The Indian armed forces badges are one of the most attractive parts of a military personnel’s uniform which speak of the skill, sacrifice, and valour of the one who earns them. These badges are earned by a select few who prove their potential in a particular sector during service and continue to wear them on their uniform. Today, we tell you about five such Indian armed forces badges that every defence aspirant must know of.
Why Are Indian Armed Forces Badges Awarded?
Before knowing about the five Indian armed forces badges, let us understand why these badges are awarded in the first place. Imagine your school or college time when you did well in a subject or sport and were rewarded for it. The reward could be anything from an applause to a medal, which was given to recognize your achievement. Similarly, the Indian armed forces badges are awarded for certain reasons such as:
- Recognizing a skill or specialization
- Rewarding an act of bravery or commendation
- Achieving a milestone in service
- Signifying the identity of a personnel
As you can see, a badge can hold several reasons, and honestly, the list goes on. However, we restrict ourselves to the top six Indian armed forces badges that speak volumes about a personnel’s service.
Top 5 Indian Armed Forces Badges
Now, let us build on the five Indian armed forces badges that you must know of as a defence aspirant. You might even aspire to earn one or more of them in the future or know someone who has already done so. Therefore, without any further delay, we share the details with you.
Balidaan Badge
Whenever one speaks on the Indian armed forces badges, the first one that comes to one’s mind is the coveted Balidaan Badge which translates to “Badge of Sacrifice”. This is only reserved for personnel who complete the rigorous probation of the Para SF and earn the maroon beret.
The Balidaan Badge signifies the wearer’s willingness to sacrifice even their life for the greater good of the country. The badge has a commando dagger that points downward and has wings that begin from its blade and move upward. Below this is a scroll with the word “Balidaan” written in Devanagari script (Hindi).
Combat Free Faller Badge
Next in the list of Indian armed forces badges is the Combat Free Faller Badge which is earned by Para SF volunteers after the completion of their advanced free-fall parachuting training. The wearer must complete 50 jumps from 30,000 feet, which is inclusive of both HALO (High Altitude Low Opening) and HAHO (High Altitude High Opening).
The Combat Free Faller Badge showcases two wings that are separated by four dots. Above these is a person in free-fall position with his hands stretched wide and knees bent. It is worn on the left side of the uniform, that is, above the service medals and ribbons earned by the personnel.
Commando Dagger Badge
The Commando Dagger Badge is also known as the Ghatak Badge, which is awarded to infantry personnel who perform exceptionally during the Ghatak Course at the Commando Training Centre, Belagavi, Karnataka. Any personnel who earns this badge is qualified to become an instructor of a commando school.
This badge symbolises efficiency in close-quarter combat, navigation, demolition, rock climbing, as well as heliborne assaults. It showcases a golden dagger facing upward with the word “Commando” written below and is worn to the left of the uniform, below the service medals and ribbons.
ATGM Badge
This is one of those Indian armed forces badges which do not require you to be a Para SF volunteer. The ATGM Badge stands for Anti-Tank Guided Missile Badge, and is awarded to personnel from the combat arms and support arms of the Indian Army who are specialized in operating and firing anti-tank missiles.
To earn this badge, a personnel has to undergo strenuous training like the Battalion Support Weapon (BSW) Course and demonstrate their ability to hit the target with precision. The role of such personnel is hence, important during war. The ATGM Badge is worn on the right side of the uniform above the name tag.
Garud Winged Badge
Lastly, we have the Garud Winged Badge which completes our list of Indian armed forces badges. This badge, as the name suggests, is earned by Garud commandos who are the IAF equivalent of Para SF. It signifies proficiency in airborne operations and combat of the personnel.
The Garud Winged Badge is golden in colour and showcases a downward-facing sword along with two wide-open wings while the National Emblem of India sits above the sword. It is worn to the left side of the IAF uniform.
Final Thoughts
So this was our list of five Indian armed forces badges that signify unmatched skill however, there are many other badges which exist and are second to none. Each badge speaks of the grit and prowess of the personnel who earns it, and hence, carries a lot of aura. If you have a list of any specific badges that you would like to know more about, do let us know as well.
