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Military Badges Of The United States

Department of Defense Distinguished Service Medal (Est 1970)

Military Badges Of The United States are devices of personal recognition that are granted to service members of the United States armed forces to denote personal accomplishment, qualifications, and participation in designated military campaigns or other activities. Personal recognition is granted to service members by a number of awards and decorations. Together with military decorations, such badges are displayed outwardly on military uniforms.

Each of the five military services maintains a separate series of badges which may be awarded to service members. Various regulations exist on how badges are displayed, how many may be worn at one time, and whether or not such badges may be worn on the uniform of more than one branch of service.

Military Badges Of The United States Department of Defense

Military Badges Of The United States Department of Defense are insignia of the United States Department of Defense which are presented to service members for performing certain duties in the both the Department of Defense and the Office of the Secretary Defense. The Department of Defense badges are considered "joint service" meaning that they may be worn and displayed on any uniform of every branch of the United States armed forces.

Badges of the United States Army

Badges of the United States Army are military decorations of the U.S. Army which are displayed on Army uniforms to denote a variety of qualifications and accomplishments to military service members. Most U.S. Army badges are considered "inter-service" meaning that regulations permit their display and wear on uniforms of other branches of the United States armed forces, should a service member reenlist or become an officer in a different service of the miltiary. Badges are worn in conjunction with badges of rank and branch insignia.

Combat Infantryman Badge

Infantrymen must have the skill and the will-not to just participate in the close fight, but to dominate it. From World War II through Vietnam, four out of five combat deaths were sustained by infantrymen, who constituted only five percent of the US military manpower.

The Combat Infantryman Badge was approved by the Secretary of War on 7 October 1943 and announced in War Department Circular 269 dated 27 October 1943. On 8 February 1952, the Chief of Staff, Army, approved a proposal to add stars to the Combat Infantryman Badge to indicate award of the badge in separate wars. Under this change in policy, the badge was no longer limited to a one-time award, but could now be awarded to eligible individuals for each war in which they participated.

The Combat Infantryman Badge is awarded to personnel in the grade of Colonel or below with an infantry or special forces military occupational specialty who have satisfactorily performed duty while assigned as a member of an infantry/special forces unit, brigade or smaller size, during any period subsequent to 6 December 1941 when the unit was engaged in active ground combat. The policy was expanded to permit award to Command Sergeants Major of infantry battalions or brigades, effective 1 December 1967. Specific criteria for each conflict was also established. Only one award is authorized for service in Vietnam, Laos, the Dominican Republic, Korea (subsequent to 4 January 1969), El Salvador, Grenada, Panama, the Southwest Asia and Somalia, regardless of whether an individual has served in one or more of these areas. The complete criteria for each area and inclusive dates are listed in Army Regulation 600-8-22. The bar is blue, the color associated with the Infantry branch. The musket is adapted from the Infantry insignia of branch and represents the first official U.S. shoulder arm, the 1795 model Springfield Arsenal musket. It was adopted as the official Infantry branch insignia in 1924. The oak symbolizes steadfastness, strength and loyalty.

In August 1943, Lieutenant General (LTG) Leslie J. McNair's Army Ground Forces (AGF) headquarters conducted a survey of soldiers then assigned to AGF's 11 arms and services. His people discovered that, among those soldiers, the Infantry was by far the least popular branch, even with its own members. Very few Infantrymen, at the time, were happy with being in the Infantry or with their current assignments. The results of the survey were given to General George C. Marshall, the Army's Chief of Staff and an old-line Infantryman himself. General Marshall asked LTG McNair to recommend ways the Infantry's prestige could be boosted and its importance as the Army's premier combat arm could be recognized. Infantry units were doing most of the fighting and dying in all active theaters of operations and General Marshall knew the road ahead would require even greater sacrifices from the Infantry.

One of LTG McNair's proposals called for a "fighter badge" that could be awarded to Infantrymen who could meet certain standards which were to be developed by Marshall's headquarters. Marshall approved the concept but decided that instead of having one "fighter badge" there would be two individual combat badges--the Expert Infantryman Badge and the Combat Infantryman Badge. Section I, War Department Circular 209, dated October 27, 1943, spelled out the details. The circular begins by stating: The present war has demonstrated the importance of highly proficient, tough, hard, and aggressive Infantry, which can be obtained only by developing a high degree of individual all-around proficiency on the part of every Infantryman. As a means of attaining the high standards desired and to foster esprit de corps in the Infantry units, the Expert Infantryman and Combat Infantryman Badges are established for Infantry personnel.

The Expert Infantryman Badge was approved by the Secretary of War on 7 October 1943 and announced in War Department Circular 269 dated 27 October 1943. It consists of a silver and enamel badge 7/16 inch in height and 3 inches in width, consisting of an Infantry musket on a light blue bar with a silver border. The bar is blue, the color associated with the Infantry branch. The musket is adapted from the Infantry insignia of branch and represents the first official U.S. shoulder arm, 1795 model Springfield Arsenal musket. It was adopted as the official Infantry branch insignia in 1924. Personnel must meet Department of the Army established testing requirements and must possess a military occupational specialty within Career Management Field 11 (Infantry) or 18 (Special Forces), less MOS 18D.

It is interesting to note that both badges were initially considered combat badges. The EIB could be awarded to Infantrymen who either attained "the standards of proficiency established by the War Department" or satisfactorily performed "duty in action against the enemy." The CIB had stricter requirements; to be awarded to Infantrymen who had to demonstrate "exemplary conduct in action against the enemy." Today, the EIB and CIB may be awarded only to members of the United States Army.

Badges of the United States Navy

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. Most Navy badges are also permitted for wear on uniforms of the United States Marine Corps.

Badges of the United States Air Force

Badges of the United States Air Force are military awards which are issued by the United States Air Force for personal qualification in several career fields and also as identification badges while serving in certain assignments. All Air Force badges (with the exception of identification badges) are issued in three degrees. Occupational badges are issued in Basic, Senior, and Master degrees while pilot badges are issued in Basic, Senior, and Command. A star and wreath system, worn above the Air Force badge, denotes which degree a service member currently holds.

The Air Force is the most restrictive service with regards to which Air Force badges may be worn on the uniforms of other United States armed forces branches. With the exception of aviation badges, most U.S. Air Force badges may only be displayed on United States Air Force uniforms. The Air Force previously maintained a number of obsolete badges which were created for use by the Army Air Force during World War II. Such badges are no longer issued.

Badges of the United States Marine Corps

Badges of the United States Marine Corps are military decorations which are issued by the United States Department of the Navy to service members of the U.S. Marines to denote a variety of qualifications and accomplishments. The Marine Corps issues the fewest number of badges of all the United States armed forces and most badges used by the Marine Corps are also issued as U.S. Navy badges. There are certain badges, however, which are specific only to the Marines and not issued by any other branch of service.

Badges of the United States Coast Guard

Badges of the United States Coast Guard are military decorations 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. Prior to 2002, the issuance of such badges was under the authority of the United States Department of Transportation.

WWII Honorable Discharge (Ruptured Duck) Pin

Obsolete badges of the United States military

Obsolete badges of the United States military are a number of U.S. military decorations 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 military badges which are used by the U.S. military today and no longer appear on U.S. award precedence charts.

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. 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.

The Decorations, Medals, Badges and Insignia of the United States Army The most complete guide to United States Army Medals, Ribbons, Rank, Insignia and Patches from WW II to Present. Each medal, insignia and major combat patch are shown in full color. Complete details of all medals and ribbons to include campaigns. This is the single most impressive and complete reference on US Army awards and insignia ever produced.

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