United States Army
Expert Driver Badge
Display Recognition

Site Index

    Class W3 and Class W1
    Class M and Class T

        Who May Apply

        • Veteran recipients
        • Active Duty recipients
        • Family Members of recipients
        • Estate Inheritors

        Display Types

        You have four display types to choose from:
        Black & White (No Color)
        Heavy Bond Enclosure

        Heavy Bond Enclosure

        Trimmed in Appearance Gold

        Ready for Mantle or Shelf Display

        Issue Requirements
        You must submit the following:

      • A photocopy of your DD-214 (post WW2), OR photocopy of WD AGO 53-55 (WW2) that lists your Driver Badge authorization
      • If your Driver's Badge is not listed on your DD-214 you must send a copy of your DD-214 AND a photocopy of your authorization orders.

        NOTICE

        This Display Recognition is available ONLY to authorized recipients who possess orders, or authorization form, or release documentation that confirms award eligibility. (See "Issue Requirements"). To obtain either a Display Medal or a Display Recognition for your authorized award you will be required to provide military-issued documentation authorizing your award. There are no exceptions.

        WARNING!
        You must NOT submit a military issued document or photocopy that:

        • has been altered in any way by you after
          the original's official issue
        • contains information or corrections or
          additions that you entered
        • lists awards or training you knowingly did not receive
        • contains highlighting, colorizing or other markings you entered

        Be advised that on request any knowingly fraudulent document sent by you will be released to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that may result in prosecution and/or fine/imprisonment.

        Email Questions, or Phone: 1-562-422-4100 (Pacific Time Zone)

        Personnel Branch
        Processing and Delivery

        Style Price Shipping Total
        Full Color .PDF (Printable) $7.50 Emailed $7.50
        Published Document only (Full Color) $14.00 $10.50 USPS $24.50
        Published Document in Heavy Bond Enclosure (Full Color) $19.00 $10.50 USPS $29.50
        Full Color Printable Certificates
        on CD-Rom (minimum 20 Certificates)
        $7.50 $7.50 By Count

      • Total/Shipping prices, above, apply to 50 U.S. states
      • Contact The War Library for international shipping cost
      • How to Apply

        You may apply for your Display Recognition using a...

      • Check Debit card (* Shipped within 1 week)
      • Charge card (* Shipped within 1 week)
      • Personal, Business, Bank or Cashiers Check ( Shipped in 6 weeks)
      • Money Order (* Shipped in 6 weeks)
      • (* Upon reception of required documentation)

        Complete and MAIL this APPLICATION FORM.
        Don't forget to include a Notarized copy of your DD-214 or other pre-arranged document(s).

        DISPLAY RECOGNITION and/or MEDAL APPLICATION FORM

        Mailing Address

        Records Chief (REC-AMW)
        The American War Library
        817 East Via Carmelitos Ste 319
        Long Beach CA 90805-7549

        Questions?

        Click here for answers to common questions

        Email: Army Driver Badge Recognition Inquiry

        Telephone: 1-562-422-4100 (Pacific Time Zone)

        Copyright ©  The American War Library
        Military and Veteran Websites
        The G.I. Photograph Museum of Honor
        Locator Registry Applications
        Accessing The Worldwide Military Personnel Database

        Issue Regulations


        Click for larger image

        1. DESCRIPTION: A white metal (silver, nickel and rhodium), 1 inch in height and width, a cross patee with the representation of disk wheel with tire placed on the center.

        2. QUALIFICATION BARS: Bars with the following inscriptions are currently authorized for display on the badges:

        OPERATOR - S (for special mechanical equipment)
        MECHANIC (for automotive or allied vehicles)
        DRIVER - A (for amphibious vehicles)
        DRIVER - M (for motorcycles)
        DRIVER - T (for tracked vehicles)
        DRIVER - W (for wheeled vehicles)

        3. BACKGROUND: The motor vehicle driver and mechanic award was originally authorized by War Department Circular 248 dated 28 July 1942. The badge is awarded to drivers, mechanics, and special equipment operators to denote the attainment of a high degree of skill in the operation and maintenance of motor vehicles. Specific requirements for award of the badge are contained in AR 600-8-22:

        a. Basic criteria. The Driver and Mechanic Badge is awarded to drivers, mechanics, and special equipment operators to denote the attainment of a high degree of skill in the operation and maintenance of motor vehicles.

        b.Badge approval authority. Commanders of brigades, regiments, separate battalions, and any commander in the rank of lieutenant colonel or higher.

        c. Component bars. Component bars are authorized only for the following types of vehicles and/or qualifications:

      • (1) Driver-W (for wheeled vehicles).
      • (2) Driver-T (for tracked vehicles).
      • (3) Driver-M (for motorcycles).
      • (4) Driver-A (for amphibious vehicles).
      • (5) Mechanic (for automotive or allied vehicles).
      • (6) Operator-S (for special mechanical equipment).
      • d. Eligibility requirements for drivers. A soldier must (See POLICY CHANGE below:

        (1) Qualify for and possess a current OF 346 (U.S.Government Motor Vehicles Operator's Identification Card), issued as prescribed by AR 600-55.

