Editing Observer Badge (section)

==United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard==
[[File:NavyEnlistedPilot.jpg|thumb|250px|The original Naval Aviation Observer Insignia was identical to the [[United States Aviator Badge|Naval Aviator Insignia]] except it was made out of silver.]]
The '''Naval Aviation Observer Badge''' was first created in 1922, awarded to navigators and other support personnel on naval aircraft.  The original badge was based on the design of the [[United States Aviator Badge|Naval Aviator]] badge, but with a single wing on the left, and with the anchor surmounted by an "O" rather than a shield.  In 1927 this insignia was superseded by a new device, identical to the Naval Aviator's wings, but in silver rather than gold.

This in turn was replaced by a gold insignia with a center device of a silver anchor within a silver circle, used from 1929 to 1968.<ref name="navy.mil">{{cite web |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/avh-1910/APP20.PDF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010611003533/http://www.history.navy.mil/avh-1910/APP20.PDF |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 11, 2001 |title=Info |website=www.history.navy.mil |format=PDF}}</ref>

[[File:Flightmetor.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Naval Aviation Observer/Flight Meteorologist Badge]]
For a brief period starting in 1945, the Secretary of the Navy approved distinct insignia for Naval Aviation Observers with Navigation, Radar, Tactical, and Aerology specializations. These were abolished in favor of the standardized gold insignia/silver anchor/silver circle design.<ref name="navy.mil"/>

In 1966 a new insignia was instituted, and by 1968 the Naval Aviation Observer Badge was replaced by the [[Naval Flight Officer Badge]].  However, in lieu of being totally discontinued, the criteria for the Naval Aviation Observer insignia was modified again and granted to non-pilot/non-NFO aviation mission specialists such as in-flight Meteorologists or for Naval Intelligence or Cryptology officers who regularly fly as crew on selected naval aircraft.  In this form the Naval Observer Badge is still in existence, but is alternatingly referred to by both its original name and, in the case of when worn by Meteorology officers, as the [[Flight Meteorologist Badge]].  In the Marine Corps the badge is awarded to in-flight aircraft support personnel under its original name as the Naval Aviation Observer Badge for non-aeronautically designated officers flying in observer/spotter roles in Marine Corps aircraft.

The Coast Guard authorized the Aviation Mission Specialist designation on August 26, 2003 in COMDTNOTE 1200 (ALCOAST 401/03). Aerial Ice Observers (from the [[International Ice Patrol]]) as well as Sensor System Operators, Tactical Systems Operators, Aviation Gunners and Aviation Medical Technicians are eligible for designation. Coast Guard Aviation Mission Specialist personnel also wear the same uniform insignia as Naval Aviation Observers.  Permanent designation is attained at 200 hours for rotary wing and 400 hours for fixed wing specialists.