Uniform Insignias
Insignias
Watch this video from the Army Institute of Heraldry to learn more about the design of division insignias.
Before World War II, military uniforms did not have many patches on them. They became more common as the war progressed and the number of troops increased. Each separate corps, unit, and division in the United States Army has its own patch, which includes an assortment of images and colors. The patches are worn on the left shoulder sleeve as a show of pride. The colors and the images used often have significant historical value to the unit. Most unit insignias use variations of the same 5 colors: red, white, yellow, blue, and green.
Service Stripes
Service stripes are given to members of the armed forces after set periods of time. In the Army, a soldier receives a stripe for every 3 years. For the Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard, stripes are given every 4 years.
Overseas Service Bar
Overseas service bars are presented after 6 months of deployment. Before and during World War II, the overseas service bar was worn on the left sleeve over the service stripes. In 1950, the patch was moved to the right sleeve.
