Obsolete badges of the United States military

Obsolete badges of the United States military are a number of U.S. military insignia which were issued in the 20th and 21st centuries that are no longer used today. After World War II, many badges were phased out of the United States Armed Forces in favor of more modern military badges used today.

A unique obsolete badge situation occurred with General of the Air Force Henry H. Arnold, who in 1913 was among the 24 Army pilots to receive the first Military Aviator Badge, an eagle bearing Signal Corps flags suspended from a bar.The Mark of an Eagle, Air Force Magazine, by TSgt Harold L. Craven, dated October 1963, last accessed 14 October 2019 Replaced in 1917 by the more conventional "wings" embroidered design (authorized as an oxidized silver badge in 1921), Arnold displayed both types on his uniform throughout his career. The original Military Aviator Badge design can be seen in pictures of him in uniform.

The following is a listing of obsolete U.S. military badges and insignia organized by branch of service.

U.S. Army Army Aviation Section/Air Service Badge/InsigniaExampleSignal Corps Military Aviator BadgeAir Service Airplane Pilot BadgeBombing Aviator BadgeAeronaut BadgeEnlisted Aviator BadgeObserver BadgeWound Chevron

Army Air Forces BadgeExampleAerial Gunner Badge Airship Pilot BadgeBalloon Pilot Badge Balloon Observer BadgeBombardier Badge Flight Engineer BadgeFlight Nurse BadgeFlight Surgeon BadgeFlight Surgeon Dentist BadgeGlider Pilot Badge Instructor BadgeLiaison Pilot Badge Navigator Badge Observer Badge Service Pilot BadgeTechnical Observer BadgeWomen Airforce Service Pilots Badge Women Airforce Service Pilots Badge (early version)Army Air Forces Technician BadgeDistinguished Aerial BadgesDistinguished Bomber and Aerial Gunner Badges, U. S. Army Insignia, William K. Emerson, last accessed 14 October 2019U.S. Army Air Corps - Between The Wars, Aviation Wings and Badges of World War II, last accessed 25 January 2013

