The Instructor Badges that were approved earlier this year recognize the professionalism of soldiers assigned to instructor duty with the Noncommissioned Officer Education System — and the Army is starting to award them.
Seven soldiers on July 17 at the Training and Leader Development Conference in Alexandria, Virginia, were the first to the receive the new badges, the Army reported.
The badges, available in Basic, Senior and Master designs, are authorized for qualified Regular Army, National Guard and Army Reserve soldiers who have served as instructors since June 7, 2013.
Soldiers who qualify for the badges are serving as primary instructors with NCOES, which includes the Warrior Leader Course, Advanced Leader Course, Senior Leader Course and the Sergeants Major Course.
Under guidance issued by the Human Resources Command, eligibility for the award of the Instructor Badge is based on a soldier's time in the classroom teaching, and the completion of certain events, as follows:
■ Basic Instructor Badge.
■ Senior Instructor Badge. Completion of 400 hours as a primary instructor, and completion of the certification requirements in TRADOC Regulation 350-70, the Small Group Instructor Training Course, the Intermediate Facilitation Skills Course, the Systems Approach to Training Basic Course, the Foundation Training Developer Course, and the Instructor Evaluation and Practicum requirements in TRADOC Reg 600-12.
■ Master Instructor Badge. Completion of at least 400 hours as a primary instructor after being awarded the senior badge, and completion of all instructor and certification requirements in TRADOC regulation, as well as completion of the Advanced Facilitator Skills Course or the Faculty Development Program-1, and the Evaluating Instructors Workshop.
"You won't receive this badge by just going to instructor school," said Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel Dailey, senior enlisted soldier for the Training and Doctrine Command. "The award will be based on demonstrated performance over time. It will be achievable and it will be a privilege to wear."
