WWII US MILITARY MEDALS PRICE GUIDE

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US Army Proficiency Badge Anatomy -
The proficiency badge was issued to soldiers who successfully completed training in the use of weapons or equipment.

The proficiency badge is often confused as a German award because of teh use of the Maltese cross.

There are three basic types of proficiency badges.


Expert Proficiency Badge	Marksman Proficiency Badge	Sharpshooter Proficiency Badge

EXAMPLE
Here is an example of an badge where the person mastered multiple disciplines.

MARKINGS
The back of the badge is often marked with the manufacturer's logo. The example shown here reads KREW GI on the main body and G-GI on the bar.

In some instances the bar and main body have the same markings.

Additional markings may include the material of construction. Early examples (pre-WWII through Vietnam war) were made of Sterling Silver and marked as such.

CONSTRUCTION
The proficiency badge has two basic methods of construction; Pin-back and Clutch-back.


Pin-back construction Normally associated witht the eqarlier badges (Pre-WWII to early Vietnam).	Clutch-back construction Primarily associated with later production badges. Post Vietnam war to the present.

The proficiency badge can have a seties of bars to indicate the skill that was mastered by the soldier. The following table contains a list of the different bars available. keep in mind that there are additional bars which are not listed in the table.

QUALIFICATION BARS FOR YEARS 1921 THROUGH 2005

NUMBER	NAME IN BAR	DATE OF AURHORIZATION	COMMENTS
1	AA ARTILLERY	April 1948 to present.	No classes shown in US Army schools for this skill but it is listed in regulations.
2	AERO WEAPONS	June 1974 to present.	This is not a common bar.
3	AERIAL BOMBER	December 1926 - April 1948	This is not a common bar.
4	AERIAL GUNNER	December 1926 - April 1948
5	ARMORED CAR WEAPON	November 1931 - November 1941	This is not a common bar.
6	ANTI-TANK	June 1942 - April 1948
7	AUTO RIFLE	July 1921 - Present
8	BAYONET	November 1924 - Present	No classes shown in US Army schools for this skill but it is listed in regulations.
9	CARBINE	June 1942 - Present
10	COAST ARTY	July 1921 - February 1958	Coastal artillery bar.
11	CWS WEAPONS	November 1924 - April 1948	CWS = Chemichal Warfare Service.
12	FIELD ARTY	July 1921 to Present.	Field artillery.
13	FLAME THROWER	April 1948 to Present
14	GRENADE	July 1928 to Present
15	INF HOWITZER	July 1921 to June 1942	Infantry Howitzer.
16	MACHINE GUN	July 1921 to Present
17	MACHINE RIFLE	November 1924 to April 1948
18	MINES	July 1921 to February 1958	For submarine mines to dfefend the harbor
19	MISSILE	February 1958 to Present	No classes shown in US Army schools for this skill but it is listed in regulations.
20	MORTAR	April 1948 to Present
21	PISTOL	July 1921 to September 1922 and April 1948 to Present
22	PISTOL-D	September 1922 to April 1948	Issued for dismounted qualification
23	PISTOL-M	September 1922 to April 1948	Issued for mounted (horse back) qualification
24	RECOILESS RIFLE	April 1948 to Present	No classes shown in US Army schools fot this skill but it is listed in regulations. Training oriignal prescribed in 1945.
25	ROCKET LAUNCHER	April 1948 to Present	No classes shown in US Army schools for this skill but it is listed in regulations. Training originally prescribed in 1942.
26	RIFLE	November 1942 to Present	Original appearance 1924
27	RIFLE-A	July 1921 to November 1924
28	RIFLE-B	July 1921 to November 1924
29	RIFLE-C	July 1921 to November 1924
30	RIFLE-D	July 1921 to November 1924
31	SMALL BORE	June 1930 to August 1933	Cavalry and infantry recruits were required to fire for qualification with small bore fire (starting 1926).
32	SMALL BORE MG	November 1941 to April 1948
33	SMALL BORE PISTOL	August 1933 to Present
34	SMALL BORE RIFLE	August 1933 to Present
35	SUBMACHINE GUN	November 1931 to Present
36	SWORD	April 1922 to November 1940	This is not a common bar.
37	TANK WEAPONS	November 1924 to Present
38	T D 37 MM	June 1942 to April 1948	Tank Destroyer
39	T D 57 MM	June 1942 to April 1948	Tank Destroyer
40	TD 75 MM	June 1942 to April 1948	Tank Destroyer
41	T D 76 MM	December 1945 to April 1948	Tank Destroyer
42	T D 90 MM	December 1945 to April 1948	Tank Destroyer
43	T D 3 INCH	June 1942 to April 1948	Tank Destroyer
44	60 MM MORTAR	June 1942 to April 1948
45	81 MM MORTAR	June 1942 to April 1948

This US insignia is currently being reproduced. It is becoming more difficult to be able to tell the fake ones from the real ones because the quality of the reproductions is improving. The collector must become familiarized with the construction style and materials employed in the manufacturing of this medal/insignia. Attention to the details is critical in order to be able to determine the authenticity of the collectible.

If you have an interest is seeing other WWII medals or insignia, you can do so by going to our WWII US medals and insignia identification guide. Where we cover Army, Navy, Army Air Force and other organizations.

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