According to the U.S. Army, 3,465 Medals of Honor have been awarded, a total that includes five branches of the military. This is the highest military decoration. The Medal of Honor award recognizes American marines, sailors, soldiers, guardsmen, coast guardsmen, and airmen who, by acts of valor, have distinguished themselves.

While the Medal of Honor is an award of high significance and is limited in number, there are many military badges that those who serve the United States of America can achieve. Each military badge is special, and they are not given lightly.

There is a great meaning behind each military badge. Anyone who has the honor to wear one is proud to wear it and takes great care of it.

Serving the United States military in any capacity is something share with everyone you know. What better way to share it than by wearing a military badge?

But what are the most common types of badges, and what does each badge mean? Keep reading for a full scoop.

Type of Badges

The United States gives military badges as awards. The United States Armed Forces allow these awards, which signify accomplishment, rating, or qualification. Badges are for several career fields.

The military badge meanings can also serve as a device for identification, demonstrating which personnel occupies a certain assignment. You can wear it in a military uniform. There are six military services, and each maintains its own series of badges.

1. The U.S. Army Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB)

This badge is an award for Special Forces soldiers and infantrymen who possess a ranking of colonel and below. CIB badges are also awarded to those who fight in active ground combat while on assignment with the Special Forces of Infantry. If a soldier is not in either unit, they would receive the award of CAB, or Combat Action Badge instead.

2. The U.S. Marine Corps Breast Insignia

The type of badges that marines wear signifies their designation or qualification. This includes parachutists, aviation, diving, and ordnance disposal. A marine breast insignia must be on the left breast of a dress and service coat.

Other options for wearing them include placing them on a khaki shirt if the top is the outermost garment, maternity work uniform coats, or utility coats. There is a miniature version of this military badge that can be placed on a dress jacket.

3. The U.S. Navy Fleet Marine Force

This military badge can be an award for a Navy personnel with an assignment to the Fleet Marine Force command. This is a combination of the Marine Corps and Navy. Both officers and enlisted can earn this insignia.

There is a Fleet Marine Force badge for a chaplain, an officer, and an enlisted warfare specialist. If you or someone you love would like to design your own military badge, we recommend you visit create custom coins to learn more about keepsakes and mementos. Complete your badge with a military logo.

4. The U.S. Air Force Pilot Badge

This is an aeronautical rating badge. A common term for an aeronautical badge is “wings.” This term comes from its shape, but also its historical legacy.

The Air Force gives this award to recognize degrees of experience and achievement.

5. The U.S. Space Force Space Operations Badge

These military badges are ones that the Space Force shares with the Air Force. They come in grades from master or command, senior, and basic. When you earn the Space Force occupation badge, you must wear it in your uniform on the left side in metal for the service.

Also, this military badge must display on the left of the mess dress uniform, or you can embroider it in space blue on an OCP uniform. It is mandatory to wear a Space Force occupational badge.

6. The U.S. Coast Guard Aircrew Badge

This military badge also has a common term of “wings.” An aircrew badge can be an award to personnel from all five branches of the armed forces. It is an award to someone serving onboard a military aircraft as an aircrew member.

The design of the aircrew badge is to recognize the incumbent’s training and qualification, which the aircrew of a military aircraft are required to have. 

7. Military Horseman Identification Badge

This is an award for a United States Army soldier after completion of a nine-week Basic Horsemanship Course and for an individual who serves as the Caisson team lead rider in the 3rd United States Infantry Regiment. Another common term for the U.S. Infantry Regiment is “The Old Guard.”

On September 29, 2017, they awarded the first Military Horseman Identification Badge at a ceremony at the Join Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Virginia. The award comes from the Commander. The incumbent must meet the following criteria:

• Completion of a nine-week Basic Horsemanship Course
• Complete a total of 100 Armed Forces Full Honors Funerals at Arlington National Cemetery
• For a minimum of nine months, serve honorably
• Have a recommendation from the Commander

No soldier serving in any other platoon or horse detachment can receive this award. Only those serving in the Caisson Platoon.

Common Military Badges

While these are a few common military badges that you see from those who serve our country, there are many more. No matter the award or designation, every military badge gives the person who wears it something to be proud of.

You have your memories when serving in the United States military, but you also can wear something that shows your accomplishments to everyone who sees you.  

For tips and tricks on designing badges, logos, and much more, visit us again soon!