Wear of Insignia and Accouterments

Branch insignia

a. Regimental collar insignia.

(1) Regimental collar insignia is the soldier’s branch insignia on which the numerical designation of the regiment is affixed. Regimental collar insignia is worn in lieu of the branch insignia by officer and enlisted soldiers affiliated with infantry, armor, field artillery, air defense artillery, cavalry, special forces, or aviation regiments. Soldiers affiliated with these regiments also will wear the regimental collar insignia when not assigned to the regiment, except as provided in paragraph 28.9, above. A soldier affiliated to a regiment but having a branch other than the currently assigned branch will wear the assigned branch insignia without a numeral. Soldiers will not wear numerals designating battalions on regimental collar insignia. Regimental collar insignia is locally procured and furnished as an organizational item to affiliated enlisted soldiers. Commanders will permit enlisted soldiers who are affiliated with the regiment to retain regimental collar insignia when reassigned from the affiliated regiment.

(2) The regimental number for the combat arms branches is positioned as shown in figure 28.176. For armor, cavalry, special forces, infantry, aviation and field artillery officer branches, personnel may wear the regimental number as a separate item, positioned in the same location as illustrated for the one-piece insignia.

b. Branch insignia. Soldiers not affiliated with an infantry, armor, field artillery, air defense artillery, cavalry, special forces, or aviation regiment, except as provided for in paragraph 28.9, above, wear appropriate branch insignia. As an option, soldiers who are not affiliated with one of the above regiments, but who are assigned to a color-bearing regiment or separate TOE battalion of their branch, may wear the branch insignia with the numerical designation of the battalion or regiment affixed, when approved by the MACOM. Numerals are 1/4 inch for officers and 3/16 inch for enlisted soldiers. All optional branch insignia are authorized for wear only while personnel are assigned to the designated unit. Soldiers will not purchase optional branch insignia using appropriated funds. Commanders will not require soldiers to purchase optional branch insignia. Listed below are the branch insignia authorized for wear:

(1) Adjutant General’s Corps. The officer branch insignia is a silver-colored shield 1 inch in height, with a chief of blue upon which there are 1 large and 12 small silver stars, and 13 vertical stripes, 7 silver and 6 red. Enlisted personnel have the same design centered on a 1-inch disk in gold-colored metal (see fig 28.68).

(2) Air Defense Artillery. The officer branch insignia is a missile surmounting two crossed field guns, in gold- colored metal 1 1/8 inches in height. Enlisted personnel have the same design centered on a 1-inch disk in gold-colored metal (see fig 28.69).

(3) Armor. The officer branch insignia is the front view of an M-26 tank gun, slightly raised and superimposed on two crossed cavalry sabers in scabbards with the cutting edge up, 13/16 inch in height overall, in gold-colored metal. Enlisted personnel have the same design centered on a 1-inch disk in gold-colored metal (see fig 28.70).

(4) Army Medical Specialist Corps (officers only). The branch insignia is a gold-colored metal caduceus, 1 inch in height, with a 3/8-inch monogram consisting of the letter “S” in black enamel, superimposed upon the caduceus (see fig 28.71).

(5) Army Nurse Corps (officers only). The branch insignia is a gold-colored metal caduceus, 1 inch in height, with a 3/8-inch monogram consisting of the letter “N” in black enamel, superimposed upon the caduceus (see fig 28.72).

(6) Command Sergeant Major collar insignia (enlisted personnel only). The branch insignia is the coat of arms of the United States on a 1-inch disk, in gold-colored metal (see fig 28.73).

(7) Aviation branch. The officer branch insignia is a vertical silver propeller between two horizontal gold wings, 1 1/8 inches in width. Enlisted personnel have the same design on a 1-inch disk in gold-colored metal (see fig 28.74).

(8) Cavalry collar insignia. Officers and enlisted personnel assigned to cavalry regiments, cavalry squadrons, or separate cavalry troops are authorized to wear cavalry insignia in lieu of the branch insignia, when approved by the MACOM commander. The officer collar insignia is two crossed sabers in scabbards with the cutting edge up, 11/16 inch in height, in gold-colored metal. The enlisted collar insignia is the same design on a 1-inch disk in gold-colored metal (see fig 28.75).

9) Chaplains (see fig 28.76).
Figure 28.75. Insignia of branch, Cavalry

(a) Christian faith (officers only). The insignia is a silver-colored Latin cross, 1 inch in height.

(b) Jewish faith (officers only). The insignia is a silver-colored double tablet bearing Hebrew numerals from I to X, surmounted by two interlaced, equilateral triangles, 1 inch in height.

