"This We'll Defend"
UNITED STATES ARMY
FLAGS, COLORS, GUIDONS & STREAMERS
UNITED STATES ARMY
FLAGS, COLORS, GUIDONS & STREAMERS
The Army Ceremonial Flag
The Army Ceremonial Flag is the senior organizational color of the United States Army. The flag is made of heavyweight rayon banner cloth; its dimensions are 4 feet 4 inches at the hoist by 5 feet 6 inches on the fly, with 2 1/2-inch yellow fringe. The insignia is the central device from the seal of the Department of the Army.
The Army Ceremonial Flag is displayed with a set of campaign streamers, one to recognize each battle or campaign fought by the Army since 1775. Currently there are 173 authorized campaign streamers.
The Army Ceremonial Flag is the senior organizational color of the United States Army. The flag is made of heavyweight rayon banner cloth; its dimensions are 4 feet 4 inches at the hoist by 5 feet 6 inches on the fly, with 2 1/2-inch yellow fringe. The insignia is the central device from the seal of the Department of the Army.
The Army Ceremonial Flag is displayed with a set of campaign streamers, one to recognize each battle or campaign fought by the Army since 1775. Currently there are 173 authorized campaign streamers.
UNITED STATES ARMY
COMMANDS & HEADQUARTERS ORGANIZATIONAL FLAGS
COMMANDS & HEADQUARTERS ORGANIZATIONAL FLAGS
Notes
Major commands, major subordinate and specified commands, and numbered commands of the US Army are authorized organizational flags. Designs are as follows:
For major US Army commands, the flag is 4 feet 4 inches at the hoist by 5 feet 6 inches on the fly. The field of the flag is national flag blue with the US Coat of Arms (USCOA), minus its crest, centered. Above the USCOA is the shoulder sleeve insignia (SSI) of the command in proper colors. Below it is a scroll inscribed with the title of the command. The fringe is yellow.
For major subordinate and specified commands (including numbered US Army Reserve headquarters and state area commands of the federally recognized Army National Guard), the flag is 3 feet at the hoist by 4 feet on the fly. The field of the flag is national flag blue (dark blue for Army National Guard state area commands) with the command's SSI, in proper colors, centered. The fringe is yellow.
Numbered, branch-oriented US Army commands organized under a Table of Organization and Equipment (TOE) have a flag with a field in the first-named branch color and a fringe in the second-named branch color. The command's SSI, in proper colors, is centered on the flag.
US Army post headquarters commands, US Army garrisons, and US Army Reserve (USAR) garrison support units have flags with a teal blue field and the insignia for "branch immaterial" (the USCOA within a ring) in yellow, with scrolls for the headquarters designation. The fringe is yellow.
The fringe for all these flags is 2 1/2 inches wide.
Major commands, major subordinate and specified commands, and numbered commands of the US Army are authorized organizational flags. Designs are as follows:
For major US Army commands, the flag is 4 feet 4 inches at the hoist by 5 feet 6 inches on the fly. The field of the flag is national flag blue with the US Coat of Arms (USCOA), minus its crest, centered. Above the USCOA is the shoulder sleeve insignia (SSI) of the command in proper colors. Below it is a scroll inscribed with the title of the command. The fringe is yellow.
For major subordinate and specified commands (including numbered US Army Reserve headquarters and state area commands of the federally recognized Army National Guard), the flag is 3 feet at the hoist by 4 feet on the fly. The field of the flag is national flag blue (dark blue for Army National Guard state area commands) with the command's SSI, in proper colors, centered. The fringe is yellow.
Numbered, branch-oriented US Army commands organized under a Table of Organization and Equipment (TOE) have a flag with a field in the first-named branch color and a fringe in the second-named branch color. The command's SSI, in proper colors, is centered on the flag.
US Army post headquarters commands, US Army garrisons, and US Army Reserve (USAR) garrison support units have flags with a teal blue field and the insignia for "branch immaterial" (the USCOA within a ring) in yellow, with scrolls for the headquarters designation. The fringe is yellow.
