History
The Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) is a United States Army military award. The badge is awarded to infantrymen and Special Forces Soldiers in the rank of Colonel and below, who personally fought in active ground combat while assigned as members of either an infantry, Ranger or Special Forces unit, of brigade size or smaller, any time after 6 December 1941. The CIB and its non-combat contemporary, the Expert Infantryman Badge (EIB) were simultaneously created during World War II to enhance the morale and prestige of service in the infantry. Specifically, it recognizes the inherent sacrifices of all infantrymen, and that, in comparison to all other military occupational specialties, infantrymen face the greatest risk of being wounded or killed in action.

Prerequisites
To earn the Combat Infantryman Badge, one must be qualified in a 11 series MOS, perform the duties while in a 11 series MOS in a operation to good standards (ex: No extended AFKs or disconnecting regularly during operations), and be an active participant (such as firing their weapon and communicating) In addition to the above, a soldier must do one of two things to earn the Combat Infantryman Badge:

History
The Ranger tab is a service school military decoration of the United States Army signifying completion of the 61-day long Ranger School course in small-unit infantry combat tactics in woodland, mountain, and swamp operations. Those graduating from Ranger School are presented with the Ranger Tab, which is worn on the upper shoulder of the left sleeve of a military uniform. It is currently one of four permanent individual skill/marksmanship tabs authorized for wear by the U.S. Army.

Prerequisites
The Ranger Tab shall be awarded to any soldier who places in the top of a Ranger School Class from peer and cadre evaluations.

History
To wear the Sapper Tab, a soldier must graduate from the Sapper Leader Course, which is operated by the U.S. Army Engineer School at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. The Sapper Leader Course is a demanding 28-day leadership development course for combat engineers that reinforces critical skills and teaches advanced techniques needed across the army. This course is also designed to build esprit de corps by training soldiers in troop-leading procedures, demolitions (conventional and expedient), and mountaineering operations. The course culminates in an intense field-training exercise that reinforces the use of the battle drills and specialized engineering techniques learned throughout the course.

Prerequisites
The Sapper Tab shall be awarded to any soldier who places in the top of a Sapper School Class from peer and cadre evaluations.

History
The Expert Field Medical Badge (EFMB) is a United States Army decoration first created on June 18, 1965. This badge is the non-combat equivalent of the Combat Medical Badge (CMB) and is awarded to medical personnel of the US Military who successfully complete a set of qualification tests including both written and performance portions.

Prerequisites
The Expert Field Medical Badge shall be awarded to soldiers who have been participated in active ground combat, no less than 5 campaigns, while assigned to or filling a dedicated medical role.

History
Originally established as the Medical Badge, the Combat Medical Badge (CMB) was created by the War Department on 1 March 1945. It could be awarded to officers, warrant officers, and enlisted Soldier of the Medical Department assigned or attached to the medical detachment of infantry regiments, infantry battalions, and elements thereof designated as infantry in tables of organization or tables of organization and equipment. Its evolution stemmed from a requirement to recognize medical aid-men who shared the same hazards and hardships of ground combat on a daily basis with the infantry Soldier. Though established almost a year and a half after the Combat Infantry Badge (CIB), it could be awarded retroactively to 7 December 1941 to fully qualified personnel.

Prerequisites
To earn the Combat Medical Badge, one must be qualified in the 68W MOS, perform the duties while in a 68W MOS in a operation to good standards (ex: No extended AFKs or disconnecting regularly during operations), and be an active participant (such as firing their weapon and treating wounded personnel) In addition to the above, a soldier must do one of two things to earn the Combat Medical Badge:

1.  Participate in 6 of 7 operations during a 7 operation campaign in the 68W MOS or
2.  Participate in 8 operations (such as 3 operations for 1 campaign and 5 for another campaign?s operations) in the 68W MOS - this is also meant to include those who are reserve troops, who otherwise may not be able to fulfill the first requirement

History
Since the Combat Infantryman Badge was introduced in 1943 followed by the Combat Medical Badge in 1945, other branches argued in favor of their own badges, but a War Department review board just after the war ruled these out. Unofficial combat badges for non-infantry soldiers were in some instances worn in violation of uniform regulations or included in personal award displays wherein the rifle and blue field of the CIB were replaced with the appropriate branch insignia and color. These unofficial combat badges began to appear shortly after the creation of the Combat Infantryman Badge and while the practice continued until the creation of an official non-infantry combat badge it never became widespread

