Space and Missile Badge The Air Force Space and Missile Badge ( AFSMB ) was a military badge of the United States Air Force which was awarded to those personnel who completed training in space warning , satellite command and control , missile operations , space surveillance , or space lift . It initially replaced the Missile Badge when the space and missile operations fields were merged . However , the Missile Badge was reinstated in 2009 . The U . S . Air Force is the most restrictive service with regards to which Air Force badges may be worn by other United States Armed Forces . The first Air Force badge awarded to other military services was the Air Force Space and Missile Badge which was awarded to U . S . Army officers who graduate from the functional area ( FA ) 40A ( Army Space Operations Officer ) course . The Air Force Space and Missile Badge was presented in three grades being that of basic , senior , and command . The basic badge was awarded for completion of initial space training while the senior and master badges were awarded based on years of service in Air Force Space assignments ; for officer the steps occur at seven and fifteen years respectively . For enlisted personnel the senior badge was awarded upon attaining a " 7 skill level " and the master badge as a Master Sergeant or above with five years in the specialty from award of the senior badge . The grades of the Air Force Space and Missile badge were denoted by a star ( senior ) and wreath ( command ) centered above the decoration . In 2004 , the U . S . Air Force Space Command Commander , General Lance Lord , announced the introduction of the new Air Force Space Badge ( AFSB ) , which replaced the Air Force Space and Missile Badge . The new badge is also awarded to U . S . Air Force scientists , engineers , communications , Intelligence , and acquisition professionals who have performed space / missile operations , intelligence , and acquisition duties and have successfully completed the Space 100 course . Currently , Missileers are no longer attending the Space 100 course ; thus , they are no longer being awarded the Air Force Space Badge . In 2006 , the U . S . Army and U . S . Air Force authorized the awarding of the Air Force Space Badge to Army personnel who meet specific guidelines for training and time in a space billet . On 19 October 2006 , SGT Daniel Holscher , a satellite control operations noncommissioned officer with U . S . Army Central Space Support Element , was the first enlisted soldier to earn the Air Force Space Badge . In February 2011 , the U . S . Air Force and U . S . Army officially approved the establishment of the Air Force Space Badge as a joint Air Force and Army badge ; thus , the words “ Air Force ” were dropped from the official name of the badge . U . S . Army personnel can be awarded the Space Badge after attending Air Force or Army space or satellite systems courses and have 12 months ( for Active Army ) or 24 months ( for Army Reserve and Army National Guard ) experience in a space billet . The new badge is also awarded to graduates of the FA - 40A , Army Space Operations Officer course , replacing the Air Force Space and Missile Badge . From 2006 through April 2011 , 1 , 425 Space Badges have been awarded to Army personnel . The badge is informally referred to as " space wings " due to the resemblance to other aeronautical rating badges or " wings . "