Aviation Badges

l. DESCRIPTION: An oxidized silver badge 3/4 inch in height and 2 1/2 inches in width, consisting of a shield with its field scored with horizontal lines and bearing the coat of arms of the United States on and over a pair of displayed wings. A star is added above the shield to indicate the degree of Senior Aviation Badge and the star is surrounded with a laurel wreath to indicate the degree of Master Aviation Badge.

II. SYMBOLISM: The badge is the same design as that for Army Aviator with the coat of arms of the United States substituted for the shield of the coat of arms of the United States. The wings suggest flight and reflect the skills associated with aerial flight. The coat of arms of the United States on the shield signifies loyalty and devotion to duty.

lll. SPECIAL POLICY: (a) The retroactive date for these badges is 1 Jan 1947; (b) The Master Aviation Badge and Senior Aviation Badge are authorized for permanent wear. The Basic Aviation Badge may be authorized for temporary or permanent wear. An officer awarded an Aviation Badge while serving in an enlisted status is authorized to wear the badge as a permanent part of the uniform; (c) Permanent award of the Basic, Master, and Senior Aviation Badges will be announced in Permanent Orders by commanders authorized to approve the award.

IV. AWARD ELIGIBILITY: The badges are awarded in degrees to personnel who have met the following requirements:

Basic Aviation Badge – Permanent Award. (a) Individual must be on flying status as a crewmember in accordance with AR 600-106 or be granted a waiver by HQDA, be on flying status, have performed in-flight duties for not less than 48 flight hours (whichever comes first), or be school trained; (b) An officer on flying status as an aerial observer. U.S. Army personnel assigned to a Joint Service Airborne Command Post and serving as members of an operational team on flying status manning the Airborne Command Post. Concurrent with such assignment, personnel are authorized temporary wear of the Basic Aviation Badge until relieved from such duties or until he or she fulfills the mandatory requirements for permanent award; (c) Individual who has been incapacitated for further flight duty by reason of being wounded as a result of enemy action, or injured as the result of an aircraft accident for which he or she was not personally responsible, or has participated in at least 15 combat missions under probable exposure to enemy fire while performing in-flight duties; (d) Soldiers upon successful completion of formal advanced individual training (AIT) in career management field (CMF) 67 and 93 MOS’, MOS 71P, and to soldiers who previously completed AIT in CMF 28 MOS’, including soldiers who graduated from AIT for MOS’ in the 68 series. Soldiers holding MOS’s 35L, 35M, 35Q, and 35W who graduated from a (CMF) 67 AIT prior to 30 September 1996 and MOS’s 93C and 93P who graduated from a (CMF) 67 AIT after 31 December 1985 are authorized based on documents prior AIT; (e) Individuals who meet criteria for award of the Army Astronaut Device and are not authorized an Aviator, Flight Surgeon or Aviation Badge will be awarded the Aviation Badge in addition to the Army Astronaut Device; (f) The Aviation badge may be permanently awarded to soldiers upon successful completion of formal AIT in (CMF) 93 MOS’. Soldiers previously holding MOS 93B who graduated from a (CMF) 93 AIT prior to 1 January 1998 and soldiers previously holding MOS 93D who graduated from a (CMF) 93 AIT prior to 30 September 1996, to include MOS 71P who graduated from a (CMF) 93 AIT prior to 30 June 1984, are authorized the badge based on documented AIT after 7 April 1983. Temporary Award. The commander of any Army unit that has Army aircraft assigned may authorize in published orders qualified personnel of his or her command to wear the Aviation Badge. The individual must be performing in-flight duties.

