The Headquarters Air Force badge was created in 2005 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 ...

. Airmen currently assigned to Headquarters Air Force at

the Pentagon The Pentagon is the headquarters building of the United States Department of Defense. It was constructed on an accelerated schedule during World War II. As a symbol of the U.S. military, the phrase ''The Pentagon'' is often used as a metony ...

or who have been assigned to a qualifying Headquarters Air Force staff or Secretary of the Air Force staff position for at least 365 consecutive days are entitled to wear the badge. Wearing the badge is optional. Air Force Chief of Staff General

T. Michael Moseley Teed Michael "Buzz" Moseley (born September 3, 1949) is a retired United States Air Force general who served as the 18th Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. He is a fighter pilot with more than 3,000 flight hours in fighters and trainer ...

approved the design and development of the badge in September 2005.

Description

The basis for the Headquarters Air Force badge is Air Force heritage and the design incorporates many elements from the Department of the Air Force

Seal Seal may refer to any of the following: Common uses * Pinniped, a diverse group of semi-aquatic marine mammals, many of which are commonly called seals, particularly: ** Earless seal, or "true seal" ** Fur seal * Seal (emblem), a device to imp ...

. The predominant colors of the badge are ultramarine blue and gold, the colors of the Air Force through transition from the

Army Air Corps Army Air Corps may refer to the following army aviation corps: * Army Air Corps (United Kingdom), the army aviation element of the British Army * Philippine Army Air Corps (1935–1941) * United States Army Air Corps (1926–1942), or its p ...

. At the center of the badge is a gilt American bald eagle, a symbol of the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

and air power. The eagle is holding an

olive branch The olive branch is a symbol of peace and victory associated with customs of ancient Greece and connected with supplication to gods and persons in power. It is found in most cultures of the Mediterranean basin and became associated with peace ...

and a bundle of 13 arrows, denoting the power of peace and war—the heart of the Air Force mission. The Air Force shield is at the core of the eagle. On the background is a blue pentagon, representing The Pentagon. A silver

wreath A wreath () is an assortment of flowers, leaves, fruits, twigs, or various materials that is constructed to form a circle . In English-speaking countries, wreaths are used typically as household ornaments, most commonly as an Advent and Chri ...

, an ancient symbol of victory, encircles the badge and meets the old Army Air Corps

roundel A roundel is a circular disc used as a symbol. The term is used in heraldry, but also commonly used to refer to a type of national insignia used on military aircraft, generally circular in shape and usually comprising concentric rings of diff ...

. The eagle holds a streamer with the Latin motto "

E pluribus unum ''E pluribus unum'' ( , , ) – Latin for "Out of many, one" (also translated as "One out of many" or "One from many") – is a traditional motto of the United States, appearing on the Great Seal along with '' Annuit cœptis'' (Latin for "he ...

," which means "Out of many, one," and represents the original 13 colonies forming into one nation.

Placement

According to AFI 36-2903 "Center duty or miscellaneous badge 1½ inches below top of welt pocket and centered, and/or on right side centered 1½ inch below the nametag" for men, and "centered on the wearer's right 1/2 inch above the name tag" for women.

Equivalents

The

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...

has an equivalent badge, known as the

Army Staff Identification Badge The United States Army Staff Identification Badge is a badge of the United States Army worn by personnel who serve at the Office of the Secretary of the Army and the Army Staff at Headquarters, Department of the Army ( HQDA) and its agencies. N ...

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Headquarters Air Force Badge United States military badges