Badges of the United States Air Force

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]

Badges earned by an Air Force officer from the 308th Rescue Squadron (2008)

Air Force skill level badge symbols

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 cccupational 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 feild 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 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

Pilot Badge
Remotely-Piloted Aircraft Pilot Badge
Navigator / Combat Systems Officer / Observer Badge
Air Battle Manager Badge
Flight Surgeon 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

Space Operations Badges (Basic, Senior, and Master/Command)*
Cyberspace Operator Badge*
Multi-Domain Warfare Officer Badge[6]
Weather and Environmental Sciences Officer Badge[7]
Meteorologist Badge
Operations Research Analyst Badge[8]
Information Operations Badge[9]
Operations Support Badge
Command and Control Badge
Weapons Director Badge
Air Traffic Control Badge
Missile Operations Badge
Radar, Airfield, & Weather Systems Badge
Intelligence Badge*
Safety Badge[10]

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.[11]

Special Tactics Officer Crest
Combat Controller Crest
Special Reconnaissance Crest
Tactical Air Control Party Flash and Crest
Combat Rescue Officer Crest
Pararescueman Crest
Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Crest

Logistics Career Group

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

Support Career Group

Administration Badge
Cyberspace Support Badge (Enlisted)*
Band Badge
Public Affairs Badge
Historian Badge
Manpower and Personnel Badge (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

Reporting Identifiers

Scientific Applications Specialist Badge[13]

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[14]
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Badges (Basic, Senior, and Master)
Parachutist Badges (Basic, Senior, and Master)
Freefall Parachutist Badges (Basic and Master)
Parachute Rigger Badge

Duty Badges

Sources:[1]

Tabs

Authorized identifier tabs (worn on upper left sleeve)[1]
Duty/Qualification	Approved tab/patch
Duty/Qualification	Infrared	Spice brown
Advanced Air Advisor Tab (Authorized for permanent wear)
Air Advisor Tab (Authorized for permanent wear)
Air Battle Manager	ABM	ABM
Air Mobility Liaison Officer	AMLO	AMLO
Arctic Tab (Authorized for permanent wear)[15]
Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear	CBRN	CBRN
Combat Aviation Advisor (Tab version authorized for permanent wear)
	CAA	CAA
Combat Controller	CCT	CCT
Contingency Response	CR	CR
Combat Rescue Officer	CRO	CRO
Deployable Aircraft Ground Response Element	DAGRE	DAGRE
Explosive Ordnance Disposal	EOD	EOD
Force Protection	FP	FP
Forward Area Refueling Point	FARP	FARP
Independent Duty Medical Technician	IDMT	IDMT
Joint Air Component Coordination Element	JACCE	JACCE
Medical	MED	MED
Office of Special Investigations	OSI	OSI
Pararescue	PJ	PJ
Raven	RAVEN	RAVEN
Security Forces	SF	SF
Staff Weather Officer	SWO	SWO
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	B06

Award Badges

Sources:[1][16]

Air National Guard Badges and Tabs

National Guard Bureau Organizational Badge
Air National Guard Recruiter Badges
Chief's 50 Marksmanship Badge[17]
Adjutant General's Twenty Combat Badge (MO NG)[18][19]
Governor's Twenty Tab[20][21][22][23]
Governor's Twelve / Dozen Tab[24][25][26]
Governor's Ten Tab[27]

Notes

* = also issued to Space Force guardians[28]
No asterisk indicates that the badge is only issued to airmen

References

AFI36-2903: Dress and Personal Appearance of Air Force Personnel, dated 12 April 2022, last accessed 29 August 2022
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
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
Air Force Guidance Memorandum to Air Force Manual (AFMAN) 11-402, Aviation and Parachutist Service, U.S. Department of the Air Force, dated 13 September 2022, last accessed 8 October 2022
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
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/
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
Air Force creates new AFSC for operations research analyst officers, Air Force News, dated 15 May 2020, last accessed 4 June 2020
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
U.S. Air Force Heraldry, Badges, Air Force Safety, U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry, dated 17 August 2021, last accessed 22 August 2021
Air Force Special Operations Command, Special Tactics Units Archived 2013-01-02 at the Wayback Machine; accessed August 21, 2011
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
U.S. Air Force Heraldry, Badges, Air Force Scientific Applications Specialist, U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry, dated 16 August 2021, last accessed 22 August 2021
New Air Force combat dive badges approved, Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs, posted 18 October 18 2022, last accessed 20 March 2023
PACAF leaders promote Arctic Defense, Security Orientation course, U.S. Pacific Air Force, 673 Air Base Wing/Public Affairs, by SSgt Curt Beach, dated 25 February 2021, last accessed 11 September 2022
AFI34-143: Excellence-In-Competition (EIC) Archived 2014-01-12 at the Wayback Machine, dated 21 Feb 12, last accessed 11 January 2014
National Guard Regulation 672-3 and Air National Guard Regulation 900-1, National Guard Chief's 50 Marksmanship Badge Archived 2013-05-31 at the Wayback Machine, dated 1 February 1978, last accessed 26 March 2014
Tabs and Badges a Measure of Missouri Guardmembers' Marksmanship Archived March 12, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Missouri National Guard Public Affairs, by Ann Keyes, last accessed 1 March 2015
Tabs and Badges a Measure of Marksmanship Archived 2014-05-18 at the Wayback Machine, Missouri National Guard, dated 14 December 2010, last accessed 18 May 2014
Texas National Guard Marksmanship Program, Governor's Twenty, Texas National Guard, updated 4 Aug 11, last accessed 13 Nov 11
TXSG Team Wins First Place In 2009 Texas Adjutant General's Combat Pistol Sustainment Exercise Competition, Texas State Guard, by Maj. J. Michael Spraggins, dated 7 May 7, last accessed 27 June 2022
Governor's 20 Sniper Competition 2014, Texas Military Forces, dated 12 January 2014, last accessed 19 January 2014
Earning the Governor's Twenty Tab, By CPT Andrew J. Czaplicki, dated 7 August 2014, last accessed 10 January 2015
Tabs and Badges a Measure of Marksmanship Archived 18 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Missouri National Guard, dated 14 December 2010, last accessed 18 May 2014
National Guard Devices, by Eric Bush, last accessed 18 May 2014
Arizona National Guard's top marksmen awarded Governor's Dozen, Army.mil, by SGT Wesley Parrell, dated 15 April 2016, last accessed 5 February 2017
Top Iowa marksmen train fellow Red Bulls, Afghans at Torkham Gate, Defense Video and Imagery Distribution System, by Staff Sgt Ryan Matson, dated 11 March 2011, last accessed 28 February 2015
US Space Force Uniform & Accessories Store, usamm.com, last accessed 29 August 2022

