Air Force Training Ribbon
Encyclopedia
The Air Force Training Ribbon is the lowest military award
of the United States Air Force
, ranking only above foreign military awards.
The Air Force Training Ribbon was authorized by the Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force on October 12, 1980. It is awarded to U.S. Air Force service members on completion of initial accession training after August 14, 1974. Initial accession training in USAF is defined as Basic Military Training
(BMT) for enlisted personnel, Basic Cadet Training (BCT) at the United States Air Force Academy
(USAFA), or commissioning through Air Force ROTC (AFROTC), Officer Training School (OTS
) or other specialized USAF officer accession programs.
In December 1986, the criteria expanded and authorized the ribbon to anyone who was on active duty in December 1986, regardless of when they completed initial accession training. The ribbon was designed by the Institute of Heraldry. The ribbon has a wide center stripe of red, flanked on either side by a wide stripe of dark blue and a narrow yellow stripe edged by a narrow dark blue stripe.
, AFROTC, USAFA and so forth) are entitled to a subsequent award denoted by an oak leaf cluster.
Officers who complete Air Force accession training but completed enlisted training in the Army receive the Training Ribbon on the basis of their officer accessions and wear it in addition to the Army Service Ribbon
.
Authorized Device: Oak Leaf Cluster
grants the Army Service Ribbon
in a manner similar to the Air Force Training Ribbon.
The United States Navy
and United States Coast Guard
do not have an award corresponding to the Air Force Training Ribbon. The ribbon is prohibited on all Naval Service uniforms worn by former USAF personnel.
The United States Marine Corps
also lacks an equivalent ribbon, but instead awards their trademark Eagle, Globe & Anchor
insignia upon completion of Recruit Training
or Officer Candidate School
, or at commissioning for those Marine Corps officers accessed via the United States Naval Academy
(USNA
), Naval ROTC (NROTC) Marine Corps Option or USMC Platoon Leaders Class (PLC).
Awards and decorations of the United States military
Awards and decorations of the United States Military are military decorations which recognize service and personal accomplishments while a member of the United States armed forces...
of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
, ranking only above foreign military awards.
The Air Force Training Ribbon was authorized by the Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force on October 12, 1980. It is awarded to U.S. Air Force service members on completion of initial accession training after August 14, 1974. Initial accession training in USAF is defined as Basic Military Training
United States Air Force Basic Military Training
United States Air Force Basic Military Training is an eight and a half week rigorous program of physical and mental training required in order for an individual to become an Airman in the United States Air Force, United States Air Force Reserve, or Air National Guard. It is carried out at...
(BMT) for enlisted personnel, Basic Cadet Training (BCT) at the United States Air Force Academy
United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States...
(USAFA), or commissioning through Air Force ROTC (AFROTC), Officer Training School (OTS
OTS
OTS may refer to:* Anacortes Airport in Anacortes, Washington by IATA airport code* Oakley Training School, a juvenile correctional facility in Hinds County, Mississippi...
) or other specialized USAF officer accession programs.
In December 1986, the criteria expanded and authorized the ribbon to anyone who was on active duty in December 1986, regardless of when they completed initial accession training. The ribbon was designed by the Institute of Heraldry. The ribbon has a wide center stripe of red, flanked on either side by a wide stripe of dark blue and a narrow yellow stripe edged by a narrow dark blue stripe.
Devices and Subsequent Awards
The Air Force Training Ribbon may not be awarded for completing flight training, technical training, career development courses, professional military education (PME) and other services' basic training or officer training. USAF enlisted personnel who initially accessed through BMT who later complete officer accession training (i.e., OTSOTS
OTS may refer to:* Anacortes Airport in Anacortes, Washington by IATA airport code* Oakley Training School, a juvenile correctional facility in Hinds County, Mississippi...
, AFROTC, USAFA and so forth) are entitled to a subsequent award denoted by an oak leaf cluster.
Officers who complete Air Force accession training but completed enlisted training in the Army receive the Training Ribbon on the basis of their officer accessions and wear it in addition to the Army Service Ribbon
Army Service Ribbon
The Army Service Ribbon is a military decoration of the United States Army that was established by the Secretary of the Army on 10 April 1981 as announced in Department of the Army General Order 15, dated 10 October 1990....
.
Authorized Device: Oak Leaf Cluster
Oak leaf cluster
An oak leaf cluster is a common device which is placed on U.S. Army and Air Force awards and decorations to denote those who have received more than one bestowal of a particular decoration. The number of oak leaf clusters typically indicates the number of subsequent awards of the decoration...
Sister Service Equivalents
The United States ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
grants the Army Service Ribbon
Army Service Ribbon
The Army Service Ribbon is a military decoration of the United States Army that was established by the Secretary of the Army on 10 April 1981 as announced in Department of the Army General Order 15, dated 10 October 1990....
in a manner similar to the Air Force Training Ribbon.
The United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
and United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
do not have an award corresponding to the Air Force Training Ribbon. The ribbon is prohibited on all Naval Service uniforms worn by former USAF personnel.
The United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
also lacks an equivalent ribbon, but instead awards their trademark Eagle, Globe & Anchor
Eagle, Globe, and Anchor
The Eagle, Globe, and Anchor is the official emblem and insignia of the United States Marine Corps. The current emblem traces its roots in the designs and ornaments of the early Continental Marines as well as the British Royal Marines. The present emblem, adopted in 1966, differs from the emblem of...
insignia upon completion of Recruit Training
United States Marine Corps Recruit Training
United States Marine Corps Recruit Training, commonly known as "boot camp", is a program of initial training that each recruit must successfully complete in order to join the United States Marine Corps...
or Officer Candidate School
Officer Candidates School (United States Marine Corps)
The United States Marine Corps Officer Candidates School is the entry-level training for Marine officers, equivalent to recruit training for enlisted Marines. Located at Marine Corps Base Quantico, the school trains, screens, and evaluates potential Marine Corps officers...
, or at commissioning for those Marine Corps officers accessed via the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
(USNA
USNA
USNA may refer to:* United States Naval Academy* United States of North America. A fictional country including the modern USA as well as Canada in the 1985 computer game A Mind Forever Voyaging...
), Naval ROTC (NROTC) Marine Corps Option or USMC Platoon Leaders Class (PLC).