Badges of the United States Air Force
Military badges of the U.S. Air Force
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Badges of the United States Air Force are specific uniform insignia 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. Air Force occupational badges are normally issued in basic, senior, and master level for officers. A star and wreath system, worn above the Air Force badge, denotes which degree or skill level a service member currently holds. Previously, 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. For non-rated commissioned officers, the basic badge is awarded after completion of technical training, the senior badge after 7-years in their respective AFSC, and master at 15-years. Now most career field CFETPs denote the requirements for awarding each level.[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. 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 regard 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
Aeronautical Rating Badges
Air Battle Manager Badge
Astronaut Badge (Any Aeronautical Rating Badge with Astronaut Device)
Aircrew Badges
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][5]
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
Cyber Defense Operations Badge[6](Enlisted)*
Weather and Environmental Sciences Officer Badge[8]
Meteorologist Badge
Operations Research Analyst Badge[9]
Information Operations Badge[10]
Operations Support Badge
Command and Control Badge
Air Traffic Control Badge
Radar, Airfield, & Weather Systems Badge
Intelligence Badge*
Safety Badge[11]
Foreign Area Officer Badge[12]
The following operations insignia are worn as beret crests on specific Air Force berets instead of the left breast of Air Force uniforms. Both the breast insignia and the following beret crests signify the same thing, an Air Force specialty.[13]
Special Tactics Officer Crest
Combat Controller Crest
Special Reconnaissance Crest
Tactical Air Control Party Flash and Crest
Combat Rescue Officer Crest
Pararescueman Crest
Logistics Career Group
Munitions Badge[14]
Maintenance Badge
Logistics Readiness Badge
Supply and Fuels Badge
Transportation Badge
Logistics Plans Badge
Support Career Group
Band Badge
Public Affairs Badge
Historian Badge
Human Resources & Administration (Enlisted)
Emergency Management Badge
Civil Engineer Badge
Services Badge (Enlisted)- Force Support Badge (Officer)
Force Protection Badge
Professional Career Group
Judge Advocate Badge
Chaplain Badges (These badges have precedence over all other badges and are mandatory to wear.)
Paralegal Badge (Enlisted)
Religious Affairs Airmen Badge (Enlisted)
Acquisition Career Group
Acquisition and Financial Management Badge*
Medical Career Group
Independent Duty Medical Technician Badge[15]
Reporting Identifiers
Scientific Applications Specialist Badge[16]
Miscellaneous Badges
As of 17 January 2014, Airmen are authorized to wear any qualification/skill badge they have earned on Air Force uniforms. With the exception of the new Air Force Combat Diver Badges, the other qualification badges listed in this section are specifically awarded by the Air Force as well as other armed services of the U.S. Department of Defense.[1][4]
Air Force Combat Diver Badges (Basic and supervisor)[17]
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Badges (Basic, Senior, and Master)
Parachutist Badges (Basic, Senior, and Master)
Freefall Parachutist Badges (Basic and Master)
Duty Badges
Sources:[1]
Tabs and scrolls
| Duty/Qualification | Approved tab/patch |
|---|---|
| Advanced Air Advisor Tab (Authorized for permanent wear) |  |
| Air Advisor Tab (Authorized for permanent wear) |  |
| Arctic Tab (Authorized for permanent wear)[22] |  |
| Base Honor Guard - Dress Uniform |  |
| Base Honor Guard |  |
| Courier |  |
| Evaluator |  |
| Forward Area Refueling Point |  |
| Instructor |  |
| Master Instructor |  |
| Raven |  |
| Recruiter |  |
| Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape |  |
| Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Specialist Scroll |  |
| USAF Honor Guard - Dress Uniform |  |
| USAF Honor Guard |  |
Duty identifier patches
| Worn on the left shoulder of the service’s Operational Camouflage Pattern uniform[20][21]
Patches with black borders indicate first responders and career fields that require quick identification | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| First Sergeant | Air Battle Manager | Airmen Dorm Leader | Aircrew Flight Equipment | Airfield Management | Aerospace Ground Equipment | Munitions Systems | Aircraft Maintenance | Aircraft Structural Maintenance | Air Traffic Control |
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| Avionics | Aviation Resource Management | Battle Management Operations | All-Domain Comand & Control Operations | Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear | Combat Control | Civil Engineer | Career Enlisted Aviator | Contracting | Combat Rescue Officer |
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| Combat Systems | Cyber | Development Advisor | Pavements and Construction Equipment | Aircraft Electrical and Environmental | Aircrew Egress | Electrical Systems | Developmental Engineering | Engineering | Aerospace Propulsion |
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| Pest Management | Equal Opportunity | Explosive Ordnance Duty | Electronic Warfare | Foreign Affairs | Fire Protection | Financial Management | Aircraft Fuel Systems | Ground Transport | Religious Affairs |
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| Human Resources & Administration | HVAC & Refrigeration | Aircraft Hydraulic Systems | Independent Duty Medical Technician | Information Operations | Intelligence | Judge Advocate | Joint Air Component Coordination Element | Logistics Readiness | Missile Alert Facility Manager |
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| Aircraft Mainenance | Medical Providers | Manpower | Aircraft Metals Technology | Munitions and Missile Maintenance | Maintenance Management | Navigator | Nondestructive Inspection | Operations Management | Operation Research |
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| Special Investigations | Public Affairs | Aerospace Physiology | Pararescue | Logistics Plans | Professional Military Education | Precision Measurement Equipment Lab | Fuels | Air Transport | Electrical Power Production |
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| Radar Airfield and Weather Systems | Scientific Utilization | Security Forces | Safety | Special Reconnaissance | Special Tactics | Stuctural | Materiel Management | Services | Tactical Air Control Party |
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| Advanced Fighter Aircraft Avionics | Traffic Management | Education and Training | Unit Deployment Management | Vehicular Maintenance | Weather and Environmental Sciences | Water and Fuel Systems Management | Aircraft Armament Systems | Weapons Systems Evaluation | Weather |
Award badges
Air National Guard badges and tabs
Governor's Ten Tab[34]
See also
Notes
- * = also issued to Space Force guardians[35]
- No asterisk indicates that the badge is only issued to airmen