As a member of the United States Army, you can expect to receive various badges as you achieve different qualifications and accomplishments. This applies to both active and reserve duty members of the Army who can earn badges related to marksmanship, combat, or special skills.
Earning any of these badges is a big deal, and the more badges earned, the more proud a soldier should feel for achieving various accomplishments and training. With this in mind, let’s focus on the combat and spill skill badges and see all five groups they’re divided into.
Combat Infantryman Badge
- Established: November 15, 1943
The Combat Infantryman Badge was established in 1943 for anyone who performed their duties while under fire in any infantry or special forces capacity. Anyone with the rank colonel or below is qualified to receive this badge.
Combat Medical Badge
- Established: January 1945
Anyone who receives the Combat Medical Badge as a colonel or lower is doing so because they provided medical support during ground combat. This requires providing support while the enemy is engaged.
Combat Action Badge
- Established: May 2, 2005
A more recent update to the awarded badges is that the Combat Action Badge will be awarded to anyone (colonel or below) engaging with the enemy in a way that satisfies the rules of engagement as of September 18, 2001.
Expert Infantryman Badge
- Established: November 11, 1943
The recipient can receive this badge if they meet the Department of the Army testing requirements and show basic infantry skills.
Expert Field Medical Badge
- Established: June 18, 1965
Members of the US Army who serve in a medical capacity can receive the Expert Field Medical Badge after passing both written and performance standards. It is considered one of the most difficult Army special skill badges.
Expert Soldier Space
- Established: October 2019
A special skills badge, the Expert Soldier Badge, is available to soldiers who wish to certify they are competent in a particular military occupational specialty and general combat skills.
United States Aviator Badge
- Established: World War I
The Army Aviator Badge is available and is awarded as a basic, Senior, or Command badge. The badge denotes the level of flight hours up to the Master, which means 15 years of service and 2,000 flight hours.
Flight Surgeon Badge
- Established: World War II
The Flight Surgeon Badge is worn by any military member who has completed the individual requirements to wear it, such as a physician, physician assistant, or ANP.
Aircrew Badge
- Established: World War II
Best known as “Wings,” the Aircrew Badge is awarded to every Army service member who serves onboard a military aircraft. This usually relates to in-flight support roles that require special training.
United States Astronaut Badge
- Established: 1960s
To receive this badge, any member of the military who flies aircraft higher than 50 miles (with specialized training) can receive and wear this badge.
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Badge
- Established: 1950s
Any member of the US Armed Forces can receive this badge as long as they are qualified in explosive ordnance disposal. This includes explosive IEDs, munitions, nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons.
Parachute Rigger Badge
- Established: 1949 (made official on June 9, 1986)
Established in the mid-1980s, the Parachute Rigger badge is available to Army service members. To qualify, you must complete the parachute rigger course provided by the U.S. Army Quartermaster Center and School.
Parachutist Badge
- Established: 1949
Officially known as “Jump Wings,” the Parachutist Badge is provided to those who complete the US Army Basic Airborne Course at Fort Moore, Georgia.
Pathfinder Badge
- Established: 1964
This badge is awarded to soldiers who complete the US Army Sabalauski Air Assault School’s Pathfinder Course in advanced land navigation, advanced scouting, tactical air traffic control, and parachute operations.
Air Assault Badge
- Established: 1974
Service members of the US Army who complete Air Assault School receive this badge. This includes three phases: combat air operations, rigging, sling loading operations, and rappelling from a helicopter.
Military Freefall Parachutist Badge
- Established: October 1, 1994
Army service members who qualify as high-altitude military parachute specialists are awarded the Military Freefall Parachutist Badge.
Space Operations Badge
- Established: November 2005
Known as the Space Badge, the Space Operations Badge is available to Army service members who qualify as “space professionals” by completing various duties and the “Space 100 course.”
Uniform Service Diver Insignia
- Established: World War II
Various Uniform Service Diver Insignia are available to army members based on their degree of qualification up to the highest rank.
Special Forces Underwater Operations
- Established: 1952
Army members must be qualified to use underwater infiltration methods to receive the Special Forces Underwater Operations badge.
Special Forces Tab
- Established: 1983
Any Army service member receives this upon completing the Special Forces Qualification Course and the specialized green beret.
Ranger Tab
- Established: 1950
For members of the US Army who complete Ranger School, soldiers are awarded the Ranger Tab and can wear it for the duration of their careers.
Sapper Tab
- Established: June 28, 2004
This is for anyone who graduates the Army’s Sapper Leader Course as long as they meet the combat engineers who support front-line infantry.
Jungle Tab
- Established: 2014
The Jungle Tab is worn by any service member who graduated from the Jungle Operations Training Center at Fort Sherman before the school became inactive in 1999.
Driver and Mechanic Badge
- Established: July 1942
The Driver and Mechanic Badge is awarded to soldiers who receive specialized training to operate and repair all military motor vehicles.
President’s Hundred Tab
- Established: Unknown
Any service member wearing the President’s Hundred Tab is based on being one of the top 100 military and civilian shooters in the President’s Pistol and Rifle competitions.
Distinguished International Shooter Badge
- Established: 1962
This award is the highest any member of the Army can receive for marksmanship.
Interservice Competition Badge
- Established: Unknown
If you receive the Interservice Competition Badge, you have qualified in one of the top three positions of any interservice shooting match.
Excellence-In-Competition Badge
- Established: Unknown
Being awarded this badge means you have scored a specific number of points to have qualified for one of the Army’s distinguished marksmanship badges.
Marksmanship Qualification Badges
- Established: 1881
Beginning in 1881, the Army started to use the Marksmanship Qualification Badge. These badges can be provided as expert, sharpshooter, first-class, marksman, or second-class gunner.
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