What is that BADGE??!!

SPC Chad Kolod — Thu, 07 May 2015 16:20:24 -0400

Does anybody have a badge that sparks a lot of conversation? While I was in, I was awarded the Army Space Badge, and people would ask about often. The true qualifications were; you had to attend atleast one of a select few space operations course and and serve for atleast 12 months within space command. In my case I attended the Satellite Network Coordinators course or 1C course. Now you receive the badge as soon as you graduate from one of the courses. If you ask someone with the badge you usually get some sort of sarcastic reply, like its the satellite door gunner badge. Lol. Any one else have any cool badges they don't mind spoiling for the rest of us??

Response by SFC Stephen King made May 7 at 2015 4:26 PM

SFC Stephen King — Thu, 07 May 2015 16:26:39 -0400

On Feb. 2, 2011, the Army chief of staff approved the establishment of the Space Badge. The Space Badge is awarded to active Army, Army Reserve and National Guard Soldiers who successfully complete appropriate space-related training and attain the required Army space cadre experience. There are three levels of the Space Badge: basic, senior and master.

Awesome! This is my first time seeing it great job.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made May 7 at 2015 4:37 PM

SrA Edward Vong — Thu, 07 May 2015 16:37:15 -0400

I get a lot of questions for my missile badge.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made May 7 at 2015 5:25 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Thu, 07 May 2015 17:25:20 -0400

I'd get asked about this one. We'd just say it's a Ninja Throwing Star.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 7 at 2015 6:17 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 07 May 2015 18:17:08 -0400

Never seen anyone with a Space Badge.
Looks like something awarded at Starfleet Academy.
Leave it to the Air Force...

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made May 7 at 2015 7:03 PM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 07 May 2015 19:03:03 -0400

Ahh yes the one badge the Army adopted from its sister service the Air Force. Its now just the Space Operations badge since both services adopted it. Originally, it was the AF Space Ops badge. It was created after the AF decided to separate two career fields, space and missiles. Prior to 2005 all officers that were missileers were also space operations officers. They used to do one tour in the hole working in the ICBM silos. Then a space ops tour. When they separated them they decided to make space a non flying rated field. With this they decided to make a new badge commensurate with other rated fields like pilot/rpa pilot, navigator, and air battle manager. Before this badge the space ops people wore a traditional looking AFSC badge which are the ones that have some sort of design wrapped around an oblong wreath.

Now that they created this badge it is considered in the Air Force to be of the same precedence as aeronautical ratings and wings. They are worn on top all badges if it represents your current duty AFSC, this was a first. It used to be that pilot wings were always your highest badge except chaplain insignia.

There is one more badge similar to this that was created a few years later. The AF Cyber Operations badge looks similar except the wing is a bunch of lightning bolts. This replaced the standard communications officer AFSC insignia.

Response by SGT Richard H. made May 7 at 2015 7:13 PM

SGT Richard H. — Thu, 07 May 2015 19:13:44 -0400

I got asked about this special qualification badge a lot.

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made May 7 at 2015 7:51 PM

Capt Mark Strobl — Thu, 07 May 2015 19:51:30 -0400

Couldn't get a pic (but, if I do, I will be sure to post). One of my classmates had the opportunity to go to dive school. He graduated. Years later, he graduated from flight school -- earning his Naval Aviator wings. From a distance, he looked like a RECON Marine --Scuba bubble over Aviators. At least he had a chance should he have ever ejected over water.

However, I believe the warfare designator pin in the photograph is the coveted Space Shuttle Door Gunner.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made May 7 at 2015 8:14 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Thu, 07 May 2015 20:14:28 -0400

SPC Chad Kolod, here's my contribution although it is by no means exotic, nor did it require any special training or qualification. People would ask about it though.
The National Communications System identification badge is an unusual badge, in that it will never be worn again since the organization was dissolved on 6JUL12!
Everyone assigned to the National Communications System (DOD) was authorized to wear it, so it was certainly not rare. However, I'm sure there are few members of RP that are aware of this ole badge! The NCS badge was worn centered on the right breast pocket of the Class A and Class B Army uniforms (and corresponding uniforms for the other services), and DOD issued their own memorandum authorizing the wear of the badge. I served in the NCS from NOV94 to MAY98.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made May 7 at 2015 8:42 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 07 May 2015 20:42:11 -0400

The IUSS badge

Response by MSG Gerry Poe made May 7 at 2015 9:23 PM

MSG Gerry Poe — Thu, 07 May 2015 21:23:48 -0400

I would wear that Space Badge with pride!!! Prett cool right there!!!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 7 at 2015 10:01 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 07 May 2015 22:01:27 -0400

I love that badge! I keep getting asked what it is and what it means, i just tell people i am "in flight missile repair"!

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made May 7 at 2015 10:07 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Thu, 07 May 2015 22:07:19 -0400

You see many of these in Colorado Springs

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made May 8 at 2015 8:30 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Fri, 08 May 2015 20:30:39 -0400

Starship pilot wings.....I think those are Mr Sulus....