Senior Aviation Badge. Individual must either successfully perform 7 years on flight status in a principal duty assignment described in AR 600-106. Soldiers in (CMF) 67 and 93, or MOS 71P, including all 68 series MOS’, Warrant Officer MOS’ 150A and 151A, and MOS 00Z, individuals from (CMF) 67 or 93 field, or MOS 71P field, may qualify with 10 years of experience if they meet the following criteria: (a) Only time involving frequent and regular flights will be counted toward fulfillment of this requirement, except that time involved in transit between PCS assignments to include TDY, will also be credited; (b) Soldiers who retain (CMF) 67 or 93, or MOS 71P, while performing career progressive assignments, especially duties as Drill Sergeant, Recruiter, Career Management NCO, Career Advisor, Instructor or Equal Opportunity Advisor will be counted towards this requirement not to exceed 36 months. Warrant Officers MOS 150A or 151A may qualify after successfully performing 7 years on flight status or 10 years experience in (CMF) 67 or 93, or MOS 71P, MOS 151A or 150A. Prior enlisted (CMF) 67, to include MOS 71P, time may count with MOS 151A experience and (CMF) 93 time may count with MOS 150A experience to fulfill this requirement. The retroactive date for this badge under these criteria is 7 April 1983; (c) Displayed complete competence in the principal duty or duties performed leading to this award; (d) Be recommended by the unit commander of the unit to which presently assigned. Retroactive Award. The retroactive date for award of this badge is 7 April 1983 for (CMF) 93, MOS 71P, Warrant Officer MOS 150A and 151A and individuals in MOS 00Z. Soldiers holding (CMF) 93 or MOS 93D, prior to 30 September 1996 and MOS 93B prior to 1 January 1998, to include MOS 71P prior to 30 June 1984 may qualify for award of the Senior Aviation Badge based on documented experience.

Master Aviation Badge. Individual must successfully perform 15 years on flight status in a principal duty assignment described in AR 600-106. Soldiers in (CMF) 67 and 93, or MOS 71P, including all 68 series MOS’, Warrant Officer MOS’ 150A and 151A, and MOS 00Z, individuals from (CMF) 67 or 93 field, or MOS 71P field, may qualify with 17 years of experience if they meet the following criteria: (a) Only time involving frequent and regular flights will be counted toward fulfillment of this requirement, except that time involved in transit between PCS assignments, to include TDY, will also be credited; (b) Soldiers who retain (CMF) 67 or 93, or MOS 71P, while performing career progressive assignments, especially duties as Drill Sergeant, Recruiter, Career Management NCO, Career Advisor, Instructor or Equal Opportunity Advisor will be counted towards this requirement not to exceed 36 months. Warrant Officers MOS 150A or 151A may qualify after successfully performing 15 years on flight status or 17 years experience in (CMF) 67 or 93, or MOS 71P, MOS 151A or 150A. Prior enlisted (CMF) 67 time, to include MOS 71P, may count with MOS 151A experience and (CMF) 93 time may count with MOS 150A experience to fulfill this requirement; (c) Displayed complete competence in the principal duty or duties performed leading to this award; (d) Attained the grade of E-6 or higher; (e) Be recommended by the unit commander and endorsed by the next higher commander of the unit to which presently assigned. Retroactive Date. The retroactive date for the badge under these revised criteria is 1 January 1976. The retroactive date for (CMF) 93, MOS 71P, Warrant Officer MOS’ 150A and 151A and individuals in MOS 00Z is 7 April 1983. Soldiers holding (CMF) 93, MOS 93D, prior to 30 September 1966 and MOS 93B, prior to 1 January 1998, to include MOS 71P prior to 30 Jun 1984 may qualify for award of the Master Aviation Badge based on documented experience.

V. DATE APPROVED: The Aviation Badge was originally approved as the Aircraft Crew Member Badge by the Deputy Chief of Staff for Military Operations on 16 May 1962. The Deputy Chief of Staff approved the change to the present Aviation Badges on 29 Feb 2000 retroactive to 1 Jan 1947 for Military Personnel.

VI. SUBDUED BADGES: Subdued badges are authorized in metal and cloth. The metal badge is black. The cloth badge is of olive green base cloth with design elements embroidered in black.

VlI. MINIATURE BADGES: Dress miniature badges are authorized in the following sizes: Basic Aviation Badge – 21/64 inch high and 1 1/4 inches wide; Senior Aviation Badge – 13/32 inch high and 1 1/4 inches wide; and Master Aviation Badge – 15/32 inch high and 1 1/4 inches wide. Miniature badges for the three degrees are authorized in the following sizes: 19/32 inch high and 2 inches wide; 11/16 inch high and 2 inches wide; and 23/32 inch high and 2 inches wide, respectively.