{{No footnotes, date=January 2022
The Weapons Director 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 issued to personnel who are qualified in
command and control
Command and control (abbr. C2) is a "set of organizational and technical attributes and processes ... hatemploys human, physical, and information resources to solve problems and accomplish missions" to achieve the goals of an organization or en ...
and have been specially trained as flight controllers in air battle management.
The standard Weapons Director Badge is issued upon completion of basic weapons director or air battle manager command and control training. Upgrades to Senior Weapons Director and Master Weapons Director occur based on experience and years of service in the Air Force. According to AFI 36-2903 (2011), "The Weapons Director basic occupational badge criteria for 1C5X1D is awarded upon completion of the Basic Weapons Director course. For award of the senior badge (7-skill level), Airman must meet requirements for the award of the basic badge and have a minimum of 5 total years qualified Weapons Director experience. For award of the master badge, Airman must meet requirements for award of the senior badge, hold the rank of MSgt or above and have a minimum of 7 total years of Weapons Director experience" (p. 137). The Senior Weapons Director Badge is annotated by a star above the badge and the Master Badge displays a star and wreath.
Most personnel, who receive the Weapons Director Badge, are assigned to Ground Theater Air Control Systems (GTACS) such as the Air Force Control and Reporting Center (CRC). Officers who are not eligible for the
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 ...
may be eligible to receive the Weapons Director Badge.
Advanced training for 1C5X1D Weapons Directors is available at the
8th Weapons Squadron
The 8th Weapons Squadron is a non-flying United States Air Force unit, assigned to the USAF Weapons School at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.
The squadron inherited the lineage of the 8th Airborne Command and Control Squadron. The 8th’s history ...
, Nellis AFB, Nevada. This challenging school is available to select 1C5X1D personnel in the rank of Senior Airmen through Technical Sergeant and is one of the most challenging advanced enlisted skills courses in the US Air Force.
The badge was first authorized in mid 1969 for Officers in the 17XX career field, Weapons Control, and was seen as a motivational tool to raise morale in a career field that was noted for its remote assignments, family separations, and difficult living conditions. The regulatory cite is AFR 900-21.