Collectors who collect military badges will do so for a variety of different reasons, but for those who actually served in the military and are interested in collecting them do it as a remembrance. There are other collectors who will collect badges in the honor of family members who have served in the military at one time or another.

There are some collectors who collect military badges because of their strong sense of patriotism for their country. Some collectors may not come from a family that has a military background, but they do feel the need to honor all the men and women who have served their country by allowing them to enjoy their freedom that they have. There are many types of military badges for collectors to choose from, which includes six different categories of badges. These categories are the United States Department of Defense Badges, Army Badges, Navy Badges, Air Force Badges, Marine Corps Badges, and Coast Guard Badges.

The Presidential Service Badge can be awarded to both military and civilian members that are employed as full-time military staff to the President, and who actual work at the White House. This badge, if awarded, can be worn on a military uniform even after their employment ends, because the award is a note of a personal decoration of ones service record. All of these badges are created for a certain recipient and has been stamped with its very own unique serial number. These badges also can only be presented to military, social aides, individuals assigned to the White House Communication Agency, or the White House Transportation Agency.

Another badge that collectors may long to add to their collection is issued by several separate branches of the military and is the Flight Surgeon Badge, which is given to those who are flight surgeons and are qualified medical officers. It was first issued by the United States Army during World War II. There are several qualifications that must be met in order to be eligible for this badge, which depends on the branch of service and there are also different ratings associated with it. For instance, the Army and Air Force both will issue this badge as basic, senior, or master, while the Navy and Coast Guard will only award it in one degree, but the Marines will not issue it at all because they do not have their own medical division.

The Naval Flight Officer Astronaut Badge can be issued by both the Navy and Marine Corps as a breast insignia that encompasses a pair of golden wings with crossed anchors and a shield. The recipients of this badge are those who are qualified as naval flight officers, but only after an extensive amount of training, with includes aviation, airborne navigation, electronic warfare, and weapons deployment tactics. The Air Force Academy Professor Badge, which was created in the 1980s, recognizes officers who are full-time professors at the United States Air Force Academy. This badge is a permanent decoration given to any officer who holds an advanced degree.