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Badges of the United States Army

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Example of badges and tabs worn on the U.S. Army Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP) uniform

Badges of the United States Army are military decorations issued by the United States Department of the Army to soldiers who achieve a variety of qualifications and accomplishments while serving on active and reserve duty in the United States Army.

As described in Army Regulation 670-1 Uniforms and Insignia, badges are categorized into marksmanship, combat and special skill, identification, and foreign.[1] Combat and Special Skill badges are further divided into six groups.[2]

A total of six combat and special skill badges are authorized for wear at one time on service and dress uniforms; this total does not include special skill tabs (service uniform) or special skill tab metal replicas (dress uniform).

Personnel may wear up to three badges above the ribbons or pocket flap on dress uniforms, or in a similar location for uniforms without pockets. Personnel may only wear one combat or special skill badge from either group 1 or group 2 above the ribbons. Soldiers may wear up to three badges from groups 3 and 4 above the ribbons. One badge from either group 1 or group 2 may be worn with badges from groups 3 and 4 above the ribbons, so long as the total number of badges above the ribbons does not exceed three.

Only three badges (from groups 3, 4, or 5) can be worn on the dress uniform pocket flap at one time. This total does not include special skill tab metal replicas. Personnel will wear the driver and mechanic badges only on the wearer's left pocket flap of service and dress uniforms, or in a similar location on uniforms without pockets. Personnel may not attach more than three clasps to the driver and mechanic badges. The driver and mechanic badges are not authorized for wear on utility uniforms.

The order of precedence for combat and special skill badges are established only by group. There is no precedence for combat or special skill badges within the same group. For example, personnel who are authorized to wear the Parachutist and Air Assault badges may determine the order of wear between those two badges.[3]

The 21st century United States Army issues the following military badges (listed below in order of group precedence) which are worn in conjunction with badges of rank and branch insignia.

Combat and Special Skill Badges and Tabs

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Source:[2]

Group 1

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Group 2

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Group 3

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Group 4

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Group 5

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Main article: Marksmanship badges (United States)

Identification Badges

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Main article: Identification badges of the Uniform Services of the United States

Other Accoutrements

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National Guard Badges

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Proposed badges

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Master combat badges

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In late 2024 it was reported that "master combat badges" would debut in Spring 2025; the Master Infantryman Badge, Master Medical Badge, and Master Soldier Badge. The badges would represent those who have earned both a combat badge (CIB, CMB, or CAB) and an expert badge (EIB, EFMB, or ESB). The proposed "master badges" are alleged to appear identical to their respective combat badges, replacing the silver wreaths on the full-color metal badges with gold wreaths; subdued pin-on badges and sew-on badges would see their black wreaths also replaced with gold. Soldiers that had earned a combat badge but a "separate" expert badge (a CIB and an EFMB, for example) would wear the master badge aligning with their combat badge (in the case of a CIB and an EFMB, the awardee would wear the Master Infantryman Badge). As of March 2025, no official announcement has been made concerning the badges.[8][9]

Mountaineering Badge

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Army Mountaineering Badge
The U.S. Army Mountaineering Badge as of March 2025

In October 2024 Sergeant Major of the Army (SMA) Michael Weimer reported that the Army is "... in the process of redesigning..." the Ram's Head Device, the current badge awarded to graduates of the Army Mountain Warfare School (AMWS) at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site in Jericho, Vermont. The Ram's Head Device is (currently) only authorized for wear on the uniforms of New England (CT, MA, NH, ME, RI, and VT) National Guardsmen whom are graduates of AMWS and serving in a state role/on state orders. SMA Weimer also stated that the "ram's head" is "...not going to be the badge."[10] However, on 20 March 2025, the badge — now referred to as the "Mountaineering Badge" — was revealed to be virtually identical to the former badge, with a slight re-stylization of the ram's head and the inclusion of mountaineering tools behind the ram's head. The U.S. Army's Institute of Heraldry has until 19 May 2025 to alter the proposed badge design. The badge will be considered a "Group 4" badge and wear will regulated by DA PAM 670-1.[11]

Mariner Badge

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Army Mountaineering Badge
Basic Mariner Badge as of March 2025

In October 2024, Sergeant Major of the Army (SMA) Michael Weimer reported that a badge for Army mariners would be instituted. SMA Weimer stated that that Soldiers serving on Army watercraft and ships would be eligible for the badge.[12] On 20 March 2025, the badge design was unveiled publicly and it is set to be named the "Mariner Badge." The U.S. Army's Institute of Heraldry has until 19 May 2025 to alter the proposed design. The badge is intended to come in three versions; "basic," "senior," and "master," with the Army only releasing images of the "basic" version of the badge as of 20 March 2025. The basic, senior, and master Mariner Badges will be considered Department of the Army "identification badges" (similar to the Drill Sergeant Identification Badge or Master Gunner Identification Badge) and their wear and precedence will be regulated by AR 600-8-22 and AR 670-1.[11]

Notes

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  • * = also issued to Air Force airmen
  • ** = also issued to airmen and Space Force guardians
  • No asterisk indicates that the badge is issued only to soldiers

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Army Regulation 670-1, Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia, Chapter 22" (PDF). Department of the Army. January 26, 2021. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Army Pamphlet 670-1, Guide to the Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia, Chapter 22, Section 16, Paragraph a" (PDF). Department of the Army. January 26, 2021. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  3. ^ "Army Pamphlet 670–1, Guide to the Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia, Chapter 22, Section 16, Paragraph c" (PDF). Department of the Army. January 26, 2021. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  4. ^ "Vermont National Guard Permanent Order 121-01". Archived from the original on September 29, 2011. Retrieved April 21, 2011.
  5. ^ National Guard Regulation 672-3 and Air National Guard Regulation 900-1, National Guard Chief's 50 Marksmanship Badge Archived 2013-05-31 at the Wayback Machine, dated 1 February 1978, last accessed 26 March 2014
  6. ^ Tabs and Badges a Measure of Missouri Guardmembers' Marksmanship Archived March 12, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Missouri National Guard Public Affairs, by Ann Keyes, last accessed 1 March 2015
  7. ^ Tabs and Badges a Measure of Marksmanship Archived 2014-05-18 at the Wayback Machine, Missouri National Guard, dated 14 December 2010, last accessed 18 May 2014
  8. ^ "Army Set to Debut Master Combat Badges in Spring, Memo Says". Military.com. Military.com. Archived from the original on January 14, 2025. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  9. ^ "Army to award Master Combat Badge to expert, combat-tested soldiers". Army Times. Army Times. Archived from the original on January 14, 2025. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  10. ^ "New Army Mountaineering Badge". Task & Purpose. Task & Purpose. Archived from the original on January 14, 2025. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  11. ^ a b https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2025/03/20/army-unveils-new-mariner-and-mountaineer-badges/
  12. ^ "New Army Mountaineering Badge". Task & Purpose. Task & Purpose. Archived from the original on January 14, 2025. Retrieved January 12, 2025. ...Weimer said the Army would soon be issuing a mariner badge for those who serve on Army watercraft and STOL systems...
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