Space wings become missile wing

[unhappycamper]

New badge
Return may revitalize nuclear community


Space wings become missile wing
By Michael Hoffman - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Jun 13, 2008 6:21:53 EDT

You can polish off those missile operator badges you stashed away. All 3,215 missile officers who are combat-mission qualified can now wear the missile operator badge, along with their space badges, said Maj. Laurie Arellano, an Air Force Space Command spokeswoman.

The new policy, announced June 6, is part of a broader plan to reinvigorate the service’s nuclear community, which includes bolstering the nuclear career path and renaming certain space wings as missile wings.

Those officers not qualified will earn their mission qualification at their assigned bases — following initial space and missile training at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. — and receive their badges, said Maj. Gen. Thomas Deppe, vice commander of Air Force Space Command.

The missile badge disappeared in 2005 when Air Force Space Command officials decided a single space badge would unify the space and missile community, Deppe said. “It wasn’t a bad idea, but we think we need to recognize the people who pull nuclear alert,” he said.

Space Command has contacted the Army and Air Force Exchange Service to ensure the missile operator badge — which shows a metallic rocket surrounded by a wreath — will soon be restocked.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/06/airforce_missile_badge_061208/