United States Army Institute of Heraldry

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The coat of arms of the US Army Institute of Heraldry

The United States Army Institute of Heraldry provides heraldic services to the U.S. Armed Forces and other United States government organizations, including the Executive Office of the President. The Institute is responsible for research, design development, standardization, quality control, and other services relating to official symbolic items. The Institute also provides limited information services concerning official symbolic items to the general public.

1 History
2 Specific functions
3 See also
4 References
5 External link

[edit] History

Heraldic and other military symbols have been used by the U.S. Armed Forces as well as other governmental agencies since the beginning of the American Revolution. However, there was no coordinated military heraldry program until 1919, when an office within the United States Department of War Staff was established to approve and coordinate coats of arms and insignia of Army organizations. In 1924, formal staff responsibility for specific military designs was delegated to the Quartermaster General. As the needs for symbolism by the military services and the national government expanded, the scope of the services furnished by the Quartermaster General's Office evolved into the Heraldic Program.

The expansion of the Army during World War II, and the subsequent increase in interest in symbolism, contributed to the growth of the program. It was expanded further as a result of the enactment of Public Law 85-263, approved September 1957, 71 Stat. 89, which delineated the authority of the Secretary of the Army to furnish heraldic services.

18 U.S.C. § 704 and the Code of Federal Regulations (32 CFR, Part 507) permit the Institute of Heraldry to issue directives on how military insignia are displayed, the exact criteria for issuance, and how such insignia will be worn on military uniforms.

On 10 August 1960, Army General Order Number 29 placed the U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry under the control of the Quartermaster General. The Army Adjutant General’s office assumed responsibility of the Institute in 1962 when the Office of the Quartermaster General ceased to exist due to Army reorganization. In 1987, another realignment action put the Institute under the U.S. Total Army Personnel Command (later the U.S. Army Human Resources Command). In April 1994 the Institute of Heraldry moved from Cameron Station to Fort Belvoir, Virginia. As a result of a realignment in October 2004, responsibility for the Heraldic Program was assigned to The Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army, Resources and Programs Agency, part of the United States Army.

[edit] Specific functions

Authorize heraldic items for U.S. Army Organizations.
Establish Army policy for flag design and display.
Design and develop insignia (branch, grade, unit) seals, medals, badges, band regalia and flags.
Fabricate three-dimensional display items.
Prepare heraldic item specifications and provide engineering support to manufacturers.
Monitor the quality of insignia items through a certification program and inspection of pre-production items.
Authorize the use of Army insignia when incorporated into items for commercial sale.