Shoulder Sleeve Insignia

Description
On a blue (ultramarine) shield arched at top 2 1/4 inches (5.72 cm) in width a golden orange swooping hawk head to left and wings elevated in front of a vertical unsheathed sword, point upward throughout with white blade and red hilt all within a golden orange 1/8 inch (.32 cm) border.

Symbolism
Blue and golden orange are the colors of Army Aviation. The gold of the hawk and the red of the sword handle are the colors of the Republic of Vietnam, and of the shoulder sleeve insignia of the U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam and U.S. Army, Vietnam, the Commands under which the Aviation Brigade was formed and under which it first served in armed conflict. The hawk in flight preparing to strike its prey is symbolic of Army Aviation’s impact on modern ground warfare. The hawk was adopted as the symbol of the new capabilities of Army Aviation during the initial phase of Air Assault concept testing in 1963. The crusader’s sword is taken from the shoulder sleeve insignia of the U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam and identifies the origin and mission of the Aviation Brigade in Vietnam. The rapid and quantum increase in the Army Aviation units in Vietnam dictated formation of an Aviation Brigade for command of multiple battalions Army Aviation organizations.

Background
The shoulder sleeve insignia was approved on 2 August 1966. (TIOH Dwg. No. A-1-431)