Air Force Training Ribbon

The Air Force Training Ribbon is the lowest military award of the United States Air Force, ranking only above foreign military awards.

The Air Force Training Ribbon was authorized by the Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force on October 12, 1980. It is awarded to U.S. Air Force service members on completion of initial accession training after August 14, 1974. Initial accession training in USAF is defined as Basic Military Training (BMT) for enlisted personnel, Basic Cadet Training (BCT) at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA), or commissioning through Air Force ROTC (AFROTC), Officer Training School (OTS) or other specialized USAF officer accession programs.

In December 1986, the criteria expanded and authorized the ribbon to anyone who was on active duty in December 1986, regardless of when they completed initial accession training. The ribbon was designed by the Institute of Heraldry. The ribbon has a wide center stripe of red, flanked on either side by a wide stripe of dark blue and a narrow yellow stripe edged by a narrow dark blue stripe.

Devices and Subsequent Awards
The Air Force Training Ribbon may not be awarded for completing flight training, technical training, career development courses, professional military education (PME) and other services' basic training or officer training. USAF enlisted personnel who initially accessed through BMT who later complete officer accession training (i.e., OTS, AFROTC, USAFA and so forth) are entitled to a subsequent award denoted by an oak leaf cluster.

Officers who complete Air Force accession training but completed enlisted training in the Army receive the Training Ribbon on the basis of their officer accessions and wear it in addition to the Army Service Ribbon.

Authorized Device: Oak Leaf Cluster

Sister Service Equivalents
The United States Army grants the Army Service Ribbon in a manner similar to the Air Force Training Ribbon.

The United States Navy and United States Coast Guard do not have an award corresponding to the Air Force Training Ribbon. The ribbon is prohibited on all Naval Service uniforms worn by former USAF personnel.

The United States Marine Corps also lacks an equivalent ribbon, but instead awards their trademark Eagle, Globe & Anchor insignia upon completion of Recruit Training or Officer Candidate School, or at commissioning for those Marine Corps officers accessed via the United States Naval Academy (USNA), Naval ROTC (NROTC) Marine Corps Option or USMC Platoon Leaders Class (PLC).