Regular Army Badge/InsigniaExampleNotesMarksman ButtonsReplaced by Rifle Marksmanship Badges in 1897Marksman Buttons, Weapons Badges, U.S. Army Insignia, by William K. Emerson, last accessed 19 May 2013Marksmanship Prize BadgesReplaced by Team Marksmanship Badges in 1903Marksmanship Prizes, 1881-1902, Weapons Badges, U.S. Army Insignia, by William K. Emerson, last accessed 24 April 2014Tank Service InsigniaReplaced by Tank Corps Insignia on 7 May 1918Artillery Qualification BadgesRetired in 1913 and reintroduced as a qualification clasp for the Marksmanship Qualification Badges in 1921U.S. Army Artillery Qualification Badges, 1891-1913, U. S. Army Insignia, William K. Emerson, last accessed 25 January 2013Weapons Qualification, U.S. Army Badges, The Institute of Heraldry, last accessed 9 November 2025Tank Corps InsigniaReplaced by Infantry (Tanks) Insignia on 16 Mar 1921Rifle Marksmanship BadgesReplaced by Marksmanship Qualification Badges in 1921 and adopted by the Marine Corps.U.S. Army Weapons Qualification Badges and Certificates, 1880-1921, U. S. Army Insignia, William K. Emerson, last accessed 25 January 2013Pistol Marksmanship BadgesIn 1915, the expert version of the badge was replaced with a new design, which lives on in today's U.S. Marine Corps Expert Pistol Badge. All pistol badges were replaced by the Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Pistol Clasp in 1921 and adopted by the Marine Corps.Infantry (Tanks) InsigniaReplaced with a new design on 21 March 1922Team Marksmanship BadgesReplaced with new three piece design between 1922 and 1924Marksmanship in the U.S. Army: A History of Medals, Shooting Programs, and Training, by William K. Emerson, dated 17 May 2004, last accessed 25 January 2013Corps of Intelligence Police Identification BadgeReplaced by Counterintelligence Special Agent Identification Badge on 13 December 1941Infantry (Tanks) InsigniaReplaced by Armor Force Branch Insignia on 25 February 1942Tank Destroyer Corps InsigniaRetired on 28 November 1944Tank and Armor Obsolete, U.S. Army Badges, The Institute of Heraldry, last accessed 23 February 2014Counterintelligence Special Agent Identification BadgeReplaced with a different design between 1947 and 1948Distinguished Automatic Rifleman BadgeRetired in the late 1940s or early 1950s1941 Supplement to the Code of Federal Regulations of the United States of America (page 1,506), last accessed 24 April 2014National Geographic Magazine, October 1943, published October 1943, last accessed 24 April 2014Coast Artillery Corps InsigniaRetired on 19 December 1950Coast Artillery (Obsolete), Insignia and Plaques, The Institute of Heraldry, last accessed 23 February 2014U.S. Artillery Insignia, Turn of the Century, by William K. Emerson, last accessed 24 April 2014Armor Force Branch InsigniaReplaced by Armor Branch Insignia in February 1951Team Marksmanship BadgesReplaced by Army Excellence-in-Competition Badges in 1958Army Shooting Prizes, Post 1916, U.S. Army Insignia, William K. Emerson, last accessed 14 October 2019A Short History of the Distinguished Shooter Program, by Hap Rocketto, dated 19 April 2014, last accessed 1 March 2018Army Excellence-in-Competition Badge (post yours too!), U.S. Militara Forum, last accessed 31 December 2012Glider Badge Retired on 3 May 1961Title 32: National Defense, Section 578.95 - Glider Badge (Rescinded), U.S. Government Printing Office, Code of Federal Regulations, last accessed 21 January 2013Military Intelligence (USAR) InsigniaReplaced by Military Intelligence Corps Insignia on 1 July 1962Insignia and Plaques, Military Intelligence USAR (Obsolete), The Institute of Heraldry, last accessed 23 February 2014Army Security Branch (USAR) InsigniaReplaced by Military Intelligence Corps Insignia on 1 July 1967Insignia and Plaques, Army Security USAR (Obsolete), The Institute of Heraldry, last accessed 23 February 2014Women's Army Corps InsigniaRetired on 20 October 1978Women's Army Corps (Obsolete), Insignia and Plaques, The Institute of Heraldry, last accessed 23 February 2014Indian Scouts Insignia / 1st Special Service Force InsigniaThe Indian Scouts Insignia was retired in 1926, brought back into service in 1942 as the 1st Special Service Force Insignia until 1944, then reintroduced as the Special Forces Branch Insignia in 1984.Special Forces, Insignia and Plaques, The Institute of Heraldry, last accessed 23 February 2014Counterintelligence Special Agent Identification BadgeReplaced with a different designDriver and Mechanic Badge–Aviation Mechanic and Crew ChiefReplaced with Army Aviation Badges in January 1966Driver and Mechanic Badge, 1942-present, U.S. Army Insignia, by William K. Emerson, last accessed 17 March 2023Air Assault Badge (11th Air Assault Division–Test)Replaced with Airmobile Badge in April 1974 which was renamed the Air Assault Badge in January 1978Headquarters & Headquarters Company 1965 - 1971, Captain's Page , jumpingmustangs.com, last accessed 12 October 2020History of the 101st (Post-Vietnam), airassault.bizhosting.com, by Charles S. Bloodworth, last accessed 12 October 2020Qualification Badges, Air Assault Badge , U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry, dated 18 January 1978, last accessed 16 October 2020Recondo Badges (various designs)Discontinued in the 1980s but a different version of it continues to be issued as a special skills badge in the U.S. Army Reserve Officers' Training CorpsUSACC Regulation 670-1, U.S. Army Cadet Command Uniform Wear and Appearance, Department of the Army, 1 February 2020, last accessed 13 April 2020Nuclear Reactor Operator BadgesRetired on 1 October 1990Nuclear Reactor Operator Badges, Qualification Badges, The Institute of Heraldry, last accessed 9 November 2025Jungle Expert Badge (ARSOUTH)Retired in 1999 and reinvented in 2014 as the Jungle Expert Tab for USARPACReserve Recruiter Identification BadgeReplaced with the Army Recruiter Identification Badges in April 2001Reserve Recruiter, 1971-2001 , by William K. Emerson, last accessed 29 December 2014U.S. Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, U.S. Army, updated 25 June 2015, last accessed 1 March 2018U.S. Army Reserve Recruiter Badge, Identification Badges, The Institute of Heraldry, last accessed 9 November 2025Medical Department Recruiter Identification BadgeReplaced with the Army Recruiter Identification Badges in June 2001Army Medical Department Recruiter , by William K. Emerson, last accessed 29 December 2014Scuba Diver BadgeReplaced by the Special Operations Diver Badge on 17 September 2004Diver Badges, Qualification Badges, The Institute of Heraldry, last accessed 9 November 2025Army Regulation 600-8-22 Military Awards (24 June 2013).AR611-75, Management of Army Divers; dated 20 July 2007; retrieved 27 August 2011National Guard Recruiter and Retention Identification Badges Replaced with new designs on 12 May 2008Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Identification Badges, Identification Badges, The Institute of Heraldry, last accessed 9 November 2025Electronic Warfare Corps Replaced with Cyber Branch insignia on 1 October 2018"Branch Insignia, Electronic Warfare (Obsolete)", Identification Badges, The Institute of Heraldry, last accessed 11 January 2026Jungle Expert Tab (USARPAC)Replaced with new designArctic Tab (USARAK) Replaced with new design, later redesignated as a unit tab for USARPAC units assigned to AlaskaSUBJECT: United States Army Arctic Tab and SUBJECT: Guidance for Wear of the Arctic Tab with Shoulder Sleeve Insignia; The Institute of Heraldry, Department of the Army; dated 26 April 2022 and 25 April 2022 respectively; last accessed 9 May 2022Physical Fitness BadgeRescinded February 2024.Counterintelligence Special Agent BadgeReplaced with Army Counterintelligence Special Agent Badge on 27 May 2025Army Counterintelligence Unveils New Special Agent Badge Design, Army.mil, by Adam Lowe, dated 27 May 2025, last accessed 23 July 2025

