Obsolete badges of the United States military
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2e/Henry_Harley_Arnold.jpg/300px-Henry_Harley_Arnold.jpg)
Obsolete badges of the United States military are a number of U.S. military insignia which were issued in the 20th and 21st centuries that are no longer used today. After World War II many badges were phased out of the United States Armed Forces in favor of more modern military badges which are used today.
A unique obsolete badge situation occurred with General of the Air Force Henry H. Arnold, who in 1913 was among the 24 Army pilots to receive the first Military Aviator Badge, an eagle bearing Signal Corps flags suspended from a bar.[1] Replaced in 1917 by the more conventional "wings" embroidered design (authorized as an oxidized silver badge in 1921), Arnold displayed both types on his uniform throughout his career. The original Military Aviator Badge design can be seen in pictures of him in uniform.
The following is a listing of obsolete U.S. military badges and insignia organized by branch of service.
U.S. Army
[edit]Army Aviation Section/Air Service
[edit]Signal Corps Military Aviator Badge[1] | ![]() |
Air Service Airplane Pilot Badge[1] | ![]() |
Bombing Aviator Badge[1] | ![]() |
Aeronaut Badge[1] | ![]() |
Enlisted Aviator Badge[1] | ![]() |
Observer Badge[1] | ![]() |
Wound Chevron[1] | ![]() |
Army Air Forces
[edit]Regular Army
[edit]U.S. Air Force
[edit]U.S. Marine Corps
[edit]Marksmanship Competition Badges | ![]() |
Replaced with new designs between 1910 and 1930.[46] |
Rifle Marksmanship Badges | ![]() |
Replaced by the Army's Marksmanship Qualification Badges in 1924, reinstituted in 1937, and replaced by the Marine Corps's current Rifle Qualification Badges in 1958[47][48] |
Marksmanship Qualification Badges | ![]() |
Adopted by the Army and replaced by Rifle Marksmanship Badges and Basic Badge in 1937.[47][48] |
Expert Team Rifleman Badge[11] | ![]() | |
Basic Badge | ![]() |
Retired in December 1968[47][48] |
Military Police Badge | ![]() |
Replaced with a new design |
U.S. Coast Guard
[edit]Coast Guard Flight Officer Badge | ![]() |
Discontinued on 22 November 1991[49] |
Office of the Secretary of Transportation Badge | ![]() |
Discontinued in 2003 |
Sector Command Identification Badges | ![]() |
Removed from Uniform Regulations in March 2012[50][51] |
Unit Command Identification Badges | ![]() |
Removed from Uniform Regulations in August 2018[51][52] |
Rating Force Master Chief Identification Badge | ![]() |
Replaced with a new design in August 2018[51][52] |
U.S. Navy
[edit]Joint Service Badges
[edit]The National Match Team ("Dogs of War") Badge | ![]() |
Replaced with bronze, silver, and gold medals in 1919.[9] |
White House Service Badge | ![]() |
Replaced by the Presidential Service Badge on 1 September 1964[59] |
Vice Presidential Service Badge | ![]() |
Replaced with new design on 19 July 1976[48][60] |
Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge | ![]() |
Replaced with new design on 4 October 2021[61] |
See also
[edit]- Obsolete military awards of the United States
- United States Army branch insignia#Obsolete insignia
- List of United States Coast Guard ratings#Obsolete ratings (1990–present)
- List of United States Navy ratings#Discontinued and changed ratings (1972–present)
- Military badges of the United States
- Uniformed services of the United States
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa The Mark of an Eagle, Air Force Magazine, by TSgt Harold L. Craven, dated October 1963, last accessed 14 October 2019
- ^ Distinguished Bomber and Aerial Gunner Badges, U. S. Army Insignia, William K. Emerson, last accessed 14 October 2019
- ^ U.S. Army Air Corps - Between The Wars, Aviation Wings and Badges of World War II, last accessed 25 January 2013
- ^ Marksman Buttons, Weapons Badges, U.S. Army Insignia, by William K. Emerson, last accessed 19 May 2013
- ^ Marksmanship Prizes, 1881-1902, Weapons Badges, U.S. Army Insignia, by William K. Emerson, last accessed 24 April 2014
