§ 578.91 - Aviation Badge—Basic.

(a) Permanent award. (1) For permanent award of this badge, an individual must be on flying status, (physically qualified-class III), IAW AR 600-106 or be waived by HQDA, have performed in-flight duties for not less than 12 hours (not necessarily consecutive), or is school trained.

(2) An officer on flying status as an aerial observer may be awarded the Basic Aviation Badge. U.S. Army personnel assigned to a Joint Service Airborne Command Post and serving as members of an operational team on flying status manning the Airborne Command Post are eligible for the award of the Basic Aviation Badge. Concurrent with such assignment, these personnel are authorized temporary wear of the Basic Aviation Badge until relieved from such duty or until such time as he or she fulfills the mandatory requirements for permanent award.

(3) An individual who has been incapacitated for further flight duty by reason of being wounded as a result of enemy action, or injured as the result of an aircraft accident for which he or she was not personally responsible, or has participated in at least 15 combat missions under probable exposure to enemy fire while serving in a principal duty outlined in paragraph (a)(1) of this section, is permanently authorized to wear the Basic Aviation Badge.

(4) The Basic Aviation Badge may be permanently awarded to soldiers upon successful completion of formal advanced individual training (AIT) in Career Management Field (CMF) 67 and CMF 93 MOS', and to soldiers who previously completed AIT in CMF 28 MOS'. This includes soldiers who graduated from AIT for MOS' in the 68 series. Soldiers holding MOS' 35L, 35M, 35Q, and 35W who graduated from a CMF 67 AIT prior to September 30, 1996 and MOSs 93C and 93P who graduated from a CMF 67 AIT after December 31, 1985 are authorized based on documented prior AIT.

(5) Individuals who meet the criteria for award of the Army Astronaut Device and are not authorized an Aviator, Flight Surgeon or Aviation Badge will be awarded the Aviation Badge in addition to the Army Astronaut Device.

(6) The Aviation Badge may be permanently awarded to soldiers upon successful completion of formal AIT in CMF 93 MOS'. Soldiers previously holding MOS 93B who graduated from a CMF 93 AIT prior to January 1, 1998 and soldiers previously holding MOS 93D who graduated from a CMF 93 AIT prior to September 30, 1996 are authorized the badge based on documented AIT after December 31, 1985.

(b) Temporary award. For temporary award of this badge, the commander of any Army unit that has Army aircraft assigned may authorize in published orders qualified personnel of his or her command to wear the Aviation Badge. The individual must be performing in-flight duties.