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Shoulder Sleeve Insignia

Shoulder Sleeve Insignia. J. Wheeler Hammontree. Introduction . Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (SSI) are the most visible form of heraldry in the US Army today. Some SSI such as that of the 101 st Airborne Division are familiar even to those with little or no military exposure. Agenda.

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Shoulder Sleeve Insignia

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  1. Shoulder Sleeve Insignia J. Wheeler Hammontree Military Heraldry Group -- IHSoc

  2. Introduction Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (SSI) are the most visible form of heraldry in the US Army today. Some SSI such as that of the 101st Airborne Division are familiar even to those with little or no military exposure. Military Heraldry Group -- IHSoc

  3. Agenda • Background • History • Styles / Shapes • Tabs Military Heraldry Group -- IHSoc

  4. Background • SSI are worn by all soldiers on the service and battle dress uniforms • A SSI is worn on the left shoulder to show current unit of assignment • Soldiers with combat experience may wear the SSI of their wartime unit on their right shoulder • Organizations with over 500 personnel may be authorized a SSI (AR 670-1) Military Heraldry Group -- IHSoc

  5. History – Civil War • The SSI has its origins in the corps badges developed as a means of identification during the civil war. • Badges were worn in various places on the uniform such as left breast, top of kepi cap, and sleeves. • Many of these early badge designs have been retained in current Army heraldry. (Burr, 1961) Military Heraldry Group -- IHSoc

  6. History – World War I • The first modern SSI was the “Wildcat” patch adopted by the 81st Infantry Division in 1917 (Reece, 2002) • The SSI gained much (though unofficial) use during WWI. • Official approval of the SSI would not come until the end of the war, with the first approval being in the fall of 1918. Military Heraldry Group -- IHSoc

  7. Styles & Shapes • Until the Vietnam era there is little standardization in SSI design. • A notable exception are the SSI of Armored Divisions. These all share a common design, the only differencing being a numeral in chief and the unit nick-name or motto below the base. Military Heraldry Group -- IHSoc

  8. Styles & Shape (Cont.) During the Vietnam era and after many separate brigade sized units were established. MOST of these units’ SSI are in the shape of a Roman shield. It is safe to assume that any SSI in the shape of a Roman shield is that of a separate brigade. Military Heraldry Group -- IHSoc

  9. Styles & Shapes: Separate Brigades Click on image for TIOH description. Military Heraldry Group -- IHSoc

  10. Styles & Shapes (Cont.) Most of the specialty branch Centers and Schools’ SSI are lozenges with the branch insignia and torch done in the branch colors. Military Heraldry Group -- IHSoc

  11. Styles & Shapes:Centers & Schools Try to identify these schools based on their design elements: Click on image for TIOH Description Military Heraldry Group -- IHSoc

  12. Tabs • Tabs may be seen worn above the SSI in many cases, such as that of the 173rd Airborne Brigade above. • The Airborne tab (as well as the Mountain tab) is a unit identifying tab. It identifies the wearer as belonging to an Airborne designated unit. • Other tabs such as Special Forces, Ranger, Sapper and President’s Hundred are Special Skills tabs and identify the accomplishment of the wearer. As such they are not part of the SSI. Military Heraldry Group -- IHSoc

  13. Bibliography • Burr, Col. Ralph R. August 1961. The beginnings of heraldry in the Civil War--Symbols Rally the Spirit. Army Information Digest. • Reece, Beth. May 2002. More Than a Patch. Soldiers. Military Heraldry Group -- IHSoc

  14. Where to Get More Information • The Institute of Heraldry • Quartermaster Foundation Museum • United States Army Insignia Homepage (great non-government site by RDW Ploessl) Military Heraldry Group -- IHSoc

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