16 Navy Badges that are Now Obsolete

One fact unknown to many civilians is the United States military occasionally replaces badges to modernize them. Every badge you see on a Navy dress uniform indicates some significant qualification, accomplishment, or rating, as indicated by the names of the many badges on this list.

However, all of the badges on this list have been made obsolete at one point or another. In some cases, they were replaced, while others were just retired. With this in mind, let's look at all 16 US Navy badges that are now obsolete.

Between 1910 and 1920, the US Navy handed out a marksmanship badge known as the Navy Sharpshooter’s Badge. This was awarded to any sailor who qualified with a service rifle and/or pistol. Two levels could be earned with “expert,” or the highest qualification, and “sharpshooter.” However, in 1920, a marksmanship ribbon replaced the Navy Sharpshooter’s badge.

The Naval Aviation Observer Badge, created in 1922, was awarded to navigators and other support personnel on naval aircraft. By 1929, the original silver design was replaced by a gold insignia, which was used until 1968. At this point, it, too, was replaced by the Naval Flight Officer Badge.

The Navy issued the Expert Team Rifleman Badge in the 1900s, and it was awarded multiple times to those who qualified as expert riflemen. You had to qualify as an expert with a rifle four times and place well in three separate marksmanship competitions. However, after 1943, the badge was retired.

One of a handful of Naval Aviation Observer badges created in 1945, the Tactical variant was created to award sailors coming home from World War II. The Navy quickly realized that these badges were not ideal, and they were quickly removed from circulation in favor of a gold insignia with a silver anchor. 

During a brief period at the end of World War II, the Secretary of the Navy approved using the Naval Aviation Observer badge for Radar. However, in 1968, the badge was abolished in favor of the combination gold insignia and silver anchor badge that combined all Naval Aviation Observer badges.

Similar to the Radar badge for the Naval Aviation Observer, this badge was first issued in 1945. When the criteria for earning it was modified in 1968, it was replaced with the general gold and silver Naval Aviation Observer badge.

The Army and Navy issued the original Naval Flight Surgeon Badge during World War II to the members of the Army and the Navy. After several iterations, the Navy badge was replaced with a new design in 1952 that is part of the Naval Aviation Observer badge.

Since World War II, this badge has been issued to all flight nurses who are or were members of the Navy. To be awarded this badge, a service member must be a registered nurse and complete additional aircrew training and study in aerospace medicine. Unsurprisingly, it was replaced in 1952 with a new design.

Any Navy or Marine Corps member would have been eligible for the Dirigible Pilot Insignia. So long as the appropriate training and qualification were completed, the badge first appeared in 1922 as part of new Navy uniform regulations. The badge was retired in 1978.

First established in October 1970, the silver Enlisted Special Warfare Insignia was solely for enlisted people, and a gold badge was provided to officers. It was only a few short years until 1978 when the silver badge was retired, and the Special Warfare Insignia was only awarded in gold. To qualify, sailors must complete BUD/S training, SEAL Qualification Training, and multiple other certifications.

A now obsolete badge, the Underwater Demolition Officer Badge, was awarded to members of the Navy Underwater Demolition teams. The badge was worn as a breast badge in the 1950s, but it changed as members of this team became interchangeable with Navy SEALs. This badge is considered a predecessor to the Special Warfare Badge and was retired in 1975.

Similar to the officer badge of the same name, the Underwater Demolition Enlisted Insignia was worn by members of the Underwater Demolition Teams. However, the badge was declared obsolete in the 1970s as the UDT team was integrated into the NAVY Seals.

Also known as the Uniform Service Driver Insignia, the Scuba Officer Insignia was awarded to any member of the Navy who qualified as a basic naval diver. While the badge was originally awarded separately for Enlisted and Officers, it was eliminated in the 1990s and not replaced.

The Navy Reserve Merchant Marine Insignia, a breast insignia worn by Navy members, was first awarded in 1913. Throughout the 1900s, the badge underwent various renaming before it began to earn a negative reputation closer to the 1990s. As such, it was replaced with the Strategic Sealift Officer Warfare Insignia, which raised the qualification standards to align with other Navy badges.

In the United States Navy, the MAA, or Master at Arms, is responsible for any law enforcement action, including anti-terrorism and force protection operations. The role is considered one of the oldest ratings in the Navy. However, due to inconsistencies with the badge color, size, and description, it was ultimately replaced in June 2011, while some colors were discontinued.

Better known as SWCC, the Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewman Insignia was first awarded in 2001. The original insignia, a Navy qualification badge, was replaced in 2016 by three different insignias that better indicate qualification levels. You now have a Basic, Senior, and Master insignia awarded to those who qualify and receive specialized training similar to BUD/S for the Navy SEALs.