Obsolete badges of the United States military
Encyclopedia
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...
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
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...
in favor of the modern military badges which are used by the U.S. military today.
Certain badges were also issued in the 19th century, and the oldest military badge on record dates to the time of the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. The following is a listing of obsolete U.S. military badges and the time period, or branch of service, to which such badges were specific.
A unique obsolete badge situation occurred with General of the Air Force Henry H. Arnold
Henry H. Arnold
Henry Harley "Hap" Arnold was an American general officer holding the grades of General of the Army and later General of the Air Force. Arnold was an aviation pioneer, Chief of the Air Corps , Commanding General of the U.S...
, who in 1913 was among the 24 Army pilots to receive the first Military Aviator badge, an eagle bearing Signal Corps flags suspended from a bar. Replaced in 1917 by the more conventional "wings" embroidered design (authorized as an oxidized silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
badge in 1921), Arnold displayed both types on his uniform throughout his career. The original Military Aviator design can be seen in pictures of him in uniform.
Revolutionary War
| Badge of Military Merit Badge of Military Merit The Badge of Military Merit is considered the first military award of the United States Armed Forces. Although the Fidelity Medallion is older, after being issued to three soldiers for a specific event in 1780 it was never awarded again, so the Badge of Military Merit is often considered the oldest... |
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| Fidelity Medallion Fidelity Medallion The Fidelity Medallion is the oldest decoration of the United States military and was created by act of the Continental Congress in 1780. Also known as the "André Capture Medal", the Fidelity Medallion was awarded to those soldiers who participated in the capture of Major John André, of the... |
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1913-1926
| Signal Corps Military Aviator Badge U.S. Air Force Aeronautical Ratings U.S. Air Force aeronautical ratings are military aviation skill standards established and awarded by the United States Air Force for commissioned officers participating in "regular and frequent flight", The standard by which flight status has been defined in law, executive orders, and regulations... |
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| Air Service Airplane Pilot Badge U.S. Air Force Aeronautical Ratings U.S. Air Force aeronautical ratings are military aviation skill standards established and awarded by the United States Air Force for commissioned officers participating in "regular and frequent flight", The standard by which flight status has been defined in law, executive orders, and regulations... |
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| Bombing Aviator Badge Bombardier Badge The Bombardier Badge was a military badge of the United States military which was issued between the years of 1918 and 1949. The decoration was intended to recognize the military training and qualification required by those service members who were bombardiers on board military aircraft.Originally... |
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| Aeronaut Badge | |
| Enlisted Aviator Badge United States Aviator Badge A United States Aviator Badge refers to three types of aviation badges issued by the United States military, those being for Army, Air Force, and Naval aviation.... |
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| Observer Badge Observer Badge The Observer Badge is a military badge of the United States military which dates to the First World War. The badge was issued to co-pilots, navigators, and flight support personnel who had received a variation on the training necessary for the standard Pilot's Badge... |
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| Wound Chevron Wound Chevron A Wound Chevron was a badge of the United States Army which was authorized for wear on an Army uniform between the years of 1918 and 1932. The Wound Chevron was displayed on the lower right cuff of a military uniform, and denoted wounds which were received in combat against an enemy force... |
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Army Air ForcesUnited States Army Air ForcesThe 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....
