of this category. A distinguishing flag differs from a color in that the latter not only serves for identification but also represents spirit and tradition, whereas the former is only for identification.

GUIDON. A guidon is a company, battery, or designated detachment marker.

DISPOSITION OF WORN FLAGS. Flags of all types, and streamers and guidons, will be submitted for the action of a local inspector when unfit for further use. If repair is justified the item may be repaired locally or returned to the Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot for repair. If not, the item will be numbered and retained in one repository as a memento of service by the organization to which it belongs. A synopsis of service bearing the same

number will be filed with the records of the organization.

Old or wornout flags will not be used either for banners or for any secondary purpose. When a flag is in such condition that it is no longer a fit emblem for display, it will not be cast aside nor used in any way that might be viewed as disrespectful. If not preserved, it will be destroyed as a whole, privately, preferably by burning or by some other method having no suggestion of irreverence or disrespect. Silk national and organization colors will not be burned but retained as specified above. Flags (with streamers and silver bands) which pertain to inactive organizations, or which are excess at depots or other installations, will be shipped for storage to the Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot.

The insignia worn by military personnel designate grade, branch, capacity or duty assignment, and prior Army service. All insignia must conform to the approved design and material specifications. The insignia of grade, and the collar and lapel insignia, for officers and warrant officers are of appropriate color metal or embroidery. (The "US" and branch insignia worn on the collar and lapel will be of the same material.) Generally speaking, the insignia of branch are gold color. Some exceptions are those for the Chaplains (silver), the General Staff (silver, gold, and colored enamel), and the Adjutant General's Corps, Chemical Corps, Quartermaster Corps and Signal Corps (gold and colored enamel). The insignia of grade, and the collar and lapel insignia, for enlisted personnel are of embroidery and gold color metal, respectively. The insignia of branch for enlisted personnel consist of a reduced reproduction of those for officers on a 1-inch disc, both insignia and discs being of gold color metal only.

INSIGNIA OF ARMS AND SERVICES. These are shown by figure 6. Their descriptions are as follows

with a modern tank, symbolizes the evolution of Cavalry to Armor. Artillery-A missile surmounting two crossed field pieces. The addition of a missile to the traditional crossed field pieces emphasizes the progressive modernization of the Army.

Corps of Engineers-The traditional tripleturreted castle alludes to field fortifications and construction. Infantry-Two crossed muskets. The musket was the weapon with which American infantry was originally equipped, and is of traditional and historical significance in typifying the foot soldier. (The above combat arms, with the excepauthorized tion of Artillery, are optional basis the use of numerals on their insignia to indicate regimental or battalion numerical designation.) Adjutant General's Corps-A shield consist

on an

ing of a blue chief charged with 1 large white star and 12 small white stars and 13 vertical stripes, 7 white and 6 red. This was suggested by the shield of the coat of arms of the United States, and is appropriate for the service which authenticates and publishes official Army orders and records. Army Medical Service-The basis for Medical Service insignia is the Medical Corps insigne-a gold color caduceus, an adaption of the staff of Mercury and the staff of Aesculapius, the latter a device long associated with medicine and healing. The two serpents allude to preventive and corrective medicine. Black letters superimposed on the caduceus indicate the following: "D"-Dental Corps; "N"-Army Nurse Corps; "S"-Army Medical Specialist Corps; "V"-Veterinary Corps. A silver color caduceus with the monogram "MS" in black is used by the Medical Service Corps.

Army Security Reserve-Two crossed keys with a vertical lightning bolt crossed between them. The keys are symbolical of security and the lightning bolt signifies "guardianship of the keys."

of the Christian faith use a silver Latin cross. Those of the Jewish faith use a silver double tablet bearing Roman numerals from I to X surmounted by two equilateral triangles interlaced (the Star of David). Chemical Corps-A cobalt blue benzene ring of superimposed in the center crossed gold color retorts. Cobalt blue and yellow (gold) are the colors of the Chemical Corps.

Civil

Affairs and Military GovernmentOn an armillary globe a torch of Liberty surmounted by a scroll and sword crossed in saltire. The globe alludes to the worldwide scope of the agency and the scroll and sword to civil and military affairs, respectively. Finance Corps-A diamond, short axis vertical. The diamond was originally the insigne of the Pay Corps and has no particular symbolic significance. General Staff-The coat of arms of the

United States, the stripes of the shield of white and red, the chief and the glory of blue, superimposed on a five pointed silver star.

Inspector General-A wreath of laurel and palm bearing the inscription "Droit et Avant" (Right and Forward) in blue at top, superimposed upon a sword and fasces crossed in saltire. The fasces is

a symbol of power.

Jurisdiction,

law,

and

Judge Advocate General's Corps-A sword and pen crossed in saltire and superimposed on a laurel wreath open at top. The pen alludes to the writing of legal briefs and decisions. Military Intelligence Reserve-An eared shield bearing a circle connected with the border by 13 radial ribs, within the circle a sphinx in profile couchant. The sphinx is a symbol of secrecy, silence, and wisdom. The circle and radial ribs simulate a spider.

Military Police Corps-Two crossed flintlock pistols. The pistol is the 1806 Harper's Ferry Armory Army pistol, cal. 54, which was the first American military pistol.

National Guard Bureau-Two crossed fasces superimposed on an eagle displayed with wings reversed.

