Air Force Security Police Badge The Air Force Security Police Badge is a military badge of the Air Force Security Forces of the United States Air Force . Originally known as the " Air Police Badge " , the Air Force Security Police Badge has existed since the early 1960s . The badge is worn in the center of the left shirt pocket of all Air Force uniforms , with the exception of the Mess Dress Uniform , where it is not worn in accordance with ( IAW ) AFMAN 31 - 201v3 , para . 1 . 15 . 1 . 5 . 2 . , and is the primary identification for officers and enlisted airmen of the Air Force Security Police . The Air Force Security Police Badge is considered a symbol of legal authority and Force Protection on Air Force Installations . The badge is awarded to all Security Forces ( SF ) members upon graduation from the Security Forces Academy ( Tech school ) . Each badge is imprinted with a unique number that the Security Forces Member will wear their entire SF career . A similar decoration to the Air Force Security Police Badge is the Air Force Fire Protection Badge . History . In 1947 , the United States Air Force separated from the Army , and the proud tradition of the Security Forces began . At first , the Security Forces were still called the Military police , and still wore the old Army arm band , or brassard . Soon the Military Police were renamed the Air Police , but they continued to wear the arm band . During this change the brassard was redesigned to show the words Air Police in yellow on a background of Air Force blue . Further editions of the brassard showed the same Air Police in dull gray on a background of dark blue . Despite the history behind the Military Police brassard , many Air Police of the time felt that it was a poor insignia of authority . The brassard was prone to wrinkle extensively during the course of duty , and often slipped down the arm . As result , Air Police leadership requested a shield to replace the brassard . The idea of a more permanent shield was met with overwhelming enthusiasm by the Air Police . Some units even began to fashion shields to be worn on the uniform before the official shield was produced . Many of these original shields survive today and can be seen on display at the Security Forces Museum , Lackland Air Force Base , San Antonio , Texas . In many cases it is unknown when or where these ' pre - shields ' were produced and worn , but the enthusiasm for the creation of an official shield continued to grow consistently across the career field . In October 1956 , the Air Provost Marshal requested permission to design and field test an official Air Police Shield . By May 1957 , permission had been received and the design process had been completed . Units across the Air Force in three major commands began receiving the first official Air Police Shields to field test . Initially , the shield was similar to the current representation , save for the fact that it was silver plated with blue and white inlays and bore the words ' Air Police . ' During field trials , AP ' s reported that the inlays often chipped off , giving the shield a worn look . Additionally the pins that held the shield to the uniform often broke off . Following a redesign , the inlays were deleted , and the pins were replaced by a clasp much the same as found on civilian police badges . Starting in February 1959 , distribution of the new Air Police Shield to units across the Air Force was begun , and completed in 1960 . During this transition , AP ' s continued to wear the original brassard . The shield underwent further redesign in November 1966 when the Air Force renamed the Air Police . The new shield remained much the same as its predecessor , except that it was no longer silver plated , but made of a silver colored base metal and bore the inscription ' Security Police , ' which was the new title of the career field . The Security Police is a symbol of authority and responsibility to each member who wears it . Because of this , the Air Force initially feared that SP ' s could abuse the power that came with the shield . As a result , shields were issued to Squadron Commanders and were squadron property . Each shield was issued to on duty Security Police at weapons issue and subsequently turned in after each shift of duty . At this time , the metal shield was worn on both the dress uniform , and the fatigues . By 1975 , Security Police leadership realized that a new solution as needed . When worn on the fatigue uniform , the shield was prone to damage from abuse sustained during the performance of duty . As result , Air Force leadership created and authorized for wear , a cloth shield to be worn on the fatigue uniform . The metal shield was still worn of the dress uniform . Because a cloth shield would be sewn on to the uniform , and not be removable , the Air Force was forced to rescind its policy requiring the turn in of shields at the end of duty . At this time , Security Police Shields became personal property and were worn both on and off duty , on all uniforms . In approximately 1982 the Air Force experimented with a smaller sized shield . The size did not go over with those who wore them , and the Air Force went back to the full size . Originally , the cloth shield was sewn of silver and blue thread on a fatigue background . In 1979 , a subdued cloth shield replaced the original , and has followed on to the battle dress uniform , and the new airman battle uniform .