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.AFI36-2903: Dress and Personal Appearance of Air Force Personnel, dated 29 February 2024, last accessed 3 July 2024
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 occupational 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 field CFETPs denote the requirements for awarding each level.
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.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
The Air Force is the most restrictive service with regard 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.SMDC-OPZ-FB, ASPDO Procedural Guide #1 - Procedures for Awarding the Space Badge to Army Space Cadre Personnel , dated 15 Feb 11, accessed 16 Jan 12
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: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
Aeronautical Rating Badges
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.AFI36-2101: Classifying Military Personnel (Officer and Enlisted) ; dated 25 June 2013, updated 18 November 2013; last accessed 11 January 2014
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
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.Air Force Special Operations Command, Special Tactics Units ; accessed August 21, 2011
Logistics Career Group
Support Career Group
Professional Career Group
Acquisition Career Group
Medical Career Group
Reporting Identifiers
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.
Duty Badges
Sources:
Tabs and scrolls + Authorized identifier tabs (worn on upper–left sleeve of combat uniforms)Duty/Qualification Approved tab/patchAdvanced Air Advisor Tab (Authorized for permanent wear)Air Advisor Tab (Authorized for permanent wear)Arctic Tab (Authorized for permanent wear)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 2022Base Honor Guard - Dress UniformBase Honor GuardCourierEvaluatorForward Area Refueling PointInstructorMaster InstructorRavenRecruiterSurvival, Evasion, Resistance and EscapeSurvival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Specialist ScrollUSAF Honor Guard - Dress UniformUSAF Honor Guard
Duty identifier patches +Worn on the left shoulder of the service's Operational Camouflage Pattern uniform Patches with black borders indicate first responders and career fields that require quick identificationFirst SergeantAir Battle ManagerAirmen Dorm LeaderAircrew Flight EquipmentAirfield ManagementAerospace Ground EquipmentMunitions SystemsAircraft MaintenanceAircraft Structural MaintenanceAir Traffic ControlAvionicsAviation Resource ManagementBattle Management OperationsAll-Domain Comand & Control OperationsChemical Biological Radiological NuclearCombat ControlCivil EngineerCareer Enlisted AviatorContractingCombat Rescue OfficerCombat Systems CyberDevelopment AdvisorPavements and Construction EquipmentAircraft Electrical and EnvironmentalAircrew Egress Electrical SystemsDevelopmental EngineeringEngineeringAerospace PropulsionPest ManagementEqual OpportunityExplosive Ordnance DutyElectronic WarfareForeign AffairsFire ProtectionFinancial ManagementAircraft Fuel SystemsGround TransportReligious AffairsHuman Resources & AdministrationHVAC & RefrigerationAircraft Hydraulic SystemsIndependent Duty Medical TechnicianInformation OperationsIntelligence Judge AdvocateJoint Air Component Coordination ElementLogistics ReadinessMissile Alert Facility ManagerAircraft MainenanceMedical ProvidersManpowerAircraft Metals TechnologyMunitions and Missile MaintenanceMaintenance ManagementNavigatorNondestructive InspectionOperations ManagementOperation ResearchSpecial Investigations Public AffairsAerospace PhysiologyPararescueLogistics PlansProfessional Military EducationPrecision Measurement Equipment LabFuelsAir TransportElectrical Power ProductionRadar Airfield and Weather SystemsScientific UtilizationSecurity ForcesSafetySpecial ReconnaissanceSpecial TacticsStucturalMateriel ManagementServicesTactical Air Control PartyAdvanced Fighter Aircraft AvionicsTraffic ManagementEducation and TrainingUnit Deployment Management Vehicular Maintenance Weather and Environmental SciencesWater and Fuel Systems ManagementAircraft Armament SystemsWeapons Systems EvaluationWeather
Award badges Sources:AFI34-143: Excellence-In-Competition (EIC) , dated 21 Feb 12, last accessed 11 January 2014
Air National Guard badges and tabs
See also U.S. Air Force aeronautical rating Military badges of the United States Identification badges of the United States military Obsolete badges of the United States military United States military beret flash Air Force Specialty Code Uniforms of the United States Air Force
Notes * = also issued to Space Force guardians ** = also issued to Army soldiers ***= also issued to guardians and soldiers No asterisk indicates that the badge is only issued to airmen
References