Branch insignia of the United States Army refers to military emblems that may be worn on the uniform of the United States Army to denote membership in a particular area of expertise and series of functional areas. Army branch insignia is similar to the line officer and staff devices of the United States Navy as well as to the Navy Enlisted rating badges.
Army branch insignia is separate from Army qualification badges in that qualification badges require completion of a training course or school, whereas branch insignia is issued to a service member upon assignment to a particular area of the Army.
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The first use of Army branch insignia was just prior to the American Civil War in the 1850s. It was at that point that the U.S. Army begin developing a series of colored epaulets for wear by officers of various Army branches. The original color scheme was that cavalry officers would wear yellow, artillery officers red, and infantry officers light blue or white. General officers wore dark blue epaulets.
By the start of the 20th century, Army personnel began wearing various branch insignia on the stand-up collars of the Army dress uniform. Branch insignia was also worn by officers on the wool uniform shirt when worn as outer wear. Enlisted soldiers wore a version enclosed in a brass disk while officers wore a full sized version not enclosed. This has continued to the modern age.
Members of Infantry, Armor (including Cavalry), Special Forces, Aviation, Engineer, Field Artillery and Air Defense Artillery regiments may wear a version of the insignia in which the regimental number is included in the insignia. For Air Defense Artillery and Aviation, the number is mounted on the center of the face. For Infantry, Cavalry, Special Forces and Field Artillery, the number is placed immediately above, but not covering, the intersection of the crossed rifles, sabres, arrows, or cannon, respectively. For Armor, the number is placed immediately above the tank.[1]
Certain special assignment insignia is worn in place of branch insignia to denote the officer's or NCO's particular responsibility. The enlisted versions of these are borne on a golden disk in the same manner as their customary branch device. Officers so assigned continue to wear their basic branch color(s) on the blue Army Service Uniform and the Army Blue Mess uniform.
From 1920, warrant officers, being appointed into the Army "at large", wore the warrant officer device (a larger version of which is still worn on their service caps) rather than branch insignia on their lapels. Likewise, they wore brown as a branch color no matter their basic specialty. In 2004, warrant officers adopted the insignia and colors of the branch corresponding to their specialty.
Typically, general officers wear no branch insignia, as they deal with echelons far above the basic branch level. Exceptions, however exist, as with the commandants of the various branches retain the respective insignia and Dean of the U.S. Military Academy wears the Professor, USMA insignia.
The 21st century Army displays branch insignia on the blue Army Service Uniform coats; it is similarly worn on the Army Green uniform coat until that uniform is withdrawn from wear in 2014. Branch insignia was also similarly worn on rarely-seen Army White uniform coat prior to that uniform being declared obsolete and unauthorized in 2006. Enlisted soldiers wear the branch insignia disk on the wearer's left coat collar, opposite the "U.S." insignia disk. All officers, apart from most general officers, wear branch insignia on both lapels, beneath the "U.S." insignia on both coat lapels. Most general officers wear only the "U.S." insignia on both coat lapels, and no branch insignia; chaplains, judge advocates, the Chief Engineer, the Quartermaster General, et al. are exceptions to this rule, and wear branch insignia in the same manner as typical officers; other branch chiefs (i.e.: Chief of Infantry, Chief of Artillery, Chief of Intelligence, etc) may at their option wear the insignia of their branch as other officers; similarly, the Inspector General and Deputy Inspector General wear the inspector general insignia on their lapels in the same manner as other officers serving on inspector general tours.
Branch insignia is also worn by commissioned and warrant officers on the left collar of the hospital duty uniform and the arctic fatigues; rank is worn on the right collar. Chaplains wear branch insignia above the right breast pocket of Class B shirts; no other personnel wear branch insignia on Class B uniforms. Similarly, chaplains are the only soldiers who wear branch insignia on the Army Combat Uniform; chaplains also wear branch insignia on helmets and patrol caps in the place of rank insignia.
