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Badges of the United States Air Force are specific uniform insignia authorized by the
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Signal ...
that signify
aeronautical ratings, special skills, career field qualifications, and serve as identification devices for personnel occupying certain assignments.
[AFI36-2903: Dress and Personal Appearance of Air Force Personnel](_blank)
dated 12 April 2022, last accessed 29 August 2022
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.
Chaplain, aeronautical, space, cyberspace, and missile operations badges, along with the
Air Force Commander's Insignia
The Air Force Commander's Insignia is an insignia of the United States Air Force and United States Space Force, that has been in existence since 2002. Also known as the USAF Commander's Badge, the Air Force Commander's Insignia is awarded to any ...
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.
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
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. The armed forces consists of six service branches: the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. The president of the United States is the ...
. 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
The Space Operations Badge is an occupational badge for guardians of the United States Space Force .
[SMDC-OPZ-FB, ASPDO Procedural Guide #1 - Procedures for Awarding the Space Badge to Army Space Cadre Personnel](_blank)
, dated 15 Feb 11, accessed 16 Jan 12
The Air Force previously authorized continued use of a number of aviation badges originally issued by the U.S. Army during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
. Such badges are no longer authorized and are now categorized as
obsolete badges.
Aviation Badges
Sources:
[Air Force Guidance Memorandum to Air Force Manual (AFMAN) 11-402, Aviation and Parachutist Service](_blank)
U.S. Department of the Air Force, dated 13 September 2022, last accessed 8 October 2022
Aeronautical Rating Badges
File:US Air Force Pilot Badge.png, Pilot Badge
File:United States Air Force Unmanned Aircraft Operator Badge.jpeg, Remotely-Piloted Aircraft Pilot Badge
File:United States Air Force Navigator Observer Badge.svg, Navigator / Combat Systems Officer / Observer Badge
File:USAF - Occupational Badge - Air Battle Manager.svg, Air Battle Manager Badge
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 occu ...
File:United States Air Force Flight Surgeon Badge.svg, Flight Surgeon Badge
File:USAF Astronaut Device.png, Astronaut Badge
The United States Astronaut Badge is a badge of the United States, awarded to military and civilian personnel who have completed training and performed a successful spaceflight. A variation of the astronaut badge is also issued to civilians who ...
''(Any Aeronautical Rating Badge with Astronaut Device)''
Aircrew Badges
File:United States Air Force Flight Nurse Badge.svg, Flight Nurse Badge
The Flight Nurse Badge is a military badge of the United States armed forces which is issued by the U.S. Air Force and United States Navy to flight nurses. Versions of this badge have existed since World War II, when the decoration was first c ...
File:United States Air Force Officer Aircrew Badge.svg, Aircrew Badge (Officer)
File:United States Air Force Enlisted Aircrew Badge.svg, Aircrew Badge (Enlisted)
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.
File:United States Air Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal Badge.svg, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Badge
The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Badge is a military badge of the United States Armed Forces which recognizes those service members, qualified as explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technicians, who are specially trained to deal with the construc ...
s (Basic, Senior, and Master)
File:USAF - Occupational Badge - Scuba.svg, Scuba Diver Badge
File:United States Air Force Parachutist Badge.svg, Parachutist Badge
A parachutist badge (or parachutist brevet) is a military badge awarded by the armed forces of many states to soldiers who have received parachute training and completed the required number of jumps. It is difficult to assess which country was the ...
s (Basic, Senior, and Master)
File:USAF - Occupational Badge - High Altitude Low Opening.svg, Freefall Parachutist Badges (Basic and Master)
File:US Army Parachute Rigger Badge.png, Parachute Rigger Badge
File:Basic Space Badge.jpg, Space Operations Badge
The Space Operations Badge is an occupational badge for guardians of the United States Space Force s (Basic, Senior, and Master/Command)*
Occupational Badges
An Air Force Occupational Badge is a
military badge of the
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Signal ...
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.
[AFI36-2101: Classifying Military Personnel (Officer and Enlisted)](_blank)
; dated 25 June 2013, updated 18 November 2013; last accessed 11 January 2014
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
The Navigator Badge is a Military badges of the United States, military qualification badge of the United States Air Force which was first created during the Second World War. The current USAF badge is designated by Air Force Instructions as the ...
and
Flight Surgeon Badge.
Operations Career Group
File:USAF - Cyberspace Operator Wings Basic.png, Cyberspace Operator Badge*
File:USAF Multi-Domain Warfare Officer Badge.png, Multi-Domain Warfare Officer Badge
File:USAF 15W-Weather and Environmental Sciences Officer Badge-Basic.png, Weather and Environmental Sciences Officer Badge
File:United States Air Force Meteorologist Badge.svg, Meteorologist Badge
File:15A Duty badge.jpg, Operations Research Analyst Badge
File:US Air Force Information Operations Badge.png, Information Operations Badge
File:United States Air Force Operations Support Badge.svg, Operations Support Badge
File:United States Air Force Command and Control Badge.svg, Command and Control Badge
File:United States Air Force Weapons Director Badge.svg, Weapons Director Badge
File:United States Air Force Air Traffic Control Badge.svg, Air Traffic Control Badge
File:USAF - Occupational Badge - Missile Operations.svg, Missile Operations Badge
File:USAF_1C8XX_badge.jpg, Radar, Airfield, & Weather Systems Badge
File:United States Air Force Intelligence Badge.svg, Intelligence Badge*
File:US Air Force Safety Badge.png, Safety Badge
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.