- ^ U.S. Army Artillery Qualification Badges, 1891-1913, U. S. Army Insignia, William K. Emerson, last accessed 25 January 2013
- ^ Weapons Qualification Archived 2014-05-25 at the Wayback Machine, U.S. Army Badges, The Institute of Heraldry, last accessed 22 April 2014
- ^ a b U.S. Army Weapons Qualification Badges and Certificates, 1880-1921, U. S. Army Insignia, William K. Emerson, last accessed 25 January 2013
- ^ a b c d Marksmanship in the U.S. Army: A History of Medals, Shooting Programs, and Training, by William K. Emerson, dated 17 May 2004, last accessed 25 January 2013
- ^ 1941 Supplement to the Code of Federal Regulations of the United States of America (page 1,506), last accessed 24 April 2014
- ^ a b c d National Geographic Magazine, October 1943, published October 1943, last accessed 24 April 2014
- ^ Army Shooting Prizes, Post 1916, U.S. Army Insignia, William K. Emerson, last accessed 14 October 2019
- ^ A Short History of the Distinguished Shooter Program, by Hap Rocketto, dated 19 April 2014, last accessed 1 March 2018
- ^ Army Excellence-in-Competition Badge (post yours too!), U.S. Militara Forum, last accessed 31 December 2012
- ^ Title 32: National Defense, Section 578.95 - Glider Badge (Rescinded), U.S. Government Printing Office, Code of Federal Regulations, last accessed 21 January 2013
- ^ Driver and Mechanic Badge, 1942-present, U.S. Army Insignia, by William K. Emerson, last accessed 17 March 2023
- ^ Headquarters & Headquarters Company 1965 - 1971, Captain's Page, jumpingmustangs.com, last accessed 12 October 2020
- ^ History of the 101st (Post-Vietnam), airassault.bizhosting.com, by Charles S. Bloodworth, last accessed 12 October 2020
- ^ Qualification Badges, Air Assault Badge, U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry, dated 18 January 1978, last accessed 16 October 2020
- ^ USACC Regulation 670-1, U.S. Army Cadet Command Uniform Wear and Appearance, Department of the Army, 1 February 2020, last accessed 13 April 2020
- ^ Nuclear Reactor Operator Badges, Qualification Badges, The Institute of Heraldry, last accessed 13 January 2013
- ^ Reserve Recruiter, 1971-2001, by William K. Emerson, last accessed 29 December 2014
- ^ U.S. Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, U.S. Army, updated 25 June 2015, last accessed 1 March 2018
- ^ U.S. Army Reserve Recruiter Badge, Identification Badges, The Institute of Heraldry, last accessed 22 April 2014
- ^ Army Medical Department Recruiter Archived 2014-12-29 at the Wayback Machine, by William K. Emerson, last accessed 29 December 2014
- ^ Diver Badges, Qualification Badges, The Institute of Heraldry, last accessed 22 April 2014
- ^ Army Regulation 600-8-22 Military Awards (24 June 2013).
- ^ AR611-75, Management of Army Divers; dated 20 July 2007; retrieved 27 August 2011
- ^ Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Identification Badges, Identification Badges, The Institute of Heraldry, last accessed 22 April 2014
- ^ SUBJECT: United States Army Arctic Tab and SUBJECT: Guidance for Wear of the Arctic Tab with Shoulder Sleeve Insignia; The Institute of Heraldry, Department of the Army; dated 26 April 2022 and 25 April 2022 respectively; last accessed 9 May 2022
- ^ a b c U.S. Air Force Obsolete Insignia, last accessed 14 October 2019
- ^ History of the Air Force Security Badge„ 25th Infantry Division Shotgun Program website, last accessed 1 April 2014
- ^ Box, Presentation, Badge, National Rifleman, United States Air Force and Box, Presentation, Badge, National Pistol, United States Air Force, Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum, last accessed 8 September 2018
- ^ a b Air Force Instruction 34-271, Air Force Shooting Program and Excellence-in-Competition, Department of the Air Force, dated 30 August 2018, last accessed 14 October 2019
- ^ Badge, Non-National Rifleman, United States Air Force, Badge, Pistol, Non-National United States Air Force, Badge, Rifleman, Non-National, United States Air Force, and Box, Presentation, Badge, Pistol, Non-National, United States Air Force; Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum; last accessed 8 September 2018