The following are the currently used branch insignia emblems of the United States Army:
Branch | Insignia | Color | Description |
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Acquisition Corps
AC |
Black | A gold color metal device 1 inch (2.54 cm) in height overall consisting of the Alpha and Omega interlaced, superimposed by an eagle’s head erased, all enclosed around the top with a gold tripartite scroll inscribed “INNOVATION” “EXCELLENCE” “DEDICATION” in incised letters; around the bottom entwined by the scroll ends are two laurel branches crossed at base all gold. Enlisted only. | |
Adjutant General's Corps
AG |
Dark Blue and Scarlet Piping | A silver metal and enamel shield 25 millimeters (one inch) in height on which are 13 vertical stripes, seven silver and six red; on a blue chief one large and 12 small silver stars. The enlisted version is entirely gold-colored metal. | |
Air Defense Artillery
AD |
Scarlet | A missile surmounting two crossed field guns, all of gold colored metal, 30 millimeters (1 1/8 inches) in height. | |
Armor Branch
AR |
Yellow | The front view of an M26 Pershing tank, gun slightly raised, superimposed on two crossed cavalry sabers in scabbards, cutting edge up, 20 millimeters (13/16 inch) in height overall, of gold color metal. | |
Aviation
AV |
Ultramarine Blue and Golden Orange Piping | A silver propeller in a vertical position between two gold wings in a horizontal position, 30 millimeters (1 1/8 inches) in width. The enlisted version is entirely gold color metal. | |
Army Bands | Old Glory Blue | A lyre, on a 25 millimeters (one inch) disk, all in gold color metal. Enlisted only. [A division of the Adjutant General's Corps, commissioned and warrant officers wear Adjutant General insignia, shown above.] | |
Cavalry | Yellow | Two crossed sabers in scabbards, cutting edge up, 17 millimeters (11/16 inch) in height, of gold color metal. | |
Chemical Corps
CM |
Cobalt blue and Golden Yellow Piping | A benzene ring of cobalt blue enamel superimposed in the center of crossed gold color retorts, 13 millimeters (1/2 inch) in height and 45 millimeters (1 13/16 inches) in width overall. The enlisted version is entirely of gold color metal. | |
Civil Affairs Corps
CA |
Purple and White Piping | On a globe 15 millimeters (5/8 inch) in diameter, a torch of liberty 25 millimeters (one inch) in height surmounted by a scroll and a sword crossed in saltire, all of gold color. | |
Electronic Warfare
EW |
Black with Gold piping | A shield, a lightning bolt, and a key. | |
Corps of Engineers
EN |
Scarlet and White Piping | A gold color triple-turreted castle, 17 millimeters (11/16 inch) in height. | |
Field Artillery
FA |
Scarlet | Two crossed field guns, gold color metal, 20 millimeters (13/16 inches) in height. | |
Finance Corps
FI |
Silver Gray and Golden Yellow Piping | A gold color diamond, 25 millimeters (1 inch) by 19 millimeters (3/4 inch), short axis vertical. | |
General Staff
GS |
None | The coat of arms of the United States, 15 millimeters (5/8 inch) in height, of gold color metal superimposed on a five-pointed silver color star, 25 millimeters (one inch) in circumscribing diameter. The shield to be in enamel stripes white and red, chief of blue, and the glory blue. Commissioned and warrant officers only; but see similar branch immaterial insignia worn by command sergeants major. | |
Branch Immaterial and Command Sergeant Major |
Teal blue and Yellow Piping | The coat of arms of the United States, on a 25 millimeters (one inch) disk, all in gold color metal. Enlisted only. | |
Infantry Branch
IN |
Infantry Blue | Two gold color crossed 1795 Springfield muskets, 19 millimeters (3/4 inch) in height. | |
Inspector General | Dark Blue and Light Blue Piping | A sword and fasces 19 millimeters (3/4 inch) in height, crossed and wreathed in gold color metal with the inscription "DROIT ET AVANT" (Right and Forward) in blue enamel on the upper part of the wreath. The enlisted version lacks the blue enamel. | |
Judge Advocate General's Corps
JA |
Dark Blue and White Piping | A gold color sword and pen crossed and superimposed on a laurel wreath, 17 millimeters (11/16 inch) in height. | |
Logistics
LG |
Soldier Red and Bronze Piping | A diagonally crossed cannon, muzzle up and key, ward down and pointing in, surmounted by a ship’s steering wheel, all in gold colored metal; bearing on the hub a stylized star and inscribed on the ship’s wheel in Latin, above “SUSTINENDUM” and below “VICTORIAM” all in soldier red. Overall dimension is 1 inch (2.54 cm) in height. Commissioned officers only; officers continue to wear their basic branch colors. | |
Medical Corps
MC |
Maroon and White Piping | A gold color medal caduceus, 25 millimeters (one inch) in height. All enlisted soldiers serving in medical, dental, or veteranary specialties wear the enlisted version of the Medical Corps insignia without the letters described below, all in gold color metal. | |
Medical Service Corps
MS |
Maroon and White Piping | A silver color medal caduceus, 25 millimeters (one inch) in height, bearing a superimposed 'MS' monogramme in black enamel, centered. Commissioned and warrant officers only. | |
Dental Corps
DC |
Maroon and White Piping | A gold color medal caduceus, 25 millimeters (one inch) in height, bearing a 'D' in black enamel, centered. Commissioned officers only. | |
Veterinary Corps
VC |
