and limitless athletic shoes, U.S. Air Force News, by Staff Sgt. David Salanitri, dated 20 January 2014, last accessed 15 March 2014
  3. ^ SMDC-OPZ-FB, ASPDO Procedural Guide #1 - Procedures for Awarding the Space Badge to Army Space Cadre Personnel Archived 2012-03-20 at the Wayback Machine, dated 15 Feb 11, accessed 16 Jan 12
  4. ^ a b AFI11-402: Aviation and Parachutist Service, Aeronautical Ratings and Badges Archived 2014-01-12 at the Wayback Machine; dated 13 December 2010, updated 5 February 2013, last accessed 11 January 2014
  5. ^ First Air Force Dive Course Graduates 17 Airmen, U.S. Air Force Official Website, posted 16 March 2006, last accessed 13 April 2013
  6. ^ AFI36-2101: Classifying Military Personnel (Officer and Enlisted) Archived 2014-01-12 at the Wayback Machine; dated 25 June 2013, updated 18 November 2013; last accessed 11 January 2014
  7. ^ Design and Development of United States Air Force Multi-Domain Warfare Officer Occupational Badge, United States Army Institute of Heraldry, dated 2 March 2020, last accessed 10 August 202/
  8. ^ Design and Development of United States Air Force Weather and Environmental Sciences Officer Badge, United States Army Institute of Heraldry, dated 3 November 2020, last accessed 15 November 2020
  9. ^ Air Force creates new AFSC for operations research analyst officers, Air Force News, dated 15 May 2020, last accessed 4 June 2020
  10. ^ MIL-DTL-3628/274A—DETAIL SPECIFICATION SHEET BADGE, OCCUPATION, INFORMATION OPERATION, U.S. AIR FORCE, Defense Logistics Agency, dated 9 April 2018, last accessed 19 April 2020
  11. ^ Air Force Special Operations Command, Special Tactics Units Archived 2013-01-02 at the Wayback Machine; accessed August 21, 2011
  12. ^ Design and Development of United States Air Force Munitions Occupational Badge, U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry, dated 9 December 2019, last accessed 23 August 2020
  13. ^ AFI31-122, Department of the Air Force Civilian Police/Security Guard (DAFCP/SG) Program, e-publishing.af.mil, dated 31 JULY 2015, last accessed 16 January 2017
  14. ^ AFI34-143: Excellence-In-Competition (EIC) Archived 2014-01-12 at the Wayback Machine, dated 21 Feb 12, last accessed 11 January 2014
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