Space and Missile Badge
Encyclopedia
Badges of the United States Air Force
Badges 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...
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...
which was awarded to those personnel who completed training in space warning, satellite command and control, missile operations, space surveillance, or space lift. It initially replaced the missileer badge
Missile Badge
The Missile Badge is a military decoration of the United States Air Force which was first created in the 1960s. The badge recognizes those commissioned officers and enlisted personnel of the US Air Force who have qualified as missile personnel that have been trained in the launching of landbased...
when the space and missile operations fields were merged, although the missileer badge was subsequently reinstated in 2009.
The Air Force is the most restrictive service with regards to which Air Force badges may be worn by other 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...
. The first Air Force badge awarded to other military services was the Air Force Space and Missile Badge which was authorized for wear by U.S. 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...
Space Cadre that qualified under Air Force regulations.
The Air Force Space and Missile Badge was presented in three grades being that of basic, senior, and master. The basic badge was awarded for completion of initial space training while the senior and master badges were awarded based on years of service in Air Force Space assignments; for officer the steps occur at seven and fifteen years respectively. For enlisted personnel the senior badge was awarded upon attaining a "7 skill level" and the master badge as a Master Sergeant
Master Sergeant
A master sergeant is the military rank for a senior non-commissioned officer in some armed forces.-Israel Defense Forces:Rav samal rishoninsignia IDF...
or above with five years in the specialty from award of the senior badge. The grades of the Air Force Space and Missile badge were denoted by a star (senior) and wreath (master) centered above the decoration.
In 2004, the Air Force Space Command Commander, General Lance Lord, announced the introduction of a new badge. The new Air Force Space Badge (AFSB) replaced the Air Force Space and Missile Badge. The new badge is also awarded to Air Force scientists, engineers, communications, Intelligence, and acquisition professionals who have performed space/missile operations, intelligence, and acquisition duties and have successfully completed the Space 100 course. Currently, Missileers
Missile combat crew
A missile combat crew , is a team of trained specialists manning Intermediate Range and Intercontinental Ballistic Missile systems . In the United States, men and women of the United States Air Force operate underground missile systems at launch control centers located throughout the country...
are no longer attending the Space 100 course; thus, they are no longer being award the Air Force Space Badge.
On February 2011, the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army approved the establishment of the Air Force Space Badge as a joint Air Force and Army badge; thus, the term “Air Force” was dropped from the official name of the badge and is now called the Space Badge. Army personnel can be award the Space Badge after attending Air Force and/or Army specific space or satellite systems courses and have 12 months (for Active Army) or 24 months (for Army Reserve
United States Army Reserve
The United States Army Reserve is the federal reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the reserve components of the United States Army....
and Army National Guard
Army National Guard
Established under Title 10 and Title 32 of the U.S. Code, the Army National Guard is part of the National Guard and is divided up into subordinate units stationed in each of the 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia operating under their respective governors...
) experience in a Space Cadre billet. The Space Badge is also awarded to graduates of the Army Space Operations Officer Qualification Course.
The badge is informally referred to as "space wings", or "spings", due to the resemblance to other aeronautical rating badges or "wings."
See also
- 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...
- 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....