Driver and Mechanic Badge

Driver and Mechanic Badge
Awarded by United States Army
Type	Badge
Awarded for	Qualification to operate military motor vehicles
Status	Currently awarded
Statistics
Established	July 1942
Last awarded	On going
Precedence
Next (higher)	(Group 4 badges) Pathfinder, Parachutist, Air Assault
Equivalent	(Group 5 badges) Diving, Rigger
Related	Weapons

The Driver and Mechanic Badge is a military badge of the United States Army which was first created in July 1942. The badge was originally referred to as the “Motor Vehicle Badge” and adopted its current title of Driver and Mechanic Badge during the Korean War. ^[1]

The Driver and Mechanic Badge is awarded to enlisted soldiers who have received training, and subsequent qualification, to operate or repair military motor vehicles. The badge is issued with a number of metal bars, suspended beneath the decoration, which denote the qualification received. The current bars which are issued to the Driver and Mechanic Badge are as follows: ^[2]

• DRIVER - A (for amphibious vehicles)
• DRIVER - M (for motorcycles)
• DRIVER - T (for tracked vehicles)
• DRIVER - W (for wheeled vehicles)
• MECHANIC (for automotive or allied vehicles)
• OPERATOR - S (for special mechanical equipment)

The Driver and Mechanic Badge is worn suspended beneath a service member’s standard decorations and to the wearer's right of any Weapons Qualification Badges. ^[3]

References

1. ^ The Institute of Heraldry, U.S. Army Badges, Driver and Michanic Badge
2. ^ U.S. Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards
3. ^ U.S. Army Regulation 670-1: Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia