United States Aviator Badge A United States Aviator Badge refers to three types of aviation badges issued by the United States military , those being for Army , Air Force , and Naval aviation . In the modern military , Army and Air Force Aviator Badges are issued in three ratings : Basic , Senior , and Command / Master / Chief . The higher degrees are denoted by a star or star with wreath above the badge . Air Force regulation s state that the basic rating denotes completion of specified training and that the advanced ratings denote experience levels . The Naval Aviator Badge is issued in a single rating for the Navy , Marine Corps , and Coast Guard . United States Army . World War I . The first United States Aviator Badges were issued to members of the Air Service during World War I . The badges were issued in three degrees : Observer ( a " US " shield and one left - side wing ) , Junior Aviator or Reserve Aviation Officer ( a " US " shield between two wings ) , and Senior Aviator ( a star over " US " shield between two wings ) . The Army Air Corps also issued a badge for balloon pilots , known as the Aeronaut Badge . Enlisted Aviators wore their regular rank insignia and the Observer ' s badge . There were 29 enlisted pilots before the American entry into World War I . The second enlisted aviator , William A . Lamkey , got a discharge and flew for Pancho Villa . The remaining enlisted pilots received commissions in 1917 . There were 60 enlisted mechanics who were trained as pilots in France during the war , but they were used for ferrying duties and did not fly in combat . The recruiting and training of enlisted Aviators ended in 1933 . World War II . During World War II , with the rise of the Army Air Forces , a second series of aviator badges were issued to include a design that has survived to the modern day . The Army Air Corps Pilot Badge was issued in three degrees , including Pilot , Senior Pilot , and Command Pilot . A polished silver colored version of these badges is currently used as the United States Air Force Pilot Badges . From August 1941 to November 1942 , the Enlisted Aviator program was restarted . Candidates had to be at least 18 , possess a high school diploma , and have graduated at the top of their High School class . Graduates were rated as Flight Staff Sergeants or Flight Technical Sergeants and wore the same pilot ' s wings as officers . They were usually assigned to pilot transport and auxiliary aircraft to free officer pilots to pilot the more prestigious fighters and bombers . Auxiliary pilots received their own special wing s to indicate their status and specialty . In November 1942 all enlisted pilots were promoted to Flight Officer rank and enlisted cadets were graded as Flight Officers or Second Lieutenants depending on merit . Cold War . After the creation of the Air Force as a separate service in 1947 , Army aviation continued to a degree that warranted a new badge for Army Aviators . The result was the creation of the Army Aviator Badge , which is a modified version of the U . S . Air Force Pilot Badge . It comes in three grades : Basic , Senior ( 7 years service and 1 , 000 flight hours ) , and Master ( 15 years service and 2 , 000 flight hours ) . The Aviator and Senior Aviator Badges were approved on 27 July 1950 and the Master Aviator Badge was approved on 12 February 1957 . United States Air Force . In 1947 , the US Army Air Corps became its own separate service as the US Air Force . They use the same pilot ' s badges as the earlier USAAC except they are made of chrome metal or sterling silver rather than the dull alloy wings used by the Army . The U . S . Air Force currently issues several aviation badges including pilot , navigator , air battle manager , flight surgeon , flight nurse , officer aircrew , and enlisted aircrew . United States Navy , Marine Corps and Coast Guard . The aviator badge currently used in the Navy has remained virtually unchanged since it was first issued on 13 November 1917 . The Naval Aviator Badge is earned by all U . S . Navy , Coast Guard , and Marine Corps pilots upon graduation from advanced flight schooling . Naval Aviators ' badges are gold in color . NOAA Commissioned Corps . The NOAA Commissioned Corps Aviator Insignia is a gold - colored pin , winged , with a central device consisting of a fouled anchor surcharged with a NOAA Corps device . NOAA Corps officer pilots and navigators may wear the NOAA aviator insignia after authorization by the Director of the NOAA Corps . NASA . With the dawn of the Space Age , all of the United States Aviator badges are upgradable to the Astronaut Badge , for those military members who become astronauts .