| Army Air Forces Pilot Badge United States Aviator Badge A United States Aviator Badge refers to three types of aviation badges issued by the United States military, those being for Army, Air Force, and Naval aviation.... |
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| Army Air Forces Flight Surgeon Badge Flight Surgeon Badge (United States) 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 surgeons. The original Flight Surgeon... |
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| Army Air Forces 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... |
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| Army Air Forces Navigator Badge Navigator Badge The Navigator Badge is a military qualification badge of the United States Armed Forces which was first created during the Second World War. The current USAF badge is designated by Air Force Instructions as the Navigator/Observer Badge and is issued to rated officers in both rating categories.The... |
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| Army Air Forces Aircrew Badge | |
| Bombardier Badge Bombardier Badge The Bombardier Badge was a military badge of the United States military which was issued between the years of 1918 and 1949. The decoration was intended to recognize the military training and qualification required by those service members who were bombardiers on board military aircraft.Originally... |
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| Aerial Gunner Badge Gunner Badge The Gunner Badge was a military aeronautical badge of the United States Army Air Forces and was issued during the Second World War. The badge was first created to recognize both the training and hazardous duty of aerial gunners, who manned defensive machineguns on board such aircraft as the B-17,... |
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| Airship Pilot Badge |  |
| Balloon Pilot Badge Balloon Pilot Badge The Balloon Pilot Badge is a military badge of the United States Armed Forces which was issued during the First and Second World Wars. The badge was issued by both the United States Army and the U.S... |
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| Glider Pilot Badge Auxiliary Pilot Badge The Glider, Service, and Liaison Pilot Badges were qualification badges of the United States Army Air Force which were issued during the years of World War II. The badges appeared as the standard USAAF Pilot Badge with one of three letters centered on the badges’ shield, or escutcheon... |
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| Service Pilot Badge Auxiliary Pilot Badge The Glider, Service, and Liaison Pilot Badges were qualification badges of the United States Army Air Force which were issued during the years of World War II. The badges appeared as the standard USAAF Pilot Badge with one of three letters centered on the badges’ shield, or escutcheon... |
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| Liaison Pilot Badge Auxiliary Pilot Badge The Glider, Service, and Liaison Pilot Badges were qualification badges of the United States Army Air Force which were issued during the years of World War II. The badges appeared as the standard USAAF Pilot Badge with one of three letters centered on the badges’ shield, or escutcheon... |
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| Flight Engineer Badge Flight Engineer Badge The Flight Engineer Badge was a qualification badge of the United States Army Air Forces authorized late in the Second World War on 19 June 1945. It was awarded to those military officers and NCOs who had qualified as flight engineers on board a military aircraft... |
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| Aircraft Observer Badge Observer Badge The Observer Badge is a military badge of the United States military which dates to the First World War. The badge was issued to co-pilots, navigators, and flight support personnel who had received a variation on the training necessary for the standard Pilot's Badge... |
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| Technical Observer Badge Observer Badge The Observer Badge is a military badge of the United States military which dates to the First World War. The badge was issued to co-pilots, navigators, and flight support personnel who had received a variation on the training necessary for the standard Pilot's Badge... |
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| Balloon Observer Badge Observer Badge The Observer Badge is a military badge of the United States military which dates to the First World War. The badge was issued to co-pilots, navigators, and flight support personnel who had received a variation on the training necessary for the standard Pilot's Badge... |
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| Women Airforce Service Pilots Badge Women Airforce Service Pilots Badge The Women Airforce Service Pilots Badge is a decoration of the United States Army that was issued during the Second World War. The badge created for the Women Airforce Service Pilots, or WASP , was awarded to more than a thousand women who had qualified for employment as civilian, non-combat... |
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| Flight Instructor Badge Flight Instructor Badge The Flight Instructor Badge was an aeronautical badge of the United States Army during the Second World War. The badge was issued to members of the United States Army Air Forces who were civilian pilots, appointed as military flight instructors and granted officer commissions to train at military... |
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| Army Air Forces Technician Badge |
Air ForceUnited States Air ForceThe 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...
| Air Force Combat Crew Badge Combat crew badge The Combat Crew Badge was established by the United States Air Force on September 1, 1964. It was worn by those USAF personnel serving in positions where they were accruing creditable service towards the Combat Readiness Medal as outlined in U.S. Air Force regulation 900-48. It was a... |
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Active from 1964 to 1993 |
| Space and Missile Badge Space and Missile Badge The Air Force Space and Missile Badge was a military badge of the United States Air Force which was awarded to those personnel who completed training in space warning, satellite command and control, missile operations, space surveillance, or space lift... |
Replaced by Space Badge on 1 Nov 2005 http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123012664 | |
| Communications and Information Badge |  |
Replaced by Cyberspace Support Badge on 1 Jun 2010 http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123176202 |
| Information Management Badge |  |
Replaced by Cyberspace Support Badge on 1 Jun 2010 http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123176202 |
ArmyUnited States ArmyThe 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...
