Badges of the United States Army aremilitary decorations issued by theUnited States Department of the Army to soldiers who achieve a variety of qualifications and accomplishments while serving on active and reserve duty in theUnited States Army.
As described in Army Regulation 670-1 Uniforms and Insignia, badges are categorized intomarksmanship,combat and special skill,identification, andforeign.[1] Combat and Special Skill badges are further divided into sixgroups.[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 ofrank andbranch insignia.
Source:[2]
![Mountaineering Badge[4]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aUS_Army_Mountaineering_Badge.png){kind=icon}
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![Chief's 50 Marksmanship Badge[5]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aChiefs_50_Marksmanship_Badge.png){kind=icon}
![Adjutant General's Twenty Combat Badge (MO NG)[6][7]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aMissouri_Adjutant_Generals_20_Combat_Badge.png){kind=icon}
In late 2024 it was reported that "master combat badges" would debut in Spring 2025; theMaster Combat Infantryman Badge (MCIB),Master Combat Medical Badge (MCMB), andMaster Combat Action Badge (MCAB). The badges would represent those who have earned both a combat badge (CIB,CMB, orCAB) and an expert badge (EIB,EFMB, orESB). The various master combat badges appear identical to their respective combat badges save for coloration; The silver wreaths on the full-color metal combat badges are replaced with gold wreaths on the master combat badges. The black wreaths of the subdued metal pin-on badges and sew-on badges black are also replaced with gold. Soldiers that have earned a combat badge but a "separate" expert badge (a CIB and an EFMB, for example) wear the master badge aligning with their combat badge (in the case of a CIB and an EFMB, the awardee would wear the MCIB).[8][9] In March 2025, the Army confirmed the master combat badges would be available via theArmy & Air Force Exchange Service from 21 March 2025 onward.[10]
| Mariner Badges | ||
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US Army Mariner Badge Basic | US Army Mariner Badge Senior | US Army Mariner Badge Master |
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 onArmy watercraft and ships would be eligible for the badge.[11] On 20 March 2025, the badge design was unveiled publicly and it is set to be named the "Mariner Badge." TheU.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 consideredDepartment of the Army "identification badges" (similar to theDrill Sergeant Identification Badge orMaster Gunner Identification Badge) and their wear and precedence will be regulated byAR 600-8-22 andAR 670-1.[12] On March 16, 2025 the Army released message ALARACT 025/2025 about the new badges and on March 24, 2025 Task and Purpose reported that the Institute of Heraldry had released the three designs.[13]
ANNOUNCEMENT OF MOUNTAINEERING BADGE... THIS MESSAGE ANNOUNCES THE ESTABLISHMENT AND UPCOMING POLICY IN SUPPORT OF THE MOUNTAINEERING BADGE.
...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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