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Flight Surgeon Badge (United States)
Encyclopedia
The Flight Surgeon Badge is a military badge
of the United States Armed Forces
which has existed since the Second World War.
The Flight Surgeon Badge is presented to those members of the military who are both qualified medical officers and certified flight surgeon
s. The original Flight Surgeon Badge was first issued by the United States Army Air Forces
during World War II
. Since then, the decoration has expanded into four separate military service versions of the Flight Surgeon Badge, with the United States Marine Corps
the only branch of service which does not issue the Flight Surgeon Badge.
To be awarded the Flight Surgeon Badge, a service member must be a commissioned officer who holds a designation as a medical staff officer. Following the completion of initial military medical training, a service member must undergo further study in Aerospace Medicine. Upon completion of a medical residency, those eligible for the Flight Surgeon Badge must next undergo basic air operations training consistent with that of a qualified aircrew member. Once all requirements have been met, a service member must complete a probationary period to include a series of in-flight missions and medical skills evaluation. Only at the end of this lengthy process with the service member will be awarded the Flight Surgeon Badge.
The United States Army
and United States Air Force issue the Flight Surgeon Badge in three ratings: Basic, Senior, and Master (Army)/Chief (Air Force). The Basic Flight Surgeon Badge is presented upon completion of initial flight surgeon qualifications, while the Senior and Master versions of the badge are presented based on years of service and number of flight hours performed as a flight surgeon. Typically, the Senior Flight Surgeon Badge is awarded after three to seven years of service, while the Master version is obtained after seven to fifteen years of service. The Senior version of the Flight Surgeon badge is denoted by a star centered above the decoration, while the Master and Chief Flight Surgeon badges display a star and wreath.
The United States Navy
and Coast Guard
issue the Flight Surgeon Badge in a single degree. There is no Marine Corps equivalent because the United States Marines do not maintain a separate medical corps and utilize naval personnel for these tasks.
It should also be noted that the Flight Surgeon Badge is presented only to qualified and licensed physician
s who have undergone the full amount of required training. Enlisted and Warrant personnel, who serve in the temporary position of flight surgeon during certain in-flight missions, are not eligible for the decoration.
In addition to the Flight Surgeon Badge, the United States Navy and Air Force award the Flight Nurse Badge
for those nurses qualified in aerospace medicine and in-flight operations. A flight medical specialty badge, the Aviation Psychologist Badge
, is an additional decoration awarded by the U.S. Navy.
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 assignments. Personal recognition is granted to...
of the United States Armed Forces
United States armed forces
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
which has existed since the Second World War.
The Flight Surgeon Badge is presented to those members of the military who are both qualified medical officers and certified flight surgeon
Flight surgeon
A flight surgeon is a military medical officer assigned to duties in the clinical field variously known as aviation medicine, aerospace medicine, or flight medicine...
s. The original Flight Surgeon Badge was first issued by the United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Since then, the decoration has expanded into four separate military service versions of the Flight Surgeon Badge, with 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...
the only branch of service which does not issue the Flight Surgeon Badge.
To be awarded the Flight Surgeon Badge, a service member must be a commissioned officer who holds a designation as a medical staff officer. Following the completion of initial military medical training, a service member must undergo further study in Aerospace Medicine. Upon completion of a medical residency, those eligible for the Flight Surgeon Badge must next undergo basic air operations training consistent with that of a qualified aircrew member. Once all requirements have been met, a service member must complete a probationary period to include a series of in-flight missions and medical skills evaluation. Only at the end of this lengthy process with the service member will be awarded the Flight Surgeon Badge.
The United States Army
United 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...
and United States Air Force issue the Flight Surgeon Badge in three ratings: Basic, Senior, and Master (Army)/Chief (Air Force). The Basic Flight Surgeon Badge is presented upon completion of initial flight surgeon qualifications, while the Senior and Master versions of the badge are presented based on years of service and number of flight hours performed as a flight surgeon. Typically, the Senior Flight Surgeon Badge is awarded after three to seven years of service, while the Master version is obtained after seven to fifteen years of service. The Senior version of the Flight Surgeon badge is denoted by a star centered above the decoration, while the Master and Chief Flight Surgeon badges display a star and wreath.
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 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...
issue the Flight Surgeon Badge in a single degree. There is no Marine Corps equivalent because the United States Marines do not maintain a separate medical corps and utilize naval personnel for these tasks.
It should also be noted that the Flight Surgeon Badge is presented only to qualified and licensed physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
s who have undergone the full amount of required training. Enlisted and Warrant personnel, who serve in the temporary position of flight surgeon during certain in-flight missions, are not eligible for the decoration.
In addition to the Flight Surgeon Badge, the United States Navy and Air Force award the Flight Nurse Badge
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...
for those nurses qualified in aerospace medicine and in-flight operations. A flight medical specialty badge, the Aviation Psychologist Badge
Aviation Psychologist Badge
The Aerospace Experimental Psychologist insignia is a military badge of the United States Navy which is issued to those members of the Navy Medical Service Corps who have been qualified as in-flight aviation observers with certification in psychology, in particular the psychology of in-flight...
, is an additional decoration awarded by the U.S. Navy.
See also
- Badges of the United States Air ForceBadges of the United States Air ForceBadges of the United States Air Force are military awards 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...
- Badges of the United States ArmyBadges of the United States ArmyBadges of the United States Army are military decorations issued by the United States Department of the Army to soldiers who achieve a variety of qualifications and accomplishments while serving on active and reserve duty in the United States Army....
- Badges of the United States Coast GuardBadges of the United States Coast GuardBadges of the United States Coast Guard are issued by the Department of Homeland Security to members of the United States Coast Guard to denote certain qualifications, achievements, and postings to certain assignments...
- Badges of the United States NavyBadges of the United States NavyInsignia and badges of the United States Navy are military "badges" issued by the United States Department of the Navy to naval service members who achieve certain qualifications and accomplishments while serving on both active and reserve duty in the United States Navy...
- Badges of the United States Marine CorpsBadges of the United States Marine CorpsInsignia and badges of the United States Marine Corps are military "badges" issued by the United States Department of the Navy to Marines who achieve certain qualifications and accomplishments while serving on both active and reserve duty in the United States Marine Corps.As described in Chapters 4...
- Military badges of the United StatesMilitary badges of the United StatesMilitary 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 assignments. Personal recognition is granted to...
- Obsolete badges of the United States militaryObsolete badges of the United States militaryObsolete badges of the United States military are a number of U.S. military insignia which were issued in the early 20th century leading up to and including badges issued during the Second World War. Such badges were eventually phased out of the United States armed forces in favor of the modern...
- USAF Aeronautical Ratings