United States Army branch insignia

The first use of Army branch insignia was just prior to the American Civil War in 1859 for use on the black felt hat.

A system of branch colors, indicated by piping on uniforms of foot soldiers and lace for mounted troops, was first authorized in the 1851 uniform regulations, with Prussian blue denoting infantry, scarlet for artillery, orange for dragoons, green for mounted rifles, and black for staff.

Members of Infantry, Armor (including Cavalry), Special Forces, Aviation, Engineer, Field Artillery and Air Defense Artillery regiments may wear a version of the insignia in which the regimental number is included in the insignia.

For Air Defense Artillery and Aviation, the number is mounted on the center of the face.

For Infantry, Cavalry, Special Forces and Field Artillery, the number is placed immediately above, but not covering, the intersection of the crossed rifles, sabres, arrows, or cannon, respectively.

[2] Branch insignia for Soldiers not affiliated with an infantry, armor, field artillery, air defense artillery, cavalry, special forces, or aviation regiment, generally wear their assigned basic branch insignia; however, as an option, Soldiers who are not affiliated with one of the above regiments, but who are assigned to a color-bearing regiment or separate operational battalion of their branch, may wear their branch insignia with the numerical designation of the battalion or regiment affixed, when approved by the Army command (ACOM) commander, Army service component command commander, or Army direct reporting unit commander.

The enlisted versions of these are borne on a golden disk in the same manner as their customary branch device.

If they choose this option, general officers will wear the branch insignia for the position to which they are appointed, or for their duty assignment.

These shields are superimposed on top of a gold disk, which is traditional for all enlisted branch of service insignia.