Prerequisites
The Combat Action Badge may be awarded to any soldier not eligible for the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) or Combat Medical Badge (CMB) after the date of September 18, 2001 performing duties in an area where hostile fire pay or imminent danger pay is authorized, who is personally present and actively engaging or being engaged by the enemy, and performing satisfactorily in accordance with the prescribed rules of engagement. To earn the Combat Action Badge, one must meet the criteria above, and perform the duties in a operation to good standards (ex: No extended AFKs or disconnecting regularly during operations), and be an active participant (such as firing their weapon and communicating) In addition to the above, a soldier must do one of two things to earn the Combat Action Badge:

1.  Participate in 6 of 7 operations during a 7 operation campaign or
2.  Participate in 8 operations (such as 3 operations for 1 campaign and 5 operations for another campaign) . This particular requirement is also meant to include those who are reserve troops, who otherwise may not be able to fulfill the first requirement

History
According to the United States Army Institute of Heraldry, "The Air Assault Badge was approved by the Chief of Staff, Army, on 18 January 1978, for Army-wide wear by individuals who successfully completed Air Assault training after 1 April 1974. The badge had previously been approved as the Airmobile Badge authorized for local wear by the Commander of the 101st Airborne Division, effective 1 April 1974." The division had been reorganized from parachute to airmobile in mid-1968 in Vietnam and designated the 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile). The parenthetical designation changed to Air Assault on 4 October 1974 and the name of the badge was likewise changed.

Prerequisites
The Air Assault Badge shall be awarded to soldiers who successfully complete Air Assault School.

History
The Parachutist Badge, also commonly referred to as "Jump Wings" is a military badge of the United States Armed Forces awarded to members of the United States Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy.

Prerequisites
The Basic Parachute Badge shall be awarded to soldiers who have successfully complete Airborne School.

History
The original Army Parachutist Badge was designed in 1941 by Captain (later Lieutenant General) William P. Yarborough and approved by the Department of the Army in March of that year. The Parachutist Badge replaced the "Parachutist Patch" which had previously worn as a large patch on the side of a paratrooper's garrison cap. LTG Yarborough also designed the Senior and Master Parachutist Badges and the addition of stars to portray the number of combat jumps.

Prerequisites
Complete Jump Master Training and complete 5 combat jumps .

History
The original Army Parachutist Badge was designed in 1941 by Captain (later Lieutenant General) William P. Yarborough and approved by the Department of the Army in March of that year. The Parachutist Badge replaced the "Parachutist Patch" which had previously worn as a large patch on the side of a paratrooper's garrison cap. LTG Yarborough also designed the Senior and Master Parachutist Badges and the addition of stars to portray the number of combat jumps.

Prerequisites
Have met requirements and been awarded Senior Parachutist Badge, and complete 10 combat jumps.

History
The first United States Aviator Badges were issued to members of the Air Service during World War I. The badges were issued in three degrees: Observer (a "US" shield and one left-side wing), Junior Aviator or Reserve Aviation Officer (a "US" shield between two wings), and Senior Aviator (a star over "US" shield between two wings). The Army Air Corps also issued a badge for balloon pilots, known as the Aeronaut Badge. Enlisted Aviators wore their regular rank insignia and the Observer's badge. There were 29 enlisted pilots before the American entry into World War I. The second enlisted aviator, William A. Lamkey, got a discharge and flew for Pancho Villa. The remaining enlisted pilots received commissions in 1917. There were 60 enlisted mechanics who were trained as pilots in France during the war, but they were used for ferrying duties and did not fly in combat. The recruiting and training of enlisted Aviators ended in 1933.

Prerequisites
The U.S. Army Aviator Badge shall be awarded to soldiers who successfully complete flight training with the MOS 153A Rotary Wing Aviator and are inducted into the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne).

History
Army Aviators who successfully perform 7 years on flight status qualify for the Master Aviator Badge.

Prerequisites
160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) Aviators with no less than 3 months time in grade at Chief Warrant Officer 2 qualify for the Senior Aviator Badge.

History
Army Aviators who successfully perform 15 years on flight status qualify for the Master Aviator Badge.

Prerequisites
160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) Aviators with no less than 3 months time in grade at Chief Warrant Officer 4 qualify for the Master Aviator Badge.

