Badges of the United States Space Force are specific uniform paraphernalia authorized by the United States Space Force that signify ratings, special skills, career field qualifications, and serve as identification devices for personnel occupying certain assignments. Space Force occupational badges are awarded in three degrees or skill levels. Badges for space operations are awarded at basic, senior, and command levels; other occupational badges are issued in basic, senior, and master level. A star and wreath system, worn above the badge, denotes which degree or skill level a service member currently holds.[2]
Occupational badges
editCurrent Space Force occupational badges are shared with the Air Force and come in the grades of basic, senior, and master or command. Space Force occupation badges are worn on the left side of the uniform in metal for the service and mess dress uniforms or embroidered in space blue on the OCP uniform. Space Force occupational badges are mandatory for wear.[3]
Space Operations Badge
editThe Space Operations Badge is awarded to 13S space operations officers and 5S0 space systems specialists. It is awarded in the grades of basic, senior, and command. The first space badge was authorized on 4 November 1982 and issued to 20XX space operations officers, before renamed the Space and Missile Badge on 22 October 1993 in recognition of the merging of the 18XX missile operations officer and 20XX space operations officer career fields into the 13S space operations officer career field.[4] The section space badge, known as the Space Operations Badge, replaced the first space badge on 1 November 2005 and was initially known as the Space Badge.[5] On 1 January 2004, it was renamed the Space Operations Badge.[6]
Official heraldry of the Space Operations Badge: "The central globe represents the Earth as viewed from space, the Earth being the origin and control point for man’s space endeavors. The global lines of latitude and longitude hearken to the original 20th Air Force patch and emphasize the global nature of the Air Force space mission. The thrusts and vectors behind the globe represent the dynamic and infinite space environment. The deltoid symbolizes the Air Force’s upward thrust into space, the reentry vehicles of our intercontinental ballistic missile force and the launch vehicles that place satellites in orbit. The ellipses represent orbital paths traced by satellites in Earth orbit; the satellites symbolically depicted as four-pointed stars. The symmetric placement of the satellites signifies the Air Force’s worldwide coverage in accomplishing its mission."[7]
Intelligence Badge
editThe Intelligence Badge is awarded to 14N intelligence officers and 1N0 all source intelligence analysts, 1N1 geospatial intelligence analysts, 1N2 signals intelligence analysts, 1N4 fusion analysts, and 1N8 targeting analysts. It is awarded in the grades of basic, senior, and command.[8]
Cyberspace Operator Badge
editThe Cyberspace Operator Badge is awarded to 17C cyberspace warfare operations commanders, 17D warfighter communications operations officers, and 17S cyberspace effects operations officers. It is awarded in the grades of basic, senior, and master, replacing the previous Communications and Information Badge on 21 April 2010.[9]
The lightning bolt wings signify the cyberspace domain while the globe signifies the projection of cyber power world-wide. The globe, combined with lightning bolt wings, signifies the Air Force's common communications heritage. The bolted wings, centered on the globe, are a design element from the Department of the Air Force Seal signifying the striking power through air, space and cyberspace. The orbits signify the space dimension of the cyberspace domain.[10]
Cyberspace Support Badge
editThe Cyberspace Support Badge is awarded to 3D0 cyberspace operations specialists and 3D1 cyberspace support specialists. It is awarded in the grades of basic, senior, and master, replacing the previous Communications and Information Badge on 1 June 2010.[11]
Acquisition and Financial Management Badge
editThe Acquisition and Financial Management Badge was established in 1993. It is awarded to United States Space Force (USSF) 62E developmental engineers, 62S Materiel Leaders, 63A acquisitions managers, 63S Materiel Leaders, 63G Senior Materiel Leaders-Lower Echelon, and 60C Senior Materiel Leader-Upper Echelon. It is awarded in the grades of basic, senior, and command. The badge is also awarded to United States Air Force (USAF) 62E developmental engineers, 62S Materiel Leaders, 63A acquisitions managers, 63S Materiel Leaders, 63G Senior Materiel Leaders-Lower Echelon, 60C Senior Materiel Leader-Upper Echelon, 64P Contracting Officers, 65F Financial Managers, and 65W Cost Analysts. From 1993 through 2021, the badge was awarded to USAF 61C Chemists and 61D Physicists. (USAF Chemists and Physicists often provide support for the USSF. In 2021, the Scientific Applications Specialist Badge was approved for USAF Chemists and Physicists, including those supporting the USSF.[8])
The center piece of the Acquisition and Financial Management badge is the depiction of the globe. This depiction represents acquisition's contribution to the Department of the Air Force's vision: "global power and reach for America." The converging paths reflect the inputs from the major acquisition elements (science & technology, development & test, production, and support). These inputs come together and result in advance weapon systems (represented by the deltoid) which support both Services in the Department of the Air Force, the USAF and the USSF.
Authorization and wear criteria for the Acquisition and Financial Management Badge applies to all military Force Modernization officers, USAF Airmen and USSF Guardians alike. That wear criteria are contained within the Force Modernization Talent Management Framework.[12]
Duty badges
editU.S. Space Force lapel insignia
editSpace Staff Badge
editCommander's Insignia
editThe Commander's Insignia is worn by officers in the grade of colonel and below who are currently in command above the name tag on the right side of the uniform. Graduated commanders wear the commander's insignia beneath the nametag on the service uniform or the Velcro patch on the top of the right sleeve in the OCP uniform.[2][3]
Graduate Patches
edit-
Test Pilot School Graduate Patch
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Space Test Course Graduate Patch (2021-2024)
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Weapons School Graduate Patch
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School of Advanced Air and Space Studies Graduate Patch
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Seck, Hope Hodge (2020-01-17). "Space Force Offers First Peek at Camouflage Uniform". Military.com. Retrieved 2020-01-27.
- ^ a b "Air Force Guidance Memorandum to AFI 36-2903, Dress and Personal Appearance of Air Force Personnel" (PDF). 2021-06-25. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-08-14. Retrieved 2020-12-06.
- ^ a b "Space Force Guidance Memorandum Establishing U.S. Space Force (USSF) Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP) Uniform Wear Guidance" (PDF). Department of the Air Force. 2020-08-24. SPFGM2020-36-01. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-08-27.
- ^ Ogletree, Greg (2002-05-01). "The Missile Badge (a not-so-brief history)" (PDF). Association of Air Force Missileers. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-11-19.
- ^ "New space badge wear begins today". Archived from the original on 16 July 2012.
- ^ "Space badge renamed, new guidance issued".
- ^
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: AFSC 1C6X1 SPACE SYSTEMS OPERATIONS, CAREER FIELD EDUCATION AND TRAINING PLAN, Department of the Air Force, dated 12 May 2016, last accessed 26 December 2020.
- ^ a b "Air Force Occupational and Aeronautical Badges".
- ^ "New Air Force cyberspace badge guidelines released".
- ^ "New Air Force Cyberspace badge guidelines released".
- ^ "Air Force stands up new cyberspace support career field".
- ^ "Force Modernization Talent Management Framework".