An Air Force Occupational Badge is a military badge of the United States Air Force which is awarded to those members of the line Air Force community who are engaged in duties “other than flying”. The purpose of the Air Force Occupational Badge is to denote and recognize training, education and qualifications received in a particular career field and to provide recognition in an outwardly displayed badge.
The first Air Force Occupational Badges began appearing on Air Force uniforms in the late 1950s. Prior to this time, the only Air Force badges authorized were the Pilot’s Badge and other aeronautical career badges such as the Navigator Badge and Flight Surgeon Badge.
An Air Force Occupational Badge is received upon completion of initial career field training and assignment to an active command. As a service member advances in their career field, the occupational badge may be upgraded to the level of Senior or Master. Such upgrades are denoted by a star and wreath, centered above the Occupational badge. For enlisted personnel, the Senior badge denotes award of the "7 skill level," a skill level typically reached at the rank of Staff Sergeant. Skill levels are as follows: 1-Student, 3-Apprentice, 5-Journeyman, 7-Craftsman, and 9-Superintendent. The master badge is awarded to master sergeant or above with 5 years in the specialty from award of the 7-skill level(AFI 36-2903 5.9). For officers, the Senior badge is worn after seven years service in the specialty and the Master badge after fifteen years.
For those service members in support aerial career fields, such as flight surgeons and air battle managers, it is common to receive both an aeronautical badge and an occupational badge depending on the level of training and education received prior to assignment. Unlike the aeronautical badge, wear of the occupational badge is optional.
The Air Force also maintains a series of medical badges and religious pins, issued on the same principle as the occupational badges. The Parachutist Badge, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Badge, Weapons Director Badge, and the Space and Missile Badge are also issued under the same guidelines as occupational badges.
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