Ordnance Corps A shell and flame; the symbolism is obvious. Quartermaster Corps-A gold color sword and key crossed on a wheel surmounted by a flying eagle, the felloe of wheel blue, with 13 white stars and the hub red, edged with white. The key alludes to control of supplies and the wheel to their distribution.

the

Signal Corps-A gold color flaming torch surmounting two signal flags crossed in saltire, the dexter flag white with a red center and the other red with & white center. The signal flags are self-explanatory. The flaming torch was an early means of communication. Staff Specialist Reserve-A sword laid horizontally across the upper part of an open book. Below the sword and across the lower corners of the book two laurel branches crossed at stems. The book alludes to special knowledge and the laurel branches proficiency in that knowledge, the sword symbolizing its military application.

Transportation Corps A shield charged with a winged car wheel on a rail superimposed on a ship's steering wheel. All the devices allude to methods of transportation.

Women's Army Corps-The helmeted head, in profile, of Minerva (Pallas Athene), goddess of wisdom. Warrant Officers-An eagle rising with wings displayed standing on a bundle of two arrows, all enclosed in a laurel wreath open at the top. (Worn by all warrant officers in lieu of branch insignia.)

INSIGNIA OF RANK, GRADE, SPECIALIST RATING. The ranks of commissioned and warrant officers are indicated by metal or embroidered insignia, differentiated by design, color, and in some cases number. Silver fivepointed stars are used by general officers, silver eagles or silver or gold oak leaves by field grade officers, silver or gold bars by company officers, and silver or gold bars and enamel by warrant officers. The use of silver instead of gold to indicate higher grade for field, company, and warrant officers was not intentional. At one time colonels in some branches of the service wore gold eagles and others wore silver eagles. As a matter of economy and uniformity it was decided that the eagles should all be the same color; and as there were more colonels at the time wearing silver eagles than gold, the color silver was the one authorized. Insignia for 2d lieutenants did not come into being until World War I. Before this, the uniform was prescribed without insignia. Noncommissioned officer and specialist grades are indicated by number and arrangement of chevrons and/or arcs. All insignia are of gold color embroidery on an Army green or dark blue background.

Commissioned and Warrant Officers. These are shown by figure 7. Descriptions are as followsGeneral of the Army-Five stars fastened

together in a circle, inner points touching. Worn separately above the stars,

the coat of arms of the United States in gold color metal, shield and crest enameled. It is worn on the Army green, Army white, and summer service uniforms. General-Four stars in a row. Lieutenant General-Three stars in a row. Major General-Two stars.

Brigadier General-One star.

Colonel-A spread eagle grasping horizontally in its talons a laurel branch and 13 arrows.

Lieutenant Colonel-A silver oak leaf with irregular surface.

Major A gold oak leaf with irregular surface.

Captain-Two silver bars, smooth surface. First Lieutenant-One silver bar, smooth

E-1 NONE RECRUIT

Figure 8. Enlisted Insignia of Grade.

All specialists wear an eagle device, background shaped at bottom like an inverted chevron with arcs at top and, for some, inverted chevrons below. Specialist Nine-Three arcs above eagle device and two inverted chevrons below.

Figure 9 Enlisted Specialist Insignia.

INSIGNIA FOR AIDES. All aides wear, as insignia of duty, a shield surmounted by a gold eagle displayed with wings reversed. The nature of assignment is indicated by the devices on, and the colors of, the shield.

Aides to the President of the United States -On a blue shield, a circle of 13 white stars.

Aides to the Secretary of Defense-On a blue shield, 3 gold crossed arrows between 4 white stars.

Aides to the Secretary of the Army-On a red shield, a gold coat of arms of the United States between 4 white stars. Aides to General of the Army-On a blue shield, 5 white stars arranged in circle, inner points touching. Aides to other General Officers-A shield composed of a blue chief and 13 vertical alternating white and red stripes with white stars indicating the general officer's grade horizontally on the blue chief.

These are shown by figure 10.

Aiguillettes are also worn by aides on both service and dress uniforms. Aides to the President wear the aiguil

lette on the right side; all other aides (and Army attaches) wear it on the left. The service aiguillette consists of a length of braided gold cord with a single gold cord and ferrule attachment. The braided cord is passed under the arm and fastened on each side of the shoulder loop, the single loop and ferrule being attached to the front. The dress aiguillette is more elaborate, having two additional braided gold cords which crisscross over the outside of the arm and are secured to the lapel; two single gold cords and ferrules are attached to the front.

OTHER INSIGNIA DENOTING SPECIAL DUTY. Military personnel assigned to the Department of Defense wear on the left breast pocket an identification badge consisting of an eagle, with wings displayed horizontally, grasping 3 crossed arrows all gold and bearing on the breast a shield of the United States in enamel; a gold annulet passing behind the wing tips bearing 13 gold stars above eagle and a wreath of laurel and olive below; the whole superimposed on a silver sunburst of 33 rays.

enameled star with 3 green enameled laurel leaves in each reentrant angle.

SHOULDER SLEEVE INSIGNIA. To identify personnel of units definitely assigned to certain organizations, approved shoulder sleeve insignia are authorized for wear on the upper part of the outer half of the left sleeve of the service coat, and of other garments as may be prescribed. For the shoulder sleeve insignia of divisions and higher echelons, see chapter 28. They are also authorized for base commands, defense commands, logistical commands, regimental combat teams, administrative and technical branches, service schools, and many other organizations, far too numerous to be listed here.

Officers assigned to the Army General Staff wear on the right breast pocket an identification badge consisting of the coat of arms of the United States in gold, the shield and glory enameled, superimposed on a 5-pointed black