In most cases, only units authorized an organizational color, distinguishing flag, or guidon (excluding organic elements of color-bearing organizations) are entitled to special designations.
Units wishing official recognition of special designations must request this designation from the United States Army Center of Military History.
Special designations appear on any new Lineage and Honors Certificates issued to a unit.
There is often confusion between a motto and a special designation, but the former is a heraldic item controlled by the United States Army Institute of Heraldry, while the latter is usually a unit "nickname".
The intent of the special designation program was not to duplicate an existing motto, but to provide units with another opportunity to express a direct association "with some person, place, thing, event, or function having particular significance to the unit [see Chapter 6, AR 870-5]."