Some Marine Corps badges end up obsolete and lost to time. With organizations and services as long-running as the United States Marine Corps, there are bound to be changes over the years. However, it is always worth looking back into history to see what has changed.
Marksmanship Competition Badges
Marine Corps badges come in all shapes and sizes. With a branch with such a heavy focus on marksmanship, it stands to reason that some of the obsolete badges relate to this high standard. The Marksmanship Competition Badges for the Marine Corps were replaced with newer designs in 1910 and 1930.
Rifle Marksmanship Badges
As previously stated, the Marine Corps is all about accurate fire. The Rifle Marksmanship awards are an interesting case of Marine Corps Badges. However, they were replaced by the Army standard in 1924 before being reactivated in 1937.
Marksmanship Qualification Badges
This a weapons-heavy list, if you haven’t guessed by now. Another obsolete Marine Corps badge is the Marksmanship Qualification Badge. Further, this line of awards was rendered obsolete in 1937 with the adoption of the revised Rifle Marksmanship Badge.
Expert Team Rifleman Badge
The Expert Team Rifleman Badge is an interesting one, at least when looking at obsolete Marine Corps badges. As with the other badges on this list, this was another one centered on expert marksmanship. However, little is known about when the current Rifle Marksmanship Badge replaced this award.
Basic Badge
Basic competency with the weapons wielded by the Marine Corps is what every recruit will learn when entering basic training. Up until 1968, you could earn one of the most common Marine Corps Badges, the Basic Badge. There isn’t an equivalent in the modern era, instead, recruits will qualify on individual weapons under the Rifle Marksmanship Badge umbrella.
Military Police Badge
Every branch of the military has a police force of some sort to keep unruly Marines in line. The Military Police Badge isn’t an obsolete Marine Corps badge, but one that was replaced with a revised design. The new design bears a similar resemblance, just with some extra flourishes.
National Match Team Badge
The National Marksmanship Competition was started in 1903 by Congress. It is one of a handful of Marine Corps badges you’ll see in other services as this was meant as an inter-service competition. The National Match still happens yearly, but these days you get a plaque rather than something you can wear on your uniform.
White House Service Badge
I’m honestly surprised it took until 1960 for an official badge for White House service personnel.
This is one of the most short-lived Marine badges you’ll find. The White House Service Badge was introduced in 1960, intended for service members to have a permanent award and something on their record. President Lyndon B. Johnson discontinued the award in 1964, creating the Presidential Service Badge in its place.
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