Career Counselor Badge


Description

An oxidized silver badge 1 7/8 inches in height overall consisting of an eagle with raised and outstretched wings standing upon, at the point of the intersection, the shaft of a spear to the left and the barrel of a musket with fixed bayonet to the right, weapons terminated just below the point of crossing, and all enclosed by a horizontal oval-shaped frame, its lower half consisting of a scroll inscribed with the words "CAREER COUNSELOR" in raised letters, the upper half composed of two olive branches issuing from the ends of the scroll at either side and passing behind the eagle's wing tips, meeting at top center; all areas between the eagle, spear and musket and the frame are pierced.

Symbolism

The spear and musket from the seal of the Department of the Army symbolize the role of the Army in national defense and the many specialized requirements served by the activities of the Career Counselor. The eagle is a national emblem and the branches of olive suggest service in peacetime as well as in war.

Award Eligibility

Authorized for wear by enlisted personnel assigned to authorized duty positions which require PMOS 79S (Career Counselor). Officers are authorized to wear the badge if they held an authorized retention PMOS and met the criteria in paragraph d1 below while in an enlisted status.

The award is retroactive to January 1, 1972 for soldiers who currently hold PMOS 79S or previously held PMOS 79D or PMOS OOR (Retention NCO) or PMOS OOE (In-Service Recruiter/Transition NCOI RC Career Counselor) and meet the criteria or permanent award outlined below.

Authorization of the badge as a uniform item will be announced by commanders of units of battalion size or larger. Temporary wear of the badge is authorized for soldiers who meet one of the following requirements:

  • Served less than 12 months as PMOS 79S Career Counselor since graduation from the Army Retention Course.
  • Served less that 12 months as Active Guard/Reserve (AGR) Career Counselor (PMOS 79S).
  • Serve as Army Reserve Reenlistment NCO according to paragraph f below.
Permanent wear of the badge is authorized for soldiers who meet one of the following requirements:

  • For Regular Army, successfully completes 12 months as PMOS 79S Career Counselor since graduation from the resident Army Retention Course.
  • For US Army Reserves or Army National Guard, successfully completes formal resident training and 12 months in a primary duty MTOE/TDA retention coded position (PMOS 79S or other previously assigned retention MOS).
  • Soldiers, whether Regular Army, USAR or ARNG, who have been awarded a secondary MOS of 79S as a result of formal resident training and have performed duties as a Career Counselor in a valid MTOE or TDA 79S position for a period of 12 consecutive months.
  • Commanders in the rank of Colonel or higher may authorize the wear of the Career Counselor Badge as a permanent part of the uniform for qualified enlisted personnel, MOS 79S who honorably complete the probationary period listed above. Cite this paragraph as authority. DA Form 7347 (Career Counselor Badge Certificate) will be presented to qualified recipients. Soldiers relieved from Career Counselor duties according to Appendix B of AR 601-280, will have authority to wear the badge withdrawn.
  • The Career Counselor Badge may be authorized by the Commanding Generals of Army General Officer Commands and the Commander, AR-PERSCOM, for wear by enlisted members of the Army Reserve who have successfully completed either the resident or nonresident Reserve Component Recruiting Course and have been designated as U.S. Army reserve Reenlistment NCO. Authorization of the badge as a uniform item will be announced by the Commanding Generals of the Army Reserve General Officer Command or the Commander, AR-PERSCOM, upon recommendation by unit commanders. Recommendations will be processed through normal command channels. The badge is authorized for temporary wear only and will be withdrawn when the awardee ceases to be a designated U.S. Army Reserve Reenlistment NCO.
Date Approved: The Career Counselor badge was established Oct 1971.