Badges of the United States Air Force

Badges of the United States Air Force are military awards authorized by the United States Air Force that signify USAF aeronautical ratings or qualification in several career fields, and also serve as identification devices for personnel occupying certain assignments. The Air Force currently authorizes 51 separate rating and occupational badges. All Air Force badges (with the exception of identification badges) are issued in three degrees or skill levels. Occupational badges are normally issued in Basic, Senior, and Master ratings for officers. The exceptions to this are Basic, Senior and Chief ratings for nurses, doctors (all types), flight nurses and flight surgeons and Basic, Senior, and Command ratings for pilots. Enlisted badges reflect skill levels: 3-level apprentice/5-level Journeyman (same badge), 7-level craftsman, and 9-level superintendent. A star and wreath system, worn above the Air Force badge, denotes which degree or skill level a service member currently holds. Chaplain and aviation badges (to include the parachutist badge) are mandatory on Air Force uniforms. Other badges are optional. 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 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. The following is a list of modern-day United States Air Force badges:

Aviation

Religious Services

ervice Badges

ee also

* Military badges of the United States
* Obsolete badges of the United States military

ources

* [http://www.brooks.af.mil/web/eh/html/office_mgt/References/Reference%20Material/Management/AFI%2036-2923%20-%20Badges.pdf AFI 36-2923, "Aeronautical, Duty and Occupational Badges", 1 May 97]
* [http://www.e-publishing.af.mil/pubfiles/af/11/afi11-402/afi11-402.pdf AFI 11-402, "Aviation and Parachutist Service, Aeronautical Ratings and Badges", 29 July 2003]
* [http://www.af.mil/art/index.asp?galleryID=4949 Air Force Link - Art]