July 12, 2010
Some members have inquired about Missile Badge (aka Missileman Badge) requirements. Joe Perkins was kind enough to provide the following information. Thanks Joe!
Note: See comments following the requirement descriptions.
- General Officers: Wear the basic badge, representative of the organization’s mission, upon entering a headquarters staff or command position, unless previously qualified for a higher level badge. Wear the next higher level badge after 12 months. Continue to upgrade to next higher level every 12 months.
- Officers: Wear the basic badge after graduating from technical school (or after attaining a fully qualified AFSC when technical school is not required). Wear the senior badge after 7 years in the specialty and the master badge after 15 years in the specialty. Officers may verify their constructive service credit to determine eligibilityfor award of badges by contacting HQ AFPC/DPAMU, 550 C Street West Suite 27, Randolph AFB, TX 78150-4729.
- Enlisted: Wear the basic badge after completing technical school. Wear the senior badge after award of the 7-skill level, and the master badge as a master sergeant or above with 5 years in the specialty from award of the 7-skill level. EXCEPTION: Chief Master Sergeants crossflowed into a new CEM Code wear the basic badge of their new career field upon award of the CEM Code, the senior badge after 12 months, and the master badge after 5 years.
July 13, 2010
Since posting the information above, I have received numerous comments that “Missile Badge Requirements” were not always defined this way…
“The criteria changed constantly, and when I got my Master Missileman badge, the requirement to be a Master Sergeant did not exist. I attached my orders and the requests for both the Senior Missileman Badge and the Master Missileman Badge, both of which had to be submitted by the requester. The orders were not automatic.”
“I was awarded my Senior Missileman Badge, 10 September 1965, I was an A1C (i.e. E4) with a 5 level, PAFSC and CAFSC of 31453M, and the award at that time was based solely on time served on the qualifying missile system rather than skill levels or rank.”
“If I remember correctly, the Senior Badge was five years in direct support, and Master badge was seven years.” (e.g., no specified skill level requirement)
The Association of Air Force Missileers (AAFM) April 1993 Newsletter (www.afmissileers.org/newsletters/NL1993/Apr93.pdf, page #3) contains a good article by Maj. Greg Ogletree (Ret.) that describes the history of the badge from its inception through 1993.
Sometime after 1993, the badge was phased out. In 2008, it was reinstated. See Association of Air Force Missileers June 2008 Newsletter, page #1.
www.afmissileers.org/newsletters/NL2008/Jun08.pdf