File:USAF Special Tactics Officer Flash.png, Special Tactics Officer
A United States Air Force Special Tactics Officer ( AFSC 19ZXA) is a United States Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) Special Warfare Officer who manages the training and equipping of U.S. Air Force ground special operations. Special Tact ...
Crest
File:USAF Combat Controller Flash.jpg, Combat Controller
United States Air Force Combat Control Teams, singular Combat Controller (CCT) ( AFSC 1Z2X1), are an elite American special operations force (specifically known as "special tactics operators") who specialize in all aspects of air-ground communi ...
Crest
File:USAF Special Reconnaissance Flash.png, Special Reconnaissance
Special reconnaissance (SR) or Recon Team is conducted by small units of highly trained military personnel, usually from special forces units or military intelligence organizations, who operate behind enemy lines, avoiding direct combat and detect ...
Crest
File:USAF Tactical Air Control Party Beret Flash.svg, Tactical Air Control Party
The Tactical Air Control Party, commonly abbreviated TACP, is a small team of military personnel who provide coordination between aircraft and ground forces when providing close air support.
Australia
Australian TACPs are provided by the RAAF ...
Flash
Flash, flashes, or FLASH may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
Fictional aliases
* Flash (DC Comics character), several DC Comics superheroes with super speed:
** Flash (Barry Allen)
** Flash (Jay Garrick)
** Wally West, the first Kid ...
and Crest
File:USAF Combat Rescue Officer Flash.png, Combat Rescue Officer
Combat Rescue Officer (CRO) is a Special Warfare Officer career field in the United States Air Force. Its Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) is 19ZXC and it was created to strengthen USAF Special Warfare personnel recovery capabilities by providing ...
Crest
File:USAF Pararescue Flash.jpg, Pararescueman
Pararescuemen (also known as PJs) are United States Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) and Air Combat Command (ACC) operators tasked with recovery and medical treatment of personnel in humanitarian and combat environments. These spec ...
Crest
File:USAF SERE Flash.jpg, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Crest
Logistics Career Group
File:USAF Munitions Badge.png, Munitions Badge
File:United States Air Force Maintenance Badge.svg, Maintenance Badge
File:United States Air Force Missile Badge.svg, Missile Maintenance Badge
File:USAF - Occupational Badge - Logistics Readiness.svg, Logistics Readiness Badge
File:United States Air Force Supply and Fuels Badge.svg, Supply and Fuels Badge
File:United States Air Force Transportation Badge.svg, Transportation Badge
File:United States Air Force Logistics Badge.svg, Logistics Plans Badge
Support Career Group
File:United States Air Force Information Management Badge.svg, Administration Badge
File:3DXXX Basic Badge.jpg, Cyberspace Support Badge (Enlisted)*
File:United States Air Force Band Badge.svg, Band Badge
File:United States Air Force Public Affairs Badge.svg, Public Affairs Badge
File:USAF - Occupational Badge - Historian.svg, Historian Badge
File:United States Air Force Manpower & Personnel Badge.svg, Manpower and Personnel Badge (Enlisted)
File:USAF civil engineer readiness occupational badge.jpg, Emergency Management
Emergency management or disaster management is the managerial function charged with creating the framework within which communities reduce vulnerability to hazards and cope with disasters. Emergency management, despite its name, does not actuall ...
Badge*
File:United States Air Force Civil Engineer Badge.svg, Civil Engineer Badge*
File:United States Air Force Services Badge.svg, Services Badge (Enlisted)
File:USAF - Occupational Badge - Force Support.svg, Force Support Badge (Officer)
File:United States Air Force Force Protection Badge.svg, Force Protection Badge
Professional Career Group
File:USAF Judge Advocate Badge.svg, Judge Advocate Badge
File:USAFreligiouspins.jpg, Chaplain Badges ''(These badges have precedence over all other badges and are mandatory to wear.)''
