Recruiter Badge

The Recruiter Badge is a decoration of the United States military which is awarded to those personnel who have performed recruitment duty as military recruiters to the United States Armed Forces. The Recruiter Badge is issued by every branch of military except for the United States Marine Corps. With the exception of the United States Army, a Recruiting Service Ribbon is also awarded to those personnel who have completed successful tours as military recruiters.

U.S. Army

Gold and Silver Army Recruiter Badges

Army Recruiter Ring

Basic, Senior, and Master Army National Guard Recruiter & Retention Badges

The Army Recruiter Identification Badge is presented to active and reserve Army personnel who are assigned to the U.S. Army Recruiting Command (USAREC). The basic badge is a silver crest and may be upgraded with up to three gold achievement stars, centered at the bottom of the badge. Achievement beyond the award of a 3rd gold star is signified in the awarding of the gold recruiter badge. Further achievements are annotated by up to three sapphire stars placed at the bottom of the gold recruiter badge. ^{[1] [2]}

Once an Army recruiter has achieved three sapphire stars for their gold badge, a recruiter qualifies to earn points toward the Army Recruiter Ring. The long quest for the ring takes an Army recruiter through eight levels of proficiency that test their skills in recruiting. The ring is not easily won; only a small percentage of Army recruiters earn this award.^[3]

All Army personnel that graduate from the Army Recruiter Course (ARC) or are assigned to USAREC are authorized to wear the basic recruiter badge. However, only those ARC graduates who have satisfied specific recruiting goals are authorized to wear the Army Recruiter Badge as a permanent award.^[2]

Recruiters for the US Army and Army Reserve wear the Army Recruiter Identification Badge. Recruiters assigned to the Army National Guard wear a distinct Army National Guard Recruiter and Retention Badge which depicts the minuteman in the center of the badge. The Army National Guard Recruiter and Retention Badge is awarded in three degrees (basic, senior, and master). The basic badge is unique in its design while the senior and master badges are similar in appearance with the master badge displaying the words "Peritus" in a gold arch at the top of the badge. ^[4]

The basic and senior versions of the Army National Guard Recruiter and Retention Badge are temporary badges that must be surrendered upon the completion of a Guardsman's recruiting assignment. However, the master version of this badge is awarded to Guardsman as a permanent award. ^[1]

U.S. Air Force

Air Force Recruiting Service Badge

Air Force Reserve Recruiting Service Badge

Air National Guard Recruiting Service Badge

Air Force Senior Recruiting Service Badge (1st award)

The Air Force Recruiting Service Badge is authorized to all personnel who are assigned to active United States Air Force recruiting stations. The badge is worn as a decoration centered on the left uniform pocket, below standard awards and decorations. Depending on the recruiter’s personal achievement, the badge may be modified with a silver (Senior Recruiter) or gold (Master Recruiter) wreath. Subsequent awards of the silver wreath are denoted with an appropriate numerical designation at the top of the badge. ^{[5] [6]}

Recruiters earning their fourth silver wreath also earn the Air Force Senior Recruiter Ring while those earning their first gold wreath receive the Air Force Master Recruiter Ring. ^[5]

The Air Force Recruiting Service Badge is considered a temporary decoration and must be surrendered upon a service member’s completion of duty at the specified Recruiting Command. ^[6]

The Air Force Reserve Recruiting Service Badge is authorized to all personnel who are assigned to United States Air Force Reserve recruiting stations. The badge is worn as a decoration centered on the left uniform pocket, below standard awards and decorations. The badge may be modified with a gold rope that incorporates a gold banner that denotes the recruiter’s position (Staff, Assistant Senior, Senior, or Medical). Additionally, the badge may be modified with a gold wreath which incorporates a gold banner denoting a recruiter's personal achievement (100, 200, or Master); these badges are referred to as Century Club Badges. Staff, Assistant Senior, Senior, or Medical recruiters with century awards have recruiter badges that are modified with a gold wreath that incorporates two gold banners denoting both position and achievement; these badges are referred to as Dual Century Club Badges. ^{[6] [7]}

The Air Force Reserve Recruiting Service Badge is considered a temporary decoration and must be surrendered upon a service member’s completion of duty at the specified Recruiting Command. ^[6]

The Air National Guard Recruiting Service Badge is authorized to all personnel who are assigned to Air National Guard recruiting stations. The badge is worn as a decoration centered on the left uniform pocket, below standard awards and decorations. The badge is issued in three degrees; basic, senior, and master. The senior and master versions of the badge have a star or star with wreath, respectively, which is perched at the top of the badge. There are both silver and gold variants of each badge denoting personal achievements in recruiting. ^{[6][citation needed]}

