The Nuclear Reactor Operator Badge is a decoration of the United States Army which was issued between the years of 1965 and 1990. In 1991, the decoration was declared obsolete by Army Regulation 672-5-1, however uniform regulations permit the continued wearing of the Nuclear Reactor Operator Badge before the decoration was discontinued. The Nuclear Reactor Operator Badge is worn on the lower left pocket flap of the Army uniform, in the same position as a Weapons Qualification Badge.

The Nuclear Reactor Operator Badge was first authorized on June 18, 1965. The badge was issued in four degrees with the basic badge awarded to those who had completed the U.S. Army Nuclear Power Plant Operators Course.

Those awarded the Basic Nuclear Reactor Operator Badge were certified to operate the systems of a nuclear reactor under the supervision of a reactor control officer.

The Second and First Class Nuclear Reactor Operator Badges were awarded based upon the number of duty shifts a reactor operator had successfully completed. The second class badge was awarded upon completion of fifteen shifts followed by an additional thirty shifts required for the first class badge. A shift was normally defined as between 8 to 12 hours of duty.

The highest badge of the reactor operator series was the Shift Supervisor Nuclear Reactor Operator Badge. To obtain the shift supervisor badge, a service member was required to perform 80 shifts of duty as a first class operator and 40 shifts of duty as a trainee shift supervisor. Upon completion of the required prerequisites, a written examination was administered before the shift supervisor badge was officially awarded.

The Nuclear Reactor Operation Badge was worn on dress uniforms and also on duty uniforms in a subdued version. Miniature Nuclear Reactor Operator Badges were authorized for wear on dinner dress attire.

See also: Military badges of the United States