Identification badges of the uniformed services of the United States explained

Identification badges of the uniformed services of the United States are insignia worn by service members conducting special duties, many of which can be awarded as permanent decorations if those duties are performed successfully. There are a few identification badges that are awarded to all services (such as the Presidential Service Badge), others are specific to a uniform service (such as the U.S. Army's Drill Sergeant Identification Badge). The Office of the President and Vice President and department/service headquarters badges are permanent decorations for those who successfully serve in those assignments. Some of the service level identification badges can be permanent decorations and others are only worn by a service member while performing specific duties, such as the Military Police Badge.^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]}

Command insignia/badges are another form of identification badge used to identify an officer or non-commissioned officer who is/was in command or in-charge of a unit. If the service member performs their leadership duties successfully, the command insignia/badge they wear can become a permanent uniform decoration regardless of their next assignment.^{[2] [3] [5] [8]}

The following is a list of identification badges currently in use by the uniformed services:

Department of Defense

U.S. Space Force

Department of Homeland Security

U.S. Coast Guard

Department of Health and Human Services

U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps

Department of Commerce

U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps

See also

• Military badges of the United States
• Awards and decorations of the Public Health Service
• Awards and decorations of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• Obsolete badges of the United States military
• United States Army branch insignia
• List of United States Army careers
• List of United States Marine Corps MOS
• United States Navy staff corps
• List of United States Navy ratings
• Air Force Specialty Code
• List of United States Coast Guard ratings

References

1. http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/p670_1.pdf U.S. Army Pamphlet 670–1: Uniform and Insignia, Guide to the Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia
2. http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/support/uniforms/uniformregulations/chapter5/Pages/default.aspx U.S. Navy Uniform Regulations, Chapter 5
3. http://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a1/publication/afi36-2903/afi36-2903.pdf U.S. Air Force Instruction 36-2903: Dress and Personal Appearance of Air Force Personnel
4. http://www.marines.mil/Portals/59/Publications/MCO%20P1020.34G%20W%20CH%201-5.pdf U.S. Marine Corps Order P1020.34G: Marine Corps Uniform Regulations, Chapters 1-5
5. http://www.uscg.mil/hr/udc/docs/CIM_M1020_6H.pdf U.S. Coast Guard Uniform Regulation, M1020.6H
6. http://www.uscg.mil/directives/cim/16000-16999/CIM_16790_1G.pdf U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Manual, COMDTINST M16790.1G
7. http://dcp.psc.gov/eccis/documents/ppm08_019.pdf U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps PPM 08-019, Wear of Skill and Breast Badges
8. http://www.corpscpc.noaa.gov/procedures/corps_directives/chapter_12/ncd_ch12part6.pdf U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps Directive, Chapter 12, Part 6, Insignia, Medals, and Ribbon Bars