Presidential Service Badge

The Presidential Service Badge is a badge of the United States military issued to military members who serve as full-time military staff to the President of the United States. Such personnel are stationed at the White House, and should not be confused with the senior military officers of the Department of Defense who advise the President but are not assigned as direct Presidential aides.

Such personnel, who would be entitled to the Presidential Service Badge, include White House military public affairs officers, special aides to the President appointed from each of the military services, as well as some enlisted personnel who serve as military security support personnel to the Secret Service.

The most famous position for which the Presidential Service Badge is issued is the "Emergency War Officer." This is a military officer, pay-grade O-4 or above, who shadows the President at all times with a briefcase, known as "The Football", which contains the launch codes to the American nuclear weapons arsenal.

Subsequent to White House service, the Presidential Service Badge is authorized for continued wear on a military uniform and is entered in military service records as a permanent decoration. A similar badge exists, known as the Vice Presidential Service Badge, for those military personnel assigned to assist the Vice President of the United States.

See also: Military badges of the United States