When it comes to its dress uniforms, the United States Air Force has always placed a premium on a clean, austere appearance, paying special attention to maintain a standardized appearance and to avoid duplication or redundancy when it comes to badges or other insignias. In 1993, the Combat Crew Member Badge fell victim to this attention to detail when authorization to wear it was eliminated by the Air Force.
The Combat Crew Member Badge was initially established nearly thirty years earlier on September 1, 1964. It was created to be worn by Air Force personnel who were serving in roles or positions in which they were earning service time toward the award of a Combat Readiness Medal, which had been authorized by the Secretary of the Air Force on March 9, 1964 as a personal decoration that ranked above the Purple Heart, Lifesaving Medals, and Commendation Medals. It was changed in 1967 to an Achievement/Service Medal in 1967, and is now available to USAF, USAF Reserve, and other armed service members for sustained individual combat or mission readiness or preparedness of direct weapon-system employment after August, 1960.
Until its wear was prohibited in 1993, the Combat Crew Member Badge was considered a qualification badge, not a medal, and thus was not deemed a permanent award. This no doubt played a role in the Air Force’s decision to remove it from authorized wear.