- ^ Lee-Jackson Militaria, Air Control & Support Units–Combat Control Team, Flash/Qualification Badge, ljmilitaria.com, last accessed 19 July 2020
- ^ History of Combat Service Insignia Archived 2012-02-19 at the Wayback Machine; Air Force Enlisted Heritage Research Institute; by CMSgt Malcolm W. McVicar JR., TSgt Sharee A. Hileman, and William I. Chivalette; dated 29 August 2006; last accessed 20 January 2013
- ^ Air Force Weather, Our Heritage 1937 to 2012, prepared by TSgt C. A. Ravenstein (Historical Division, AW3DI, Hq AWS), dated 22 January 2012, last accessed 14 March 2020
- ^ New space badge wear begins today, Air Force Space Command, dated 1 November 2005, last accessed 20 January 2013
- ^ Space badge renamed, new guidance issued, U.S. Air Force News, by Master Sgt. Kevin Williams, dated 11 December 2013, last accessed 31 December 2013
- ^ New cyberspace support career field stood up Nov. 1, Air Force News Service, dated 5 November 2009, last accessed 20 January 2013
- ^ AFI11-402_AFGM2016-01: Air Force Guidance Memorandum to AFI 11-402, Aviation and Parachutist Service, Aeronautical Ratings and Aviation Badges Archived 2016-12-01 at the Wayback Machine U.S. Air Force, dated 4 November 2016, last accessed 30 November 2016
- ^ Spec ops weathermen get name change, new mission to better fight great powers, AirForceTimes, by Kyle Rempfer, dated 13 May 2019, last accessed 16 September 2019
- ^ New USAF Special Warfare Symbol, soldiersystems.net, dated 3 July 2019, last accessed 11 December 2019
- ^ New Air Force combat dive badges approved, Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs, posted 18 October 18 2022, last accessed 14 April 2023
- ^ USMC Shooting Prizes, Weapons Badges, U.S. Army Insignia, by William K. Emerson, last accessed 19 May 2013
- ^ a b c U.S. Marine Corps Marksmanship Badges from 1912 to the Present, History and Museums Division, Headquarters Marine Corps, by Michael D. Visconage, dated 1982, last accessed 19 January 2013
- ^ a b c d Complete Guide to United States Marine Corps Medals, Badges and Insignia World War II to Present, Medals of America, last accessed 17 January 2013
- ^ Air Station St. Augustine, Florida, U.S. Coast Guard, last modified 2 August 2012, last accessed 9 May 2014
- ^ U.S. Coast Guard Uniform Regulation COMDTINST M1020.6F, Department of Homeland Security, dated February 2009, last accessed 27 January 2013
- ^ a b c U.S. Coast Guard Uniform Regulation COMDTINST M1020.6G, Department of Homeland Security, dated March 2012, last accessed 27 January 2013
- ^ a b U.S. Coast Guard Uniform Regulation COMDTINST M1020.6J Archived 2018-09-10 at the Wayback Machine, Department of Homeland Security, dated 2 August 2018, last accessed 10 September 2018
- ^ Uniform Regulations United States Navy, 1913, Navy Department, dated 1913, last accessed 2 February 2013
- ^ Navy Expert Rifle Medal, MilitaryVetsPX.com, last accessed 2 February 2013
- ^ ‘Sea chicken’ pin to be replaced, NavyTimes, by Sam Fellman, dated 2 July 2011, accessed 27 December 2012
- ^ a b U.S. Navy Uniform Board Update Archived 2012-12-24 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 19 August 2012
- ^ Uniform Policy Update, NAVADMIN 174/16 Archived 2016-09-09 at the Wayback Machine, CNO Washington DC, dated 4 August 2016, last accessed 11 September 2016
- ^ Executive Order 11174, Establishing the Presidential Service Certificate and the Presidential Service Badge, dated 1 September 1964, Wikisource, page last modified 5 November 2009, last accessed 13 January 2013
- ^ Executive Order 11926--The Vice Presidential Service Badge, National Archives, Federal Register, dated 19 July 1976, last accessed 21 January 2013
- ^ Redesigned Joint Staff Badge Reflects Addition of Newest Military Service, U.S. Department of Defense, by Jim Garamone (DoD News), dated 4 October 2021, last accessed 21 May 2022