Flags and Guidons

1. Flags and Guidons J. Wheeler Hammontree Military Heraldry Group -- IHSoc

2. Introduction Military flags have their origins in the standards of Rome and the banners of the crusader period. Until recently the flag was a primary tool for directing the battle. The flag was the rally point for the unit and it’s most guarded possession. Today the flag serves a mainly ceremonial purpose, and its importance in esprit d’corps is significantly less. Military Heraldry Group -- IHSoc

3. Agenda • Organizational Color • Distinguishing Flag • Guidon Military Heraldry Group -- IHSoc

4. Organizational Colors • Only units under the Regimental System are authorized Organizational Colors • Exception: United States Military Academy Corps of Cadets • The lowest numbered battalion maintains custody of the Regimental Color. • Battle Streamers are attached to the staff of the color below the finial. Military Heraldry Group -- IHSoc

5. Organizational Colors – Description • Organizational colors are a solid color background with the American Eagle embroidered thereon. • Its beak grasps a white scroll inscribed with the unit motto. • Below the eagle is a white scroll inscribed with the designation of the organization. • On the eagle’s breast is embroidered the shield of the coat of arms and the crest is above the eagle’s head. Military Heraldry Group -- IHSoc

6. Organizational Colors – Description (Cont.) • The color of the background is that of the principal branch color. • For those organizations with an approved badge in lieu of a coat of arms, the eagle’s breast is feathered proper and the badge is placed above the eagle’s head. Military Heraldry Group -- IHSoc

7. Organizational Color – Corps of Cadets Military Heraldry Group -- IHSoc

8. Organizational Color – Regiment 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment Military Heraldry Group -- IHSoc

9. Organizational Color – Battalions of Regiments 1st Battalion, 182nd Infantry Regiment Military Heraldry Group -- IHSoc

10. Distinguishing Flags • Those units not authorized an Organizational Color bear a Distinguishing Flag. • Battle Streamers may be displayed with the Distinguishing Flag. Military Heraldry Group -- IHSoc

11. Distinguishing Flag – Major Command MACOM flags are: on a field of national flag blue, fringed yellow, the arms of the United States, in chief the MACOM’s SSI, in base a scroll bearing the unit designation. Military Heraldry Group -- IHSoc

12. Distinguishing Flag – Major Command Military Heraldry Group -- IHSoc

13. Distinguishing Flag – Numbered Armies The flag is: per fess white and red, fringed yellow, the SSI of the Numbered Army centered proper and piped countercharged Military Heraldry Group -- IHSoc

14. Distinguishing Flag – Corps Corps Flag: per fess blue and white, fringed yellow, the SSI of the corps centered proper and piped countercharged Military Heraldry Group -- IHSoc

15. Distinguishing Flag – Division The division flag is: per fess red and blue or yellow (yellow for cavalry and armor), fringed yellow, the SSI centered proper Military Heraldry Group -- IHSoc

16. Distinguishing Flag – Armies, Corps, Divisions 82nd Airborne Division Military Heraldry Group -- IHSoc

17. Distinguishing Flag – Brigades of Divisions Brigade Flags: per pale red and blue or yellow (yellow for cavalry or armor), fringed yellow, the SSI proper, the name/number of the brigade below the SSI, all centered. Military Heraldry Group -- IHSoc

18. Distinguishing Flag – Brigades of Divisions Military Heraldry Group -- IHSoc

19. Distinguishing Flag – Separate Brigades Separate Brigade Flags are: per pale in colors prescribed for branch (table 5-2 AR 840-10), the SSI centered proper, fringe yellow Military Heraldry Group -- IHSoc

20. Distinguishing Flag – Separate Brigades 130th Engineer Brigade 30th Field Artillery Brigade 18th Aviation Brigade 7th Signal Brigade 103rd Support Brigade Military Heraldry Group -- IHSoc

21. Distinguishing flags -- other • There are numerous more categories for distinguishing flags, those above are some of the more commonly seen ones. • Educational Institutions with a Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) unit may be authorized an Institutional Flag. Military Heraldry Group -- IHSoc

22. Guidons • Authorized for companies, batteries, troops, separate platoons, or units with 20 or more assigned strength. • Guidons are of swallow tail design. • Campaign participation is recognized by silver bands on the staff below the guidon. Military Heraldry Group -- IHSoc

23. Guidons (Cont) • In general the design of the guidon follows that of the organizational flag • Unit designation numerals/letters go from top down e.g. a company of a battalion of a regiment would have the regimental number at the chief of the guidon, the battalion number at the hoist, and the company letter in the base Military Heraldry Group -- IHSoc

24. Guidon – HQ of an Army, Corps or Division Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 18th Airborne Corps Military Heraldry Group -- IHSoc

25. Guidon – HQ of Brigade Military Heraldry Group -- IHSoc

26. Guidon – Company of Regiment or Separate Battalion A Company, 3rd Engineer Battalion; White on Scarlet background Military Heraldry Group -- IHSoc

27. Guidon – Company of a Battalion of a Regiment A Company, 1st Battalion, 54th Infantry Regiment; White on Dark Blue Military Heraldry Group -- IHSoc

28. Guidon – Cavalry Troop of a Regiment A Troop, 1st Squadron, 5th Cavalry Regiment; Countercharged on Red over White Military Heraldry Group -- IHSoc

29. Resources / Bibliography All colored flag images from Flags of the World , artist Tom Gregg. Flags, Guidons, Streamers, Tabards, and Automobile and Aircraft Plates; AR 840-10 Military Heraldry Group -- IHSoc