U.S. Air Force Badge/InsigniaExampleNotesAir Force Command Flight Surgeon BadgeReplaced by Chief Flight Surgeon Badge on 1 June 1959U.S. Air Force Obsolete Insignia, last accessed 14 October 2019Air Force Parachutist BadgesReplaced by Army & Air Force Parachutist Badges in 1963Air Police BadgeReplaced by Security Police Badge in November 1966History of the Air Force Security Badge„ 25th Infantry Division Shotgun Program website, last accessed 1 April 2014Air Force Training Instructor BadgesReplaced by Air Education and Training Command Instructor BadgesGold National Excellence-In-Competition BadgesBox, Presentation, Badge, National Rifleman, United States Air Force and Box, Presentation, Badge, National Pistol, United States Air Force, Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum, last accessed 8 September 2018Air Force Instruction 34-271, Air Force Shooting Program and Excellence-in-Competition, Department of the Air Force, dated 30 August 2018, last accessed 14 October 2019Gold & Silver Elementary Excellence-In-Competition BadgesBadge, Non-National Rifleman, United States Air Force, Badge, Pistol, Non-National United States Air Force, Badge, Rifleman, Non-National, United States Air Force, and Box, Presentation, Badge, Pistol, Non-National, United States Air Force; Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum; last accessed 8 September 2018Combat Control Team CrestReplaced with new design in 1984Lee-Jackson Militaria, Air Control & Support Units–Combat Control Team, Flash/Qualification Badge, ljmilitaria.com, last accessed 19 July 2020Air Force Recruiter Badges Replaced with new designs and additional grades/awardsAir Force Combat Crew BadgeRetired in August 1993History of Combat Service Insignia ; Air Force Enlisted Heritage Research Institute; by CMSgt Malcolm W. McVicar JR., TSgt Sharee A. Hileman, and William I. Chivalette; dated 29 August 2006; last accessed 20 January 2013Aid–de–Camp Collar Insignia 1-4 President, Vice President, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of the Air Force