File:United States Air Force Paralegal Badge.svg, Paralegal Badge (Enlisted)
File:United States Air Force Chaplain's Assistant Badge.svg, Chaplain Assistant Badge (Enlisted)
Acquisition Career Group
File:United States Air Force Acquisition and Financial Management Badge.svg, Acquisition and Financial Management Badge*
Medical Career Group
File:United States Air Force Medical Corps Badge.svg, Medical Corps Badge
File:United States Air Force Enlisted Medical Badge.svg, Enlisted Medical Badge
File:United States Air Force Biomedical Sciences Corps Badge.svg, Biomedical Science Corps Badge
File:United States Air Force Nurse Corps Badge.svg, Nurse Corps Badge
File:United States Air Force Dental Corps Badge.svg, Dental Corps Badge
File:United States Air Force Medical Service Corps Badge.svg, Medical Service Corps Badge
Reporting Identifiers
File:US Air Force Scientific Applications Specialist Badge.png, Scientific Applications Specialist Badge
Duty Badges
Sources:
File:Headquarters US Air Force Badge.png, Headquarters Air Force Badge
The Headquarters Air Force badge was created in 2005 by the United States Air Force. Airmen currently assigned to Headquarters Air Force at the Pentagon or who have been assigned to a qualifying Headquarters Air Force staff or Secretary of the Ai ...
File:USAFCommanderBdg.jpg, Commander’s insignia*
File:AETBadge.jpg, Air Education and Training Command Instructor Badges
File:USAF Professional Military Education Badge.png, Air Force Professional Military Education Badge
File:AFJROTC Instructor Badge.png, Air Force Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps Instructor Badge
File:USAFABadge.jpg, Permanent Professor USAF Academy Badge
File:USAF Recruiting Service Badge.png, Air Force Recruiting Service Badges
File:USAFRC Recruiting Service Badge.png, Air Force Reserve Recruiting Service Badges
File:New USAF Honor Guard Badge.png, Air Force Honor Guard Badge
The United States Air Force Honor Guard Badge is a military badge of the United States Air Force that is authorized for wear by all personnel who are assigned to the United States Air Force Honor Guard (USAF HG), or to active members of a Base H ...
File:USAF HG Badge.jpg, Air Force Base Honor Guard Badge
File:USA - AF OSI Badge.png, Air Force Special Agent Badge
File:AFPoliceBadge.jpg, Security Forces Badge
File:US Air Force Civilian Police badge.jpg, Department of the Air Force Law Enforcement Badges[AFI31-122, Department of the Air Force Civilian Police/Security Guard (DAFCP/SG) Program](_blank)
e-publishing.af.mil, dated 31 JULY 2015, last accessed 16 January 2017
File:AFFireBadge.jpg, Fire Protection Badges
File:US Air Force Inspector General Duty Badge.JPG, Air Force Inspector General Badge
The United States Air Force Inspector General Badge is a United States Air Force duty badge authorized for wear by all personnel who are assigned to the United States Air Force Inspector General duty positions. The badge is required to be worn b ...
Tabs
Award Badges
Sources:
File:USAF_EIC_Badges.png, Air Force Marksmanship Competition Badges
File:USAF 12 OAY badge.JPG, Outstanding Airman badge
Air National Guard Badges
File:National Guard Bureau Organizational Badge.png, National Guard Bureau
The National Guard Bureau is the federal instrument responsible for the administration of the National Guard established by the United States Congress as a joint bureau of the Department of the Army and the Department of the Air Force. It was cre ...
Organizational Badge
File:ANG Recruiting Service Badge.png, Air National Guard Recruiter Badges
File:Chiefs 50 Marksmanship Badge.png, Chief's 50 Marksmanship Badge
File:Missouri Adjutant Generals 20 Combat Badge.png, Adjutant General's Twenty Combat Badge ( MO NG)[Tabs and Badges a Measure of Missouri Guardmembers' Marksmanship](_blank)
, Missouri National Guard Public Affairs, by Ann Keyes, last accessed 1 March 2015
File:Governors Twenty Tab-ABU.png, Governor's Twenty Tab
File:Governors Twelve Tab-ABU.png, Governor's Twelve / Dozen Tab[Tabs and Badges a Measure of Marksmanship](_blank)
, Missouri National Guard, dated 14 December 2010, last accessed 18 May 2014
File:Governors X Tab-ABU.png, Governor's Ten Tab
Notes
* * = also issued to
Space Force
A space force is a military branch of a nation's armed forces that conducts military operations in outer space and space warfare. The world's first space force was the Russian Space Forces, established in 1992 as an independent military service. ...
guardians
US Space Force Uniform & Accessories Store
usamm.com, last accessed 29 August 2022
* No asterisk indicates that the badge is only issued to airmen
See also
* U.S. Air Force aeronautical rating
U.S. Air Force aeronautical ratings are military aviation skill standards established and awarded by the United States Air Force for commissioned officers participating in "regular and frequent flight",The standard by which flight status has bee ...
* Military badges of the United States
Military badges of the United States are awards authorized by the United States Armed Forces that signify rating, qualification, or accomplishment in several career fields, and also serve as identification devices for personnel occupying certain a ...
* United States military beret flash
}
In the United States (US) Department of Defense, a beret flash is a shield-shaped embroidered cloth that is tall and wide with a semi–circular base that is attached to a stiffener backing of a military beret.[Air Force Specialty Code
The atmosphere of Earth is the layer of gases, known collectively as air, retained by Earth's gravity that surrounds the planet and forms its planetary atmosphere. The atmosphere of Earth protects life on Earth by creating pressure allowing for ...]
References
{{US military navbox
Badges
United States military badges