Maroon and White Piping | A gold color medal caduceus, 25 millimeters (one inch) in height, bearing a 'V' in black enamel, centered. Commissioned officers only. | |
Medical Specialist Corps
SP |
Maroon and White Piping | A gold color medal caduceus, 25 millimeters (one inch) in height, bearing an 'S' in black enamel, centered. Commissioned and warrant officers only. | |
Nurse Corps
AN |
Maroon and White Piping | A gold color medal caduceus, 25 millimeters (one inch) in height, bearing an 'N' in black enamel, centered. Commissioned officers only. | |
Military Intelligence Corps
MI |
Oriental Blue and Silver Gray Piping | On a gold color metal dagger, point up, 32 millimeters (1 1/4 inches) overall in height, a gold color metal heraldic sun composed of four straight and four wavy alternating rays surmounted by a gold heraldic rose, the petals are dark blue enamel. The enlisted version lacks the enamel. | |
Military Police Corps
MP |
Green and Yellow Piping | Two crossed gold color metal pistols 19 millimeters (3/4 inch) in height. | |
National Guard Bureau
NG |
Dark Blue | Two crossed gold color metal fasces superimposed on an eagle displayed with wings reversed, 19 millimeters (3/4 inch) in height. Commissioned and warrant officers only. | |
Ordnance Corps
OD |
Crimson and Yellow Piping | A gold color metal shell and flame, 25 millimeters (one inch) in height. | |
Psychological Operations | Bottle Green and Silver Gray Piping | Crossed daggers with blade forming a lightning bolt, superimposed by a knight chess piece. | |
Public Affairs | Teal blue and Yellow Piping | A vertical broadsword set against a cross quill with pen and a lightning bolt, on a 25 millimeters (one inch) disk, all in gold color metal. Enlisted only. | |
Quartermaster Corps
QM |
Buff | A gold color eagle with wings spread perched on a wheel with a blue felloe set with 13 gold stars, having 13 gold spokes and the hub white with a red center; superimposed on the wheel a gold sword and key crossed diagonally hilt and bow up. The insignia is 19 millimeters (3/4 inch) in height. The enlisted version is entirely gold color metal. | |
Signal Corps
SC |
Orange and White Piping | Two signal flags crossed, dexter flag white with a red center, the sinister flag red with a white center, staffs gold, with a flaming torch of gold color metal upright at center of crossed flags; 22 millimeters (7/8 inch) in height. The enlisted version is entirely gold color metal. | |
Special Forces
SF |
Jungle Green | Two crossed arrows 19 millimeters (3/4 inch) in height and 35 millimeters (1 3/8 inches) in width all gold color. | |
Staff Specialist USAR/ARNG
SS |
Green | A sword 35 millimeters (1 3/8 inches) in length laid horizontally across the upper part of an open book. Below the sword and across the lower corners of the book two laurel branches cross at the stems. Insignia 19 millimeters (13/16 inch) in height of gold color metal. Commissioned officers only. | |
Transportation Corps
TC |
Brick Red and Golden Yellow Piping | A ship's steering wheel, superimposed thereon a shield charged with a winged car wheel on a rail, all of gold color metal, 25 millimeters (one inch) in height. | |
Chaplain Corps - Christian Faith
CH |
Black | A silver color Latin Cross, 25 millimeters (one inch) in height. Commissioned officers only. | |
Chaplain Corps - Jewish Faith
CH |
Black | The Decalogue, bearing Hebrew numerals from 1 to 10 surmounted by a Star of David, all of silver color, 25 millimeters (one inch) in height. Commissioned officers only. | |
Chaplain Corps - Buddhist Faith
CH |
Black | A silver color Dharmacakra, 25 millimeters (one inch) in height. Commissioned officers only. | |
Chaplain Corps - Muslim Faith
CH |
Black | A silver color Crescent, 25 millimeters (one inch) in height. Commissioned officers only. | |
Chaplain Corps - Chaplain Assistant | Black | Stylized hands supporting a chapel, doors open, on a 25 millimeters (one inch) disk of gold color metal. Enlisted only. |
The following insignia are no longer used:
Branch | Insignia | Color | Dates | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bureau of Insular Affairs BI |
Dark blue | 1902–1939 | A bunch of seven arrows, points up, superimposed on a pair of wings, all gold.[2] | |
Coast Artillery Corps CAC |
Scarlet | 1901–1950 | Two crossed field guns, gold colored metal, with a scarlet oval with a gold projectile at the intersection of the field guns, 13/16 of an inch in height overall. {Consolidated into Field Artillery Branch 1950}[3] | |
Indian Scouts | White with Red trim | 1866–1947 | No unique insignia authorized until 1890, at which point Scouts would wear silver crossed arrows and U.S.S. collar insignia. In 1921 the crossed arrows hat insignia became a collar insignia in place of the previous. This insignia was then adopted by the 1st Special Service Force, and then by the Special Forces branch.[4] | |
Warrant Officers | Brown | 1920–1943 1943–2004 |
An eagle rising with wings displayed standing on a bundle of two arrows, all enclosed in a wreath, all gold color 3/4 inch in height.[5] The larger rendering of this insignia continues to be used as the cap device for the front of warrant officers' service caps. | |
Women's Army Corps
WAC |
Mosstone Green and Old Gold Piping | 1942–1978 | The head of "Pallas Athene", 1 1/8 inches in height, of gold color metal.[6] |
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