| Glider Badge Glider Badge The Glider Badge was a qualification badge of the United States Army. According to the U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry, the badge was awarded to personnel who had "been assigned or attached to a glider or airborne unit or to the Airborne Department of the Infantry School; satisfactorily completed... |
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| Air Assault Badge |  |
| Scuba Diver Badge | .jpg){kind=icon} |
| Reserve Recruiter Badge Reserve Recruiter Badge The Reserve Recruiter Badge was an identification badge of the United States Army which was first created during the Second World War. The badge was issued until the 1980s, at which time the United States Army declared the award discontinued in favor of the standard Recruiter Badge used by both... |
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| National Guard Recruiter & Retention Badges Recruiter Badge The Recruiter Badge is a decoration of the United States military which is awarded to those personnel who have performed recruitment duty as military recruiters to the United States Armed Forces. The Recruiter Badge is issued by every branch of military except for the United States Marine Corps... |
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| Nuclear Reactor Operator Badges Nuclear Reactor Operator Badge The Nuclear Reactor Operator Badge is a decoration of the United States Army which was issued between the years of 1965 and 1990. In 1991, the decoration was declared obsolete by Army Regulation 672-5-1, but uniform regulations permit the continued wearing of badges awarded before then... |
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Coast GuardUnited States Coast GuardThe 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...
| Coast Guard Flight Officer Badge Coast Guard Flight Officer Badge The Coast Guard Flight Officer Badge is a military badge of the United States Coast Guard that was issued until approximately 1988.A Naval Aviation Observer insignia for Coast Guard personnel was first created in 1920 as a means of recognizing Coast Guard co-pilots and aircraft in-flight support... |
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| Office of the Secretary of Transportation Identification Badge Office of the Secretary of Transportation Identification Badge The Office of the Secretary of Transportation Identification Badge is a U.S. military badge of the Coast Guard which was issued until 2003. The badge was presented to any Coast Guard personnel who were assigned as permanent staff to the Secretary of Transportation... |
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NavyUnited States NavyThe 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...
| Naval Navigator Badge |  |
| Dirigible Pilot Badge Dirigible Pilot Badge The Dirigible Pilot Badge is a military decoration of the United States Navy that was issued to those service members who received training and qualification as dirigible pilots... |
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| Enlisted Special Warfare Pin Special Warfare Badge The Special Warfare insignia, also known as the “SEAL Trident” or its more popular nickname, "The Budweiser," is one of the most recognizable military badges of the United States Navy.-History:... |
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| Naval Aviation Pilot Badge (enlisted pilot) |  |
| Underwater Demolition Officer Pin Underwater Demolition Badge The Underwater Demolition Badge is an obsolete badge of the United States Navy which was first created during the Second World War. The Underwater Demolition Badge was established as a decoration for members of Navy Underwater Demolition Teams and is considered a predecessor decoration to the... |
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| Underwater Demolition Enlisted Pin Underwater Demolition Badge The Underwater Demolition Badge is an obsolete badge of the United States Navy which was first created during the Second World War. The Underwater Demolition Badge was established as a decoration for members of Navy Underwater Demolition Teams and is considered a predecessor decoration to the... |
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| Scuba Officer Badge |  |
Joint Service
| White House Service Badge White House Service Badge The White House Service Badge was a short lived military insignia which was issued between the years of 1960 and 1964 for United States armed forces military personnel stationed at the White House in a variety of duties.... |
Replaced by the Presidential Service Badge Presidential Service Badge The Presidential Service Badge is a badge of the United States military issued to service members who serve as full-time military staff to the President of the United States... on 1 Sep 1964 |
See also
- 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...
- Identification badges of the United States military