Flash and Insignia

Beret Flash Description: A shield-shaped embroidered item with a semicircular base 2 1/4 inches (5.72cm) in height and 1 7/8 inches (4.76cm) in width overall consisting of a green background edged with a 1/8 inch (.32cm) silver gray border. The beret flash was approved on 6 Mar 1995.

Background Trimming

Oval Description: An oval-shaped embroidered item 1 3/8 inches (3.49cm) in height overall and 2 1/4 inches (5.72cm) in width overall consisting of a green background edged with a 1/8 inch (.32cm) silver gray border. The background trimming was approved on 6 Mar 1995.

Flash		Flash with Crest
1990 - Current	_______________	1990 - Current

1st Special Operations Command

1982 - 1990

		Beret with Flash
	__	II II	__
Flash		Sine Pari Crest		Flash with Crest
1982 - 1990				1982 - 1990

Special Forces Branch Insignia

The Special Forces officer branch inherited its insignia - two crossed arrows - from the Indian scouts, several of whom earned Medals of Honor while serving U.S. forces in almost every major campaign. Crossed arrows were a symbol of peace to the U.S. Scouts, which were deactivated in 1939.

However, the crossed arrows served the 1st Special Service Force through World War II, and some Special Forces officers at Fort Bragg began wearing them unofficially on their collars in the Sixties. In April 1987 a separate branch of the Army was created for Special Forces and the crossed arrows were formally adopted as their official branch insignia.

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