(c) Buddhist faith (officers only). The insignia is a silver-colored dharma cakra (8 spoked wheel), 1 inch in height. (d) Muslim faith (officers only). The insignia is a silver-colored crescent moon.

(e) Chaplain’s assistant collar insignia (enlisted personnel only). The insignia is a gold-colored pair of stylized hands enclosing a chapel with the door open, on a 1-inch disk (see fig 28.77).

(10) Chemical Corps. The officer insignia is a benzene ring of cobalt blue enamel, superimposed in the center of crossed gold-colored retorts, 1/2 inch in height and 1 13/16 inch in width overall. Enlisted personnel have the same design on a 1-inch disk, in gold-colored metal (see fig 28.78).

(11) Civil Affairs. USAR. The officer branch insignia is a gold-colored globe, 5/8 inch in diameter, upon which is superimposed a torch of liberty, 1 inch in height, surmounted by a scroll and sword crossed in saltire. Enlisted personnel have the same design on a 1-inch disk, in gold-colored metal (see fig 28.79).

(12) Corps of Engineers. The officer branch insignia is a gold-colored, triple-turreted castle, 11/16 inch in height. Enlisted personnel have the same design on a 1-inch disk, in gold-colored metal (see fig 28.80).

(13) Dental Corps (officers only). The insignia is a gold-colored metal caduceus, 1 inch in height, with a 3/8-inch monogram consisting of the letter “D” in black enamel, superimposed upon the caduceus (see fig 28.81).

(14) Field Artillery. The officer branch insignia is two crossed field guns in gold-colored metal, 13/16 inch in height. Enlisted personnel have the same design on a 1-inch disk, in gold-colored metal (see fig 28.82).

(15) Finance Corps. The officer branch insignia is a gold-colored metal diamond, 1 inch by 3/4 inch, with the short axis vertical. Enlisted personnel have the same design on a 1-inch disk, in gold-colored metal (see fig 28.83).

(16) General Staff (commissioned and warrant officers only). The insignia is the coat of arms of the United States, 5/8 inch in height, in gold-colored metal, superimposed on a five-pointed, silver-colored star, 1 inch in diameter. The shield consists of enamel stripes of white and red, with a chief of blue, and a blue glory (see fig 28-84). The insignia is worn by officers and warrant officers as prescribed in para 28-9c(1) through (5).

(17) Infantry. The officer branch insignia is two gold-colored crossed muskets, 3/4 inch in height. Enlisted personnel have the same design on a 1-inch disk, in gold-colored metal (see fig 28.85).

(18) Inspector General. The officer branch insignia is a sword and fasces, 3/4 inch in height, crossed and wreathed in gold-colored metal with the inscription “DROIT ET AVANT” (Right and Forward) in blue enamel, on the upper part of wreath. Enlisted personnel have the same design on a 1-inch disk, in gold-colored metal (see fig 28.86).

(19) Judge Advocate General’s Corps. The officer branch insignia is a gold-colored sword and pen, crossed and wreathed, 11/16 inch in height. Enlisted personnel have the same design on a 1-inch disk, in gold-colored metal (see fig 28.87).

(20) Medical Corps. The officer branch insignia is a gold-colored caduceus, 1 inch in height. Enlisted personnel have the same design on a 1-inch disk, in gold-colored metal (see fig 28.88).

(21) Medical Service Corps (officers only). The branch of insignia is a silver-colored caduceus, 1 inch in height, with a 3/8-inch monogram consisting of the letters “MS” in black enamel, superimposed upon the caduceus (see fig 28.89).

(22) Military Intelligence. The officer branch insignia is a gold-colored metal dagger, point up, 1 1/4 inches overall in height, upon which there is a gold-colored metal heraldic sun composed of four straight and four wavy alternating rays, surmounted by a gold heraldic rose with dark blue enamel petals. Enlisted personnel have the same design on a 1-inch disk, in gold-colored metal (see fig 28.90).

(23) Military Police Corps. The officer branch insignia is two crossed gold-colored metal pistols, 3/4 inch in height. Enlisted personnel have the same design on a 1-inch disk, in gold-colored metal (see fig 28.91).

(24) National Guard Bureau (officers only). The branch insignia is two crossed gold-colored fasces superimposed on an eagle displayed with wings reversed, 3/4 inch in height (see fig 28.92).

(25) Ordnance Corps. The officer branch insignia is a gold-colored shell and flame, 1 inch in height. Enlisted personnel have the same design on a 1-inch disk, in gold-colored metal (see fig 28.93).