        (2) Occupy a duty position with title of driver or assistant driver of Army vehicles for minimum of 12 consecutive months, or during at least 8,000 miles and had no Army motor vehicle accident or traffic violation recorded on his or her DA Form 348-1-R (Equipment Operator's Qualification Record (Except Aircraft)),

        (3) Perform satisfactorily for minimum period of 1 year as an active qualified driver instructor or motor vehicle driver examiner. Occupy a duty position with title of driver or assistant driver of Army vehicles for a minimum of 12 consecutive months, or during at least 8,000 miles and had no Army motor vehicle accident or traffic violation recorded on his or her DA Form 348R (Equipment Operator's Qualification Record (Except Aircraft)).

        e. Eligibility requirements for mechanics. A soldier must

        (1) Pass aptitude tests and complete the standard mechanics course with a skilled rating or have demonstrated possession of sufficient previous experience as an automotive or engineer equipment mechanic to justify such a rating.

        (2) Be assigned to primary duty as an automotive or engineer mechanic, unit level or higher, or is an active automotive or engineer mechanic instructor.

        (3) If required to drive an Army motor vehicle in connection with automotive mechanic or automotive mechanic instructor duties, qualify for motor vehicle operators permit as prescribed above, and perform duty which includes driving motor vehicles for a minimum of 6 consecutive months, and has no Army motor vehicle accident or traffic violation recorded on his or her DA Form 348 (Equipment Operator's Qualification Record (Except Aircraft)).

        f. Eligibility requirements for operators of special mechanical equipment. A soldier or civilian whose primary duty involves operation of Army materials handling or other mechanical equipment must have completed 12 consecutive months or 500 hours of operation, whichever comes later, without accident or written reprimand as the result of his or her operation, and his or her operating performance must have been adequate in all respects.


        ISSUE REGULATION POLICY CHANGE

        R 252100Z OCT 05
        FM DA WASHINGTON DC//MILITARY AWARDS BRANCH//
        TO ALARACT ZEN/ADDRESS LISTS @ AL ALARACT(UC)BT UNCLAS ALARACT 215/2005 F O U O

        SUBJ: ARMY AWARDS POLICY CLARIFICATION AND CHANGES

        1. THE PURPOSE OF THIS MESSAGE IS TO PROVIDE THE POLICY CLARIFICATION ON CHANGES TO AWARD OF THE DRIVER AND MECHANIC BADGE.

        2. A CHANGE TO THE REQUIREMENTS FOR AWARD OF THE OSR HAS ELIMINATED THE POLICY THAT RESTRICTED AWARD OF THE OSR WHEN ANOTHER CAMPAIGN/SERVICE MEDAL IS AWARDED. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, PARAGRAPH 5-4D, AR 600-8-22, IS RESCINDED.

        3. AWARD OF THE DRIVER AND MECHANIC BADGE HAS ELIMINATED REQUIREMENT TO OCCUPY A DUTY POSITION WITH TITLE OF DRIVER OR ASSISTANT DRIVER OF ARMY VEHICLES. CRITERION HAS BEEN CHANGED TO READ AS FOLLOWS: PARAGRAPH 8-28D, ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENT FOR DRIVERS, A SOLDIER MUST--

        (1) QUALIFY FOR AND POSSESS A CURRENT OF 346 (U.S. GOVERNMENT MOTOR VEHICLES OPERATORS IDENTIFICATION CARD), ISSUED AS PRESCRIBED BY AR 600-55 AND,

        (2) BE ASSIGNED DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS A DRIVER OR ASSISTANT DRIVER OF GOVERNMENT VEHICLES FOR A MINIMUM OF 12 CONSECUTIVE MONTHS, OR DURING AT LEAST 8,000 MILES WITH NO GOVERNMENT MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT OR TRAFFIC VIOLATION RECORDED ON HIS OR HER DA FORM 348-1-R (EQUIPMENT OPERATOR'S QUALIFICATION RECORD (EXCEPT AIRCRAFT)), OR

        (3) PERFORM SATISFACTORILY FOR A MINIMUM PERIOD OF 1 YEAR AS AN ACTIVE QUALIFIED DRIVER INSTRUCTOR OR MOTOR VEHICLE DRIVER EXAMINER.

        Go To Top of Page
        Go To Issue Regulations for Other Medals and Badges