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made May 9 at 2015 1:02 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sat, 09 May 2015 13:02:04 -0400

Pretty Cool. Pretty Sci-Fi Looking. As Master at Arms to Commander Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command I suspect that I don't Qualify though.

Response by SSG John Erny made May 20 at 2015 2:00 PM

SSG John Erny — Wed, 20 May 2015 14:00:22 -0400

This badge is rather rare, not that many of us in uniform at any given time.

Response by SPC Chad Kolod made May 20 at 2015 2:02 PM

SPC Chad Kolod — Wed, 20 May 2015 14:02:14 -0400

Are there any discontinued badges out there? Not ones that have been updated.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 13 at 2016 4:49 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 04:49:12 -0400

How do you earn this badge?

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 1 at 2017 11:08 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 23:08:12 -0400

Got my Senior Badge a couple years ago. About to pass the time in "Space Jobs" requirement later this Summer, now all I need is Space 300 to get Master Space Wings!

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 2 at 2017 4:49 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 16:49:17 -0400

I had an S2 Commander with a submarine badge.

Response by PVT Raymond Lopez made Aug 2 at 2017 11:23 PM

PVT Raymond Lopez — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 23:23:51 -0400

Does master shit burner patch count?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2017 2:16 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 02:16:38 -0400

I was once awarded the National Defense Service Ribbon for my efforts... im just kidding. But, I have seen this crazy looking badge before called the rams head. It is a mountaineer course ran by the National Guard I believe, you can easily google it.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2018 9:08 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 13 Aug 2018 21:08:48 -0400

I’ve got “that badge”, since earned the Senior version, and about to earn the Master version soon

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 11 at 2018 10:13 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 10:13:38 -0500

All the idiotic comments here, are why I don’t bother wearing my Spings.
Which reminds me, I have to fill out another form 4187... I’m eligible for the upgrade to Master (wreath)

Response by CPT Brad Wilson made Jul 31 at 2019 1:58 AM

CPT Brad Wilson — Wed, 31 Jul 2019 01:58:40 -0400

A buddy of mine got this There was a Space Operation something or other in our FA Brigade HQ and he was the first to go to school to get qualified for it

Response by 1LT Rob James made Jul 31 at 2019 8:44 AM

1LT Rob James — Wed, 31 Jul 2019 08:44:25 -0400

I was in Sinop Turkey in 89 to 90 and heard that 98js were authorized some sort of space badge from the AF about a year later. We were Intel not missiles.

Response by LCpl Thomas LaBombard made Jul 31 at 2019 2:13 PM

LCpl Thomas LaBombard — Wed, 31 Jul 2019 14:13:31 -0400

Do Marines get it for going to other worlds?...Like in "Aliens!?"

Response by SSG David Stafne made Jul 31 at 2019 2:56 PM

SSG David Stafne — Wed, 31 Jul 2019 14:56:01 -0400

I was Airborne Infantry, a Good Conduct Medal was pretty scarce!

Response by SPC Conley Henderson made Jul 31 at 2019 3:52 PM

SPC Conley Henderson — Wed, 31 Jul 2019 15:52:20 -0400

As a 19k Tanker, I was issued a mechanics badge. To this day not sure if I should be proud of it or embarrassed. Definitely got me unnecessary attention during inspections.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 1 at 2019 9:45 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 01 Aug 2019 09:45:57 -0400

Shame, you are a 25s and have no idea what this badge is. Shame.

I knew what the badge was, a different looking one, when I went through ait for 31s

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 18 at 2020 3:03 PM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Jan 2020 15:03:33 -0500

This badge is for Space Cadets only.

Response by SSG Ralph Watkins made Jan 1 at 2022 12:35 PM

SSG Ralph Watkins — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 12:35:00 -0500

Back in the day we laughed & made fun of the USAF with all of their patches & badges. They looked like they should be wait staff at TGI Fridays. Guess somebody in the Army command structure got envious & has allowed the Army to try to accumulated more doo-dads on the uniform than the USAF. Meanwhile the USMC has kept their uniforms to a quiet minimum for about 100 years. Well, Marines are warriors while the Army command loves their toy soldiers. So what now, is the Army going to issue special badges for every ASI a soldier acquires? It's nuts.

Response by SFC Allen Murphy made Jan 1 at 2022 3:08 PM

SFC Allen Murphy — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 15:08:09 -0500

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 1 at 2022 3:43 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 15:43:47 -0500

That would be the 240B gunner badge on the space shuttle!

Response by SPC Lyle Montgomery made Jan 1 at 2022 4:05 PM

SPC Lyle Montgomery — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 16:05:30 -0500

I have never seen this badge, but then I havent seen a lot of them. Anyhow it's cool and when awarded it should be worn proudly, as with all other awarded badges. Cool badge.

Response by PO1 John Crafton made Jan 3 at 2022 4:56 PM

PO1 John Crafton — Mon, 03 Jan 2022 16:56:11 -0500

Should be a picture of a chair, a computer screen, and a cup of coffee. Just saying.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 22 at 2024 4:41 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 16:41:09 -0500

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badges_of_the_United_States_Space_Force

this should answer your question

Badges of the United States Space Force - Wikipedia