The Recruiter Badge is a decoration of the United States military which is awarded to those personnel who have performed recruitment duty as military recruiters to the United States Armed Forces. The Recruiter Badge is issued by every branch of military except for the United States Marine Corps. A Recruiting Service Ribbon also is awarded for those personnel who have completed successful tours as military recruiters.

Army

The Army Recruiter Badge is presented to any personnel who are assigned as active recruiters in the United States Army. The basic badge is a silver crest and may be upgraded with three gold achievement stars, centered beneath the badge. For those receiving a fourth achievement star, the badge is upgraded to a gold design with further achievement awards annotated by sapphire stars beneath the badge.

The Army Recruiter Badge is initially presented as a temporary decoration and is worn on the left pocket, beneath standard award ribbons. Permanent award of the Recruiter Badge may be authorized by battalion commanders with final approval from the U.S. Army Headquarters Recruiting Command. Those permanently awarded the Recruiter Badge may wear the decoration for the remainder of a military career. In such cases, the badge is displayed on the left uniform pocket.

The Army previously issued the Reserve Recruiter Badge for those recruiters who were assigned to deal only with United States National Guard and Army Reserve recruitment.

The Army Reserve Recruiter Badge is today declared obsolete and all Army recruiters wear the standard Recruiter Badge.

Air Force

The Air Force Recruiting Service Badge is authorized to all personnel who are assigned to active United States Air Force recruiting stations. The badge is worn as a decoration centered on the left uniform pocket, below standard awards and decorations.

The Air Force Recruiting Service Badge is considered a temporary decoration and must be surrendered upon a service member’s completion of duty at the specified Recruiting Command.

Navy

The Navy Recruiter Badge is authorized to those members of the United States Navy who are permanently assigned as Navy recruiting personnel. The badge is considered a temporary decoration and is worn on the left uniform pocket, either above or below award ribbons, depending on whether or not the bearer possess a warfare badge. The Navy Recruiter Badge may be authorized up to three award stars, centered beneath the badge.

The Recruiting Command Badge is the second version of the decoration and is worn by all personnel assigned to the Headquarters Navy Recruiting Command and may be denoted by two wreathed stars, centered above the decoration. Like the standard Recruiter Badge, the Recruiting Command Badge may be authorized with up to three award stars for citations of excellence.

The Recruiting Excellence Badge is a third version of the Navy Recruiter Badge and is authorized to any Navy Recruiting unit cited for excellence by the United States Navy Recruiting Command.

Coast Guard

The Coast Guard Recruiter Badge is authorized to those personnel assigned as full time United States Coast Guard recruiters. The badge is a temporary decoration which is worn on the left pocket of active duty Coast Guard uniforms.

The Coast Guard Recruiter Badge has no upgrades and must be surrendered by a service member upon departure from a Recruiting Command.

See also

• Military badges of the United States