The Army Staff Identification Badge (ASIB) was the brainchild of General Douglas MacArthur, who not coincidentally first suggested the award during his second year of service as Chief of Staff of the United States Army. Intended to recognize outstanding performance rendered by Army personnel while assigned to the Army General Staff, the insignia was designed by the Office of the Quartermaster General and approved by MacArthur in July, 1933; the official announcement of the award and its eligibility criteria—including a retroactive eligibility date of June 4, 1920—was made the following month on August 23, 1933.
Over the years, several changes have been made regarding eligibility for the award, which is also issued as the Army Staff Lapel Pin (ASLP) for civilians. Beginning in September, 1978, Sergeants Major were authorized to wear the badge, followed less than a year later by the inclusion of Warrant Officers. In 1982, civilians at a grade of GS-11 and higher were authorized to wear the lapel pin, and soon thereafter the name of the insignia was changed from Army General Staff Identification Badge to simply Army Staff Identification Badge.
The most significant changes came in 2004, when the Deputy Chief of Staff revamped the eligibility requirements, removing all grade requirements for both civilians and military personnel and extending eligibility to those serving in authorized positions in a principal HQDA (Headquarters, Department of the Army) and more than a dozen Field Operating Agencies, Staff Support Agencies, and Direct Reporting Units.
Although the badge or lapel pin is issued to Enlisted Soldiers, Warrant Officers, Officers, and Government Civilians when they report for assignment to an authorized position, this does not make them eligible to wear the badge or pin on a permanent basis. For that honor, they must demonstrate outstanding performance in their duties for at least one full year in the authorized position; any personnel who are under a suspension of favorable personnel actions are automatically ineligible to wear the insignia.
Personnel who have been authorized for permanent wear of the ASIB or ASLP will wear the insignia that is appropriate to their current assignment. Those awarded the ASLP while serving as a Government Civilian, for example, are authorized to wear the ASIB on their uniforms should they subsequently serve in the U.S. Army Reserve, National Guard, or return to active duty; military personnel who’ve been awarded the ASIB are automatically authorized to wear the ASLP on civilian clothing.
Complete information on eligibility requirements, issuing authorities, and more can be found in DA Memo 672–1.