United States Army Air Assault

OK, Grove, Headstone Symbols and Meanings, U. S. Army Air Assault

U.S. ARMY AIR ASSAULT BADGE -  The Air Assault Badge is awarded by the U.S. Army for successful completion of the Air Assault School.  The course includes three phases of instruction involving U.S. Army rotary wing aircraft: combat air assault operations; rigging and sling loading operations; and rappelling from a helicopter.

According to the United States Army Institute of Heraldry, "The Air Assault Badge was approved by the Chief of Staff, Army, on January 18, 1978, for Army-wide wear by individuals who successfully completed Air Assault training after  April 1, 1974.   The badge had previously been approved as the Airmobile Badge authorized for local wear by the Commander of the 101st Airborne Division, effective  April 1, 1974."   The division had been reorganized from parachute to airmobile in mid-1968 in Vietnam and designated the 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile).   The parenthetical designation changed to Air Assault on October 4, 1974 and the name of the badge was likewise changed.