The Master Gunner Identification Badge (MGIB) recognizes soldiers of the United States Army who complete one of eight U.S. Army master gunner courses and is an indicator for commanders and soldiers to value the master gunner's advice regarding the training and employment of weapon systems.Master Gunner Identification Badge, A history of mastery in gunnery, NCO Journal (Army University Press), by Sergeant 1st Class Aaron M. Smith, dated 10 June 2019, last accessed 4 February 2020. According to Military.com, the Master Gunner Identification Badge is the first badge recognizing a soldier's achievement of earning the prestigious position of master gunner, a position created nearly 400 years ago.Army Awards First Master Gunner Identification Badges, Military.com, by Matthew Cox, dated 29 November 2019, last accessed 25 February 2024 Background
According to a U.S. Army article, the master gunner is the technical and tactical experts for their weapon's platform. They advise the commander on everything related to the vehicle platform and weapon systems. They also develop training materials to conduct gunnery and live-fire exercises. "I rely on my master gunners. I probe them for information based on how best to maintain our weapons as well as train our crews... They are there every step of the way from the time we put those crews together until the time we qualify them...," said Captain Kevin Zhang of the 1st Cavalry Division. "Master gunners are trained in methodology... What it boils down to is knowing the standard and being that person in the unit to enforce the standard, and to make sure that people are qualifying correctly... We're also experts in current gun maintenance so we can troubleshoot and fix a lot of problems and issues that may occur at the range, on the spot, instead of having to fall back to unit mechanics," explained Sergeant 1st Class Nathan Quarberg of the 1st Cavalry Division.Master gunners bring expertise to brigade combat team, army.mil, by Staff Sergeant Jennifer Bunn (U.S. Army), dated 2 January 2019, last accessed 5 February 2020.
Criteria
The nine U.S. Army master gunner courses eligible to award the MGIB to its graduates are:Design and Development of the Master Gunner Identification Badge (MGIB); Department of the Army, The Institute of Heraldry; SAAA-IHS; dated 2 September 2019; last accessed 14 April 2020US Army Establishes Master Gunner Identification Badge; Soldier Systems, An Industry Daily; dated 31 January 2018; last accessed 25 February 2024 Field Artillery Master Gunnery Course Master Gunnery–M1/M1A1 Abrams Course Infantry fighting vehicle Master Gunner Course Avenger Master Gunner Course M1A2 Abrams System Enhancement Package (SEP) Master Gunner Course Stryker Master Gunner Course Patriot Master Gunner Course Aviation Master Gunner Course SGT STOUT (M-SHORAD) Master Gunner Course
Badge design The final design of the MGIB was officially approved by the United States Army Institute of Heraldry (TIOH) on 31 January 2019 but was awarded to the first graduating classes of key U.S. Army fires schools on 8 January 2018. According to the NCO Journal, the MGIB was designed to recognize both the schools and different U.S. Army branch histories with gunnery:
The approved design of the MGIB comes in three versions: regular size, regular size–subdued (both at ), and a miniature version (at ). The non-subdued version is made of polished nickel silver with a scroll at its base covered in a black textured epoxy.Detail Specification Sheet Badge, Identification, Master Gunner, U.S. Army, MIL-DTL-3628/280; Department of the Army, The Institute of Heraldry; dated 16 July 2019; last accessed 5 February 2020
References