Guidon (U.S. Army)

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In the United States Army and Air Force, a guidon is a military standard that company-sized elements carry to signify their unit designation and corps affiliation. A basic guidon can be rectangular, but sometimes has a triangular portion removed as in the picture to the right. A United States Army guidon will, at a minimum, contain the following:

Branch insignia, such as the crossed wig-wag (these are not semaphore) flags upon a torch, for the Signal Corps or crossed pistols for Military Police
Corps Colors, such as orange (tenne) for the Signal Corps, green (vert) for MPs and white and red (per fess argent and gules) for Cavalry
Unit designation, such as C Co. 10th Sig. Bn., with "C Co." on the top of the flag, the branch insignia in the middle, and the parent unit "10th Signal Battalion" on the bottom.

An optional portion of the guidon is the streamer. These streamers are attached to the top of the guidon pole to signify achievements that the company has accomplished.

Battalions, brigades, divisions and armies also have guidons, although these are more akin to flags in their size.

The significance of the guidon is that it represents the leader of the unit. When the commander is in, his guidon is displayed for everyone to see. When he leaves for the day, the guidon is taken down. It is an honor, although sometimes a dubious one, to be the guidon carrier for a unit. Sometimes he is simply called "guidon", because of this. He stands in front of the unit along side of the commander (or the commander's representative, such as the first sergeant), and is the rallying point for troops to fall into formation when the order is given. In drill and ceremonies the guidon and commander are always in front of the formation.

The guidon is a great source of pride for the unit, and several military traditions have developed around it, stemming back from ancient times. Should the guidon holder drop the guidon, he must fall with it and perform punishment in the form of push-ups. Other units may attempt to steal the guidon to demoralize or antagonize the unit. Veteran soldiers know not to give up the guidon to anyone outside their unit, but new recruits may be tempted by the Sergeant Major into relinquishing it, especially during a battalion run.

Initial entry training platoons carry colored guidons to signify what phase of training they have attained. The guidon bearer normally stands with the platoon guide when stationary and marches at the head of the column. Although IET guidons may have streamers attached, they are typically undecorated.