(26) Psychological Operations collar insignia (enlisted personnel only). The insignia is a Trojan horse with lightning bolts and two swords, on a 1-inch disk, in gold-colored metal (see fig 28.94).

(27) Public Affairs collar insignia (enlisted personnel only). The insignia consists of a quill crossed with an electronic flash with a broadsword, on a 1-inch disk, in gold-colored metal (see fig 28.95).

(28) Quartermaster Corps. The officer branch insignia is a gold-colored sword and key crossed on a wheel surmounted by a flying eagle, with the felloe of the wheel set with 13 stars, 3/4 inch in height. The felloe of the wheel is blue enamel, and the hub center is red, edged with white. Enlisted personnel have the same design on a 1-inch disk, in gold-colored metal (see fig 28.96).

(29) Signal Corps. The officer branch insignia is two signal flags crossed, the dexter flag white with a red center, the other flag red with a white center, with staffs of gold and a flaming torch in gold-colored metal, upright at the center of the crossed flags, 7/8 inch in height. Enlisted personnel have the same design on a 1-inch disk, in gold-colored metal (see fig 28/97).

(30) Staff Specialist, ARNG and USAR (officers only). The branch insignia is a sword, 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 are two laurel branches crossed at the stems. The insignia is 13/16 inch in height, in gold-colored metal (see fig 28.98).

(31) Special Forces. The officer branch insignia is two crossed, gold-colored arrows, 3/4 inch in height. Enlisted personnel have the same design on a 1-inch disk, in gold-colored metal (see fig 28.99).

(32) The Sergeant Major of the Army collar insignia. The insignia is a gold-colored shield, 3/4 inch in height, with the base divided diagonally from the upper left to the lower right. The upper part of the insignia is red and the lower part is white. The insignia consists of a silver five-pointed star surmounted by the coat of arms of the United States, in color, between two white five-pointed stars at the top, and two red five-pointed stars at the base. The shield is on a 1- inch disk, in gold-colored metal (see fig 28.100).

(33) Transportation Corps. The officer branch insignia is a ship’s steering wheel, upon which is superimposed a shield charged with a winged car wheel on a rail, all in gold-colored metal, 1 inch in height. Enlisted personnel have the same design on a 1-inch disk, in gold-colored metal (see fig 28.101).

(34) Veterinary Corps (officers only). The branch insignia is a gold-colored metal caduceus, 1 inch in height, with a 3/8-inch monogram consisting of the letter “V” in black enamel, superimposed upon the caduceus (see fig 28.102).

(35) Warrant officer collar insignia. The insignia is an eagle rising with wings displayed, standing on a bundle of two arrows, all enclosed in a gold-colored wreath, in gold-colored metal, 3/4 inch in height. Warrant officer candidates will wear the warrant officer “Eagle Rising” insignia beginning at the senior phase of warrant officer candidate school and continuing through their graduation from warrant officer basic course.

(36) Band collar insignia (enlisted personnel only). The band insignia is a music lyre on a 1-inch disk, in gold- colored metal (fig 28.177).

c. Subdued branch insignia.


(1) All subdued branch insignia is of the same design and size as the non-subdued insignia described above, except they are black-colored enamel, or black embroidery on green background cloth, with the exception of the following.

Note. Variations of spicebrown embroidery on khaki cloth are used for desert insignia.

(a) Army Medical Specialist Corps, Nurse Corps, Dental Corps, Medical Corps, Medical Service Corps, and Veterinary Corps. The embroidered caduceus is black and the superimposed letters are olive-drab.

(b) General Staff. The embroidered star is black and the eagle is olive drab.

(2) Enlisted personnel do not wear branch insignia on field or utility uniforms, therefore, subdued enlisted branch insignia is not authorized.

d. Branch insignia signified on the lapel of mess and evening mess uniforms. The lapels of the male and female Army blue mess and evening mess jackets are made from rayon, acetate, or other synthetic fabric with a satin face, in the following colors.

(1) General officers (except chaplains) and enlisted personnel: dark blue.

(2) All chaplains: black.

(3) All other officers: the first-named color of their basic branch.

e. Ornamentation and branch insignia for detailed officers. Detailed officers will wear shoulder straps, shoulder boards, and other colors of ornamentation (lapel facing, sleeve braid, cape lining; and blue service cap hatband for other than general officers) on the dress and mess uniforms in the colors of their basic branch. Detailed officers will wear the branch insignia for the branch to which they are detailed.

 

 

 

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