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[AFI36-2903-1] AFI36-2903: Dress and Personal Appearance of Air Force Personnel, dated 12 April 2022, last accessed 29 August 2022

[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

[SMDC-OPZ-FB-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

[AFI_11-402-4] Air Force Guidance Memorandum to Air Force Manual (AFMAN) 11-402, Aviation and Parachutist Service, U.S. Department of the Air Force, dated 13 September 2022, last accessed 8 October 2022

[AFI36-2101-5] 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

[6] 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/

[7] 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

[8] Air Force creates new AFSC for operations research analyst officers, Air Force News, dated 15 May 2020, last accessed 4 June 2020

[9] 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

[10] U.S. Air Force Heraldry, Badges, Air Force Safety, U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry, dated 17 August 2021, last accessed 22 August 2021

[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] U.S. Air Force Heraldry, Badges, Air Force Scientific Applications Specialist, U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry, dated 16 August 2021, last accessed 22 August 2021

[14] New Air Force combat dive badges approved, Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs, posted 18 October 18 2022, last accessed 20 March 2023

[15] PACAF leaders promote Arctic Defense, Security Orientation course, U.S. Pacific Air Force, 673 Air Base Wing/Public Affairs, by SSgt Curt Beach, dated 25 February 2021, last accessed 11 September 2022

[16] AFI34-143: Excellence-In-Competition (EIC) Archived 2014-01-12 at the Wayback Machine, dated 21 Feb 12, last accessed 11 January 2014

[17] National Guard Regulation 672-3 and Air National Guard Regulation 900-1, National Guard Chief's 50 Marksmanship Badge Archived 2013-05-31 at the Wayback Machine, dated 1 February 1978, last accessed 26 March 2014

[MO_NG-18] Tabs and Badges a Measure of Missouri Guardmembers' Marksmanship Archived March 12, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Missouri National Guard Public Affairs, by Ann Keyes, last accessed 1 March 2015

[19] Tabs and Badges a Measure of Marksmanship Archived 2014-05-18 at the Wayback Machine, Missouri National Guard, dated 14 December 2010, last accessed 18 May 2014

[20] Texas National Guard Marksmanship Program, Governor's Twenty, Texas National Guard, updated 4 Aug 11, last accessed 13 Nov 11

[21] TXSG Team Wins First Place In 2009 Texas Adjutant General's Combat Pistol Sustainment Exercise Competition, Texas State Guard, by Maj. J. Michael Spraggins, dated 7 May 7, last accessed 27 June 2022

[22] Governor's 20 Sniper Competition 2014, Texas Military Forces, dated 12 January 2014, last accessed 19 January 2014

[23] Earning the Governor's Twenty Tab, By CPT Andrew J. Czaplicki, dated 7 August 2014, last accessed 10 January 2015

[MO_Guard-24] Tabs and Badges a Measure of Marksmanship Archived 18 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Missouri National Guard, dated 14 December 2010, last accessed 18 May 2014

[25] National Guard Devices, by Eric Bush, last accessed 18 May 2014

[26] Arizona National Guard's top marksmen awarded Governor's Dozen, Army.mil, by SGT Wesley Parrell, dated 15 April 2016, last accessed 5 February 2017

[27] Top Iowa marksmen train fellow Red Bulls, Afghans at Torkham Gate, Defense Video and Imagery Distribution System, by Staff Sgt Ryan Matson, dated 11 March 2011, last accessed 28 February 2015

[28] US Space Force Uniform & Accessories Store, usamm.com, last accessed 29 August 2022