This page in a nutshell: Some editors choose to acknowledge their service to Wikipedia by displaying a service award, which denotes time served and number of edits made. These awards are unofficial – displaying the wrong one carries no penalty, and displaying the right one does not indicate authority or competence.
Service awards are a simple way of acknowledging an editor's level of contribution based on two specific benchmarks: the number of contributions the editor made to Wikipedia and the length of time they have been registered. Academic interlocutors have described Wikipedia's service award schema as a way to award the self.[1]
Unlike other awards given through a process or from one editor to another in a show of appreciation, this is one award that is intended to be given to yourself, though it can also be given by a second party. It is achieved strictly by a mechanical count of time registered and number of edits. There is no process for receiving these awards; you just judge for yourself which one you are eligible for and place the badge on your user page. These can be thought of as automatically assigned, much like (for example) badges that are affixed onto Scouts' uniforms for participation for a certain period of time.
Please remember that time spent with and number of edits to Wikipedia are not indicative of the quality of an editor's contributions, or of their diplomatic ability. Service awards also do not indicate any level of authority; "veteran" editors have no more authority than "novice" editors.
Levels
There are currently 17 award levels and one base level. The "Signator-to-Kipzock" track is a humorous alternative for those who find the editor track too stuffy.
"Signator" is from the Latin signātōrius, which means someone who has made a mark.
Grognard (French for "grumbler") was Napoleon's pet name for his Old Guard.
"Tutnum", "Labutnum", "Looshpah", "Togneme", "Bordonth", and "Kipzock" are made-up words that are intended to sound impressive.
For the sake of variety, three badge variants are provided for each level: a medal, a book, and a ribbon (thanks to Wikipedia:Ribbons). Editors may display the badge of their preference, a combination of badges, or none at all.
To learn your edit count and the date of your first logged edit, you can click My Preferences, where this information will appear. You can access a more detailed analysis here. These tools do not always provide equal numbers because they rely on different methods of calculation.
To display an award you see below, use the self-updating {{service awards}} template and fill in the parameters of edits, time, badge format, alignment, and optional caption. Alternatively, you can manually add the appropriate template below to your user page.
This editor is a Tutnum of the Encyclopedia and is entitled to display this Book of Knowledge with Coffee Cup Stain, Cigarette Burn, and Chewed Broken Pencil.
This editor is a Labutnum and is entitled to display this Book of Knowledge with Coffee Cup Stain, Cigarette Burn, Chewed Broken Pencil, and Sticky Note.
This editor is a Most Pluperfect Labutnum and is entitled to display this Book of Knowledge with Coffee Cup Stain, Cigarette Burn, Chewed Broken Pencil, Sticky Note, and Bookmark.
This editor is a Labutnum of the Encyclopedia and is entitled to display this Book of Knowledge with Coffee Cup Stain, Cigarette Burn, Chewed Broken Pencil, Sticky Note, Bookmark, and Note from Jimbo.
This editor is a Most Plusquamperfect Looshpah Laureate and is entitled to display this Book of All Knowledge with Secret Appendix and Free Errata Sheet.
This editor is a Looshpah Laureate of the Encyclopedia and is entitled to display this Book of All Knowledge with Secret Appendix, Free Errata Sheet, and Author's Signature.
This editor is Cardinal Gom, the August Togneme of the Encyclopedia and is entitled to keep the floor plan of The Great Library of Alecyclopedias, signed by Jimbo with a silver marker, and including its cardboard carrying tube.
This editor is Ephoros of the Encyclopedia and is entitled to keep this floor plan of The Great Library of Alecyclopedias with magnifying glass, signed by Jimbo with a silver marker, and including its cardboard carrying tube.