Presidential Service Badge

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Presidential Service Badge
Presidential Service Badge
Awarded by United States
Type	Service badge
Awarded for	For service in support of the President of the United States

The Presidential Service Badge is a badge of the United States military issued to military members who serve as full-time military staff to the President of the United States. Such personnel are stationed at the White House and should not be confused with the senior military officers of the United States Department of Defense who advise the President but are not assigned as direct Presidential aides. Each badge is produced for and issued to a particular individual, and is stamped with a unique serial number.

Executive Order 10879 of June 1, 1960 was signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower establishing a White House Service Badge. President Lyndon B. Johnson retired the White House Service Badge and issued a separate Presidential Service Badge by signing Executive Order 11174 on Sept. 1, 1964.

Personnel entitled to wear the Presidential Service Badge include White House military public affairs officers, military aides to the President appointed from each of the military services. Recipients also include military personnel assigned to the White House Communications Agency (WHCA), which supports Presidential communications worldwide. The White House Transportation Agency (WHTA) provides motor vehicle transportation to the White House as directed by the White House Military Office. United States Marines assigned to the Presidential Helicopter Squardron "MARINE ONE" and Marines assigned to Marine Security Company "CAMP DAVID" also wear the badge.

Another position for which the Presidential Service Badge is issued is the "Emergency War Officer". This is a military officer, pay-grade O-4 or above, who shadows the President at all times with a briefcase, known as "The Football", which contains the launch codes to the American nuclear weapons arsenal.

Subsequent to White House service, the Presidential Service Badge is authorized for continued wear on a military uniform and is entered in military service records as a permanent decoration. A similar badge exists, known as the Vice Presidential Service Badge, for those military personnel assigned to assist the Vice President of the United States.