AI tools

Badges of the United States Army

Military decorations issued by the United States Department of the Army From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Badges of the United States Army

Badges 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.

Thumb
Example of badges and tabs worn on the U.S. Army Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP) uniform

As described in Army Regulation 670-1 Uniforms and Insignia, badges are categorized into marksmanship, combat and special skill, identification, and foreign.[1] Combat and Special Skill badges are further divided into six groups.[2]

A total of six combat and special skill badges are authorized for wear at one time on service and dress uniforms; this total does not include special skill tabs (service uniform) or special skill tab metal replicas (dress uniform).

Personnel may wear up to three badges above the ribbons or pocket flap on dress uniforms, or in a similar location for uniforms without pockets. Personnel may only wear one combat or special skill badge from either group 1 or group 2 above the ribbons. Soldiers may wear up to three badges from groups 3 and 4 above the ribbons. One badge from either group 1 or group 2 may be worn with badges from groups 3 and 4 above the ribbons, so long as the total number of badges above the ribbons does not exceed three.

Only three badges (from groups 3, 4, or 5) can be worn on the dress uniform pocket flap at one time. This total does not include special skill tab metal replicas. Personnel will wear the driver and mechanic badges only on the wearer's left pocket flap of service and dress uniforms, or in a similar location on uniforms without pockets. Personnel may not attach more than three clasps to the driver and mechanic badges. The driver and mechanic badges are not authorized for wear on utility uniforms.

The order of precedence for combat and special skill badges are established only by group. There is no precedence for combat or special skill badges within the same group. For example, personnel who are authorized to wear the Parachutist and Air Assault badges may determine the order of wear between those two badges.[3]

The 21st century United States Army issues the following military badges (listed below in order of group precedence) which are worn in conjunction with badges of rank and branch insignia.

Combat and Special Skill Badges and Tabs

Source:[2]

Group 1

Group 2

Group 3

Group 4

Group 5

Main article: Marksmanship badges (United States)

Identification Badges

Main article: Identification badges of the Uniform Services of the United States

Other Accoutrements

National Guard Badges

Proposed badges

Summarize
Perspective

Master combat badges

In late 2024 it was reported that "master combat badges" would debut in Spring 2025; the Master Infantryman Badge, Master Medical Badge, and Master Soldier Badge. The badges would represent those who have earned both a combat badge (CIB, CMB, or CAB) and an expert badge (EIB, EFMB, or ESB). The proposed "master badges" are alleged to appear identical to their respective combat badges, replacing the silver wreaths on the full-color metal badges with gold wreaths; subdued pin-on badges and sew-on badges would see their black wreaths also replaced with gold. Soldiers that had earned a combat badge but a "separate" expert badge (a CIB and an EFMB, for example) would wear the master badge aligning with their combat badge (in the case of a CIB and an EFMB, the awardee would wear the Master Infantryman Badge). As of February 2025, no official announcement has been made concerning the badges.[8][9]

Army Mountain Warfare School badge

In October 2024 Sergeant Major of the Army (SMA) Michael Weimer reported that the Army is "... in the process of redesigning..." the Ram's Head Device, the current badge awarded to graduates of the Army Mountain Warfare School (AMWS) at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site in Jericho, Vermont. The Ram's Head Device is (currently) only authorized for wear on the uniforms of New England (CT, MA, NH, ME, RI, and VT) National Guardsmen whom are graduates of AMWS and serving in a state role/on state orders. SMA Weimer also alleged that the "ram's head" is "...not going to be the badge," suggesting a re-design rather than an Army-wide authorization to wear the current badge. As of February 2025, no further announcements have been made concerning the badge.[10]

Mariner badge

In October 2024, Sergeant Major of the Army (SMA) Michael Weimer reported that a badge for Army mariners would be instituted. SMA Weimer stated that that Soldiers serving on Army watercraft and ships would be eligible for the badge. As of February 2025, no further announcements have been made concerning the badge.[11]

Notes

  • * = also issued to Air Force airmen
  • ** = also issued to airmen and Space Force guardians
  • No asterisk indicates that the badge is issued only to soldiers

See also

References

External links

Wikiwand - on

Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.