The fringe for all these flags is 2 1/2 inches wide.
MAJOR ARMY COMMANDS
US ARMY FORCES COMMAND US ARMY MEDICAL COMMAND
US ARMY RESERVE COMMANDS
US ARMY RESERVE COMMAND US ARMY RESERVE READINESS COMMAND
NUMBERED TOE COMMANDS
3rd CORPS SUPPORT COMMAND
416th ENGINEER COMMAND
3rd MEDICAL COMMAND
260th MILITARY POLICE COMMAND
353rd CIVIL AFFAIRS COMMAND
US ARMY GROUPS
ORGANIZATIONAL FLAGS
88th Chemical Group • 702nd Military Intelligence Group • 12th Signal Group
ORGANIZATIONAL FLAGS
88th Chemical Group • 702nd Military Intelligence Group • 12th Signal Group
211th FIELD ARTILLERY GROUP
Notes
US Army groups are similar to brigades but generally control smaller and fewer subordinate units, typically a mix of battalions and separate companies. With a few exceptions, notably the 207th Infantry Group of the Alaska Army National Guard, groups are oriented to the combat service support branches. The group organization is used in the Military Police branch for command and control of Criminal Investigation Division detachments.
Groups are authorized organizational flags, 3 feet at the hoist by 4 feet on the fly with 2 1/2-inch yellow fringe. They are made of heavyweight rayon banner cloth with numerals applied to appear properly on both sides of the flag. These flags have a solid-color field with a diagonal stripe from upper hoist to lower fly. For most group types, the field is in the first-named branch color and the diagonal stripe is in the second-named branch color. The group's number, usually in the second-named branch color, is centered on the flag. In a few cases, different colors are used to ensure that the elements of the flag can be clearly distinguished.
Campaign and unit decoration streamers, if authorized, are always displayed with these flags.
US Army groups are similar to brigades but generally control smaller and fewer subordinate units, typically a mix of battalions and separate companies. With a few exceptions, notably the 207th Infantry Group of the Alaska Army National Guard, groups are oriented to the combat service support branches. The group organization is used in the Military Police branch for command and control of Criminal Investigation Division detachments.
Groups are authorized organizational flags, 3 feet at the hoist by 4 feet on the fly with 2 1/2-inch yellow fringe. They are made of heavyweight rayon banner cloth with numerals applied to appear properly on both sides of the flag. These flags have a solid-color field with a diagonal stripe from upper hoist to lower fly. For most group types, the field is in the first-named branch color and the diagonal stripe is in the second-named branch color. The group's number, usually in the second-named branch color, is centered on the flag. In a few cases, different colors are used to ensure that the elements of the flag can be clearly distinguished.
Campaign and unit decoration streamers, if authorized, are always displayed with these flags.
207th INFANTRY GROUP
449th AVIATION GROUP
7th TRANSPORTATION GROUP
12th SIGNAL GROUP
SEE OTHER TYPES OF FLAGS
All military organizations have flags and dozens and dozens of them. Most are derived from a historical background. Some are symbolic and others have a specific meaning and designation by color for recognition. This most true in the case of guidons. This flag is what most of us grew up with by viewing westerns at the movies or on TV and used extensively by the Cavalry.
Parades and ceremonies are the most common place to see may of these colorful displays being used. There are specific protocols to be followed when it comes to using the guidon. Think of this flag replacing the soldier's rifle and how you would handle your weapon during a presentation of arms or a salute.
The flags here represent the Army at the highest level and work their way down to company level in the case of the guidon. However,there are versions of the guidon that represent all levels of the Army, but I did not display them here, from division on down. You can also see brigade, group and command flags.
Parades and ceremonies are the most common place to see may of these colorful displays being used. There are specific protocols to be followed when it comes to using the guidon. Think of this flag replacing the soldier's rifle and how you would handle your weapon during a presentation of arms or a salute.
The flags here represent the Army at the highest level and work their way down to company level in the case of the guidon. However,there are versions of the guidon that represent all levels of the Army, but I did not display them here, from division on down. You can also see brigade, group and command flags.