History
The Drill Sergeant Identification Badge is a military badge of the United States Army which was first issued on January 15, 1958. It is also nicknamed the "pumpkin" patch due to its jack-o'-lantern-like appearance when worn in the non-subdued pin-on version and in the color sew-on version worn before insignia was subdued in the 1950s and 1960s. The badge is presented to any NCO who has completed the Drill Sergeant Course at any U.S. Army Drill Sergeant School, and has been assigned as a drill sergeant at a U.S. Army training command.

Prerequisites
To earn the Drill Sergeant Identification Badge, one must be a BCT/RASP Instructor and assigned as such in a S-3 Operations DMOS, while serving in that capacity for 1 month.

History
The U.S. military issues instructor badges to specially training military personnel who are charged with teaching military recruits the skills they need to perform as members of the U.S. Armed Forces or teach continuing education courses for non-commissioned officers and officers in the military.

Prerequisites
Must be in DMOS Instructor role (S-3 Qualification Instructor) for 1 month and teach 10 classes of any kind or a mixture of classes, and have no infractions.

History
The U.S. military issues instructor badges to specially training military personnel who are charged with teaching military recruits the skills they need to perform as members of the U.S. Armed Forces or teach continuing education courses for non-commissioned officers and officers in the military.

Prerequisites
Must be in DMOS Instructor role (S-3 Qualification Instructor) for 2 months and teach at least 20 classes of any kind or a mixture of courses, and have no infractions.

History
The U.S. military issues instructor badges to specially training military personnel who are charged with teaching military recruits the skills they need to perform as members of the U.S. Armed Forces or teach continuing education courses for non-commissioned officers and officers in the military.

Prerequisites
Must be in DMOS Instructor role (S-3 Qualification Instructor) for a period of 3 months and teach 35 classes of any kind or a mixture of classes and have no infractions.

History
U.S. Army recruiter badges are presented to active and reserve Army personnel who are assigned to the U.S. Army Recruiting Command (USAREC). All Army personnel that graduate from the Army Recruiter Course (ARC) or are assigned to USAREC are authorized to wear the Basic Recruiter Identification Badge. However, only those ARC graduates who have satisfied specific recruiting goals are authorized to wear the Basic Recruiter Identification Badge as a permanent award.

Prerequisites
To earn the Recruiter Badge, one must be a Recruiter and assigned as such in a S-1 Personnel DMOS, while serving in that capacity for 1 month, with no infractions, and successfully process 20 applicants.

History
The Best Ranger Competition was first held in 1982. The first competitions were limited to Ranger units, but from 1984 onwards it accepted teams from throughout the Army. As of 2018, the competition involves 50 two-man teams, mostly from the 75th Ranger Regiment and the ARTB, but also including a Coast Guard team. The competition takes 62 hours and involves tests of physical fitness, including runs and marches, and of marksmanship. The exact composition of events changes yearly.

Prerequisites
The Best Ranger Competition Award shall be awarded to the two-man team who score the highest during the units Best Ranger Competition. Soldiers must be active or reserve duty and have a Ranger Tab to enter the competition.

History
As part of the Army Cohesion and Stability Study (ARCOST) of 1980, a proposal to adopt the Army Superior Unit Award was forwarded to Major Army Commands (MACOM) for comment on 18 March 1981. This recommendation was based on the fact that present Army unit awards were for combat service only. While all MACOM\ and most of the Army Staff supported the proposal, the leadership elected not to approve the new award. In 1984, the Vice Chief of Staff, Army, directed that a Peacetime Unit Award be developed and submitted for approval. In April 1985, the Secretary of the Army (SECARMY) approved the Army Superior Unit Award for meritorious unit performance of a uniquely difficult and challenging mission under extraordinary circumstances that involved the national interest. As a result of the strict criteria and lack of approving awards, the criteria was changed by SECARMY in July 1986. This change deleted the words "unique" and "national interest". Only one award was approved prior to the revision and it went to the 3d Battalion, 502d Infantry, 101st Airborne Division. Nearly 200 of the 248 soldiers that were killed in the plane crash in Gander, Newfoundland, were from the battalion and were on their way home in December 1985 from duty with the Multinational Force and Observers in the Sinai Desert. The Army Superior Unit Award is the third highest unit decoration which may be bestowed upon a U.S. Army unit.

Prerequisites
The Army Superior Unit Award shall be awarded at peacetime to any unit of the Army which displays outstanding meritorious performance of a difficult and challenging mission carried out under extraordinary circumstances as ordered by the commander.