The Air National Guard Recruiter Badge is considered a temporary decoration and must be surrendered upon a service member’s completion of duty at the specified Recruiting Command. ^[6]

U.S. Navy

Navy Recruiting Commmand Badge (left) and stylized example of Navy Recruiting Command Badge with 36^th Gold Wreath Award (right)

The U.S. Navy's Recruiting Command Badge is worn by all military personnel while assigned to duty with the Navy Recruiting Command. Excellent performance meeting criteria set by Commanding Officer, Navy Recruiting Command is acknowledged with the addition of a gold metallic wreath, known as the "Gold Wreath Award," that surrounds the badge. Subsequent awards of excellence are denoted with silver stars at the bottom of the wreath. Once a recruiter has achieved their 5th award, the silver stars are replaced with a gold star. Once a recruiter has achieved their 10th award, the wreath is upgraded with a gold scroll that's incorporated into the top of the wreath with the word "Excellence" embossed in the scroll. Subsequent achievements in excellence are denoted with the appropriate silver and/or gold star(s) at the bottom of the wreath. A large gold star on top of the excellence scroll signifies the 20th award. A wreath around the large gold star signifies the 25th award. As before, subsequent awards are denoted with the appropriate colored star(s) at the bottom of the wreath. Once the 25th award has been reach, a gold wreath is added to the large gold star at the top of the badge. This pattern continues, with some variations, until the 50th consecutive award is achieved. ^{[8] [9]}

U.S. Coast Guard

Coast Guard Recruiting Badge

Coast Guard Recruiting Badge with Wreath

USCG Academy Admissions Recruiting Badge

The Coast Guard Recruiting Badge is authorized for wear by those personnel assigned as full time United States Coast Guard recruiters. The badge may be upgraded with a gold wreath which is awarded to Guardsman who have successfully completed Recruiter School and have completed the Personnel Qualification Standard. The badge is worn on the left pocket of active duty Coast Guard uniforms and is a temporary decoration which must be surrendered upon departure from a Recruiting Command. ^[10]

The Coast Guard Academy Admissions Recruiting Badge is authorized for wear by Coast Guard personnel assigned to a Coast Guard Academy Admissions Division billet. The badge is worn on the left pocket of active duty Coast Guard uniforms and is a temporary decoration which must be surrendered upon reassignment outside of the Academy Admissions Division. ^[10]

See also

	Military of the United States portal
	United States Army portal
	United States Navy portal
	United States Air Force portal
	United States Marine Corps portal
	United States Coast Guard portal

• List of United States Navy enlisted warfare designations
• Badges of the United States Army
• Badges of the United States Navy
• Badges of the United States Air Force
• Badges of the United States Marine Corps
• Badges of the United States Coast Guard
• Military badges of the United States
• Obsolete badges of the United States military
• Uniforms of the United States Army
• Uniforms of the United States Navy
• United States Air Force uniform
• Uniforms of the United States Marine Corps
• Uniforms of the United States Coast Guard

References

1. ^ ^{a b} U.S. Army Regulation 670–1, Uniforms and Insignia, Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia, dated 3 Feb 05, last accessed 20 Nov 11
2. ^ ^{a b} U.S. Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, updated 15 Sep 11, last accessed 20 Nov 11
3. ^ Flickr, Army Recruiting Ring, dated 24 Nov 07, last accessed 20 Nov 11
4. ^ Arkansas National Guard MWR, Recruiting & Retention Badges, last accessed 20 Nov 11
5. ^ ^{a b} U.S. Air Force Recruiting Service Instruction 36-2801, updated 20Jan 10, last accessed 20 Nov 11
6. ^ ^{a b c d e f} AFI36-2903: Dress and Personal Appearance of Air Force Personnel; dated 18 Jul 11; last accessed 4 Sep 11
7. ^ U.S. Air Force Reserve Command Pamphlet (AFRCPAM) 10-105, dated 12 Aug 98, last accessed 20 Nov 11
8. ^ U.S. Navy Uniform Regulations, Chapter 5, Identification Badges, updated 27 Jul 11, last accessed 19 Nov 11
9. ^ COMNAVCRUITCOMINST 1650.1B, Navy Recruiting Command Awards Manual, dated 17 Nov 08, last accessed 19 Nov 11
10. ^ ^{a b} U.S. Coast Guard Uniform Regulations, COMDTINST M1020.6F, dated Feb 09, last accessed 20 Nov 11