Chapter 6
Guidons

6-1. Authorization

Guidons are unit identification markers approved by HQDA and authorized for TOE companies, batteries, troops, detachments, and separate platoons. Guidons are authorized for TDA units with an authorized strength of 20 or more military personnel. Only one guidon is authorized for each of the following:

a. Companies, batteries, troops, detachments, separate platoons and equivalent size units (TOE).

b. Reserve Officers Training Corps companies (senior and junior units).

c. National Defense Cadet Corps units.

d. Special units authorized by The Institute of Heraldry.

e. TDA detachments and units (with an authorized military strength of 20 or more).

6-2. Additional guidons

a. Training companies. Two guidons are authorized for training companies, one for use in field training and a stand-by guidon for ceremonies and parades. Duplicate streamers or campaign bands are not authorized. Simultaneous display of the two guidons is prohibited.

b. Split elements of ARNG. A duplicate company guidon is authorized for use by a spilt element of the ARNG located in different geographic locations. At functions when the split elements are assembled as a company, only one guidon is authorized for display.

6-3. Prohibitions

a. Guidons are not authorized for provisional units.

b. Detachments, platoons, and squads that are integral to a company, battery, or troop are not authorized guidons except as indicated in para. 6-2b above.

c. Guidons are accountable property and their retention by individuals is prohibited.

d. Prescribed designs of guidons will not be altered except by authority of the Secretary of the Army.

e. The only authorized abbreviation to denote the "Headquarters" element on guidons is "HQ" . All other abbreviations such as "HHC" or "HQS" are unauthorized.

6-4. Description

A guidon is a swallow-tailed unit marker, 20-inch hoist by a 27-inch fly, the swallow-tail end forked l0 inches. Fringe is not used on guidons. Guidons are made of bunting cloth or nylon, unless otherwise specified. Design elements will appear on the opposite side as if printed through the material. Letters and numerals will read from left to right on each side of the guidon. The letters and numbers on guidons are 3 1/2 inches high unless otherwise indicated. When a SSI is authorized for use on the guidon, the design will appear proper on both sides.

6-5. Display of guidons

Guidons will be carried by units participating in parades and review or displayed as directed by the commander.

6-6. Streamers and silver bands

Streamers and silver bands awarded to units are component parts of the guidon Streamers to reflect unit awards are attached below the spearhead of the flagstaff. Silver bands to indicate campaigns are placed on the flagstaff below the guidon (See chap 9 for authorized streamers and silver bands.) The criteria for streamer awards and silver bands is contained in AR 600-8-22

6-7. Headquarters Company, U.S. Army, Fort Myer, Virginia

A white guidon with the shoulder sleeve insignia for Headquarters Company, U.S. Army, in proper colors centered thereon will be used. (See fig 6-1 .)

6-8. United States Army Field Band

A white guidon with the shoulder sleeve insignia of the United States Field Band centered thereon will be used. (See fig 6-2 .)

6-9. Headquarters companies of specified commands

The guidons for the headquarters company or detachment of the following commands, are the same colors and design as the distinguishing flags for these organizations.

a. MACOMs and forces established by HQDA. (See fig 6-3 .)

b. State area commands. (See fig 6-3.)

c. Major subordinate commands of MACOMs. (See fig 6-4 .)

d. Numbered TOE commands. (See fig 6-3.)

e. U.S. Army Reserve Commands. (See fig 6-3.)

f. Numbered armies/corps. (See fig 6-5 .)

g. Corps artillery. (See fig 6-6 .)

h. Divisions and division training. (See fig 6-5 .)

i. Division support command. (See fig 6-7 .)

j. Division artillery. (See fig 6-8 .)

k. Division support centers. (See fig 6-9 .)

l. Brigades of divisions. (See fig 6-10 .)

m. Separate TOE brigades. (See fig 6-11 .)

n. Special Troops of numbered TOE Support Commands. (See fig 6-7 .)

o. Named brigades of divisions. (See fig 6-12 .)

p. Maneuver area command. (See fig 6-13 .)

q. Training command. (See fig 6-14 .)

r. Military Police Prisoner of War Camp. (See fig 6-15 .)

s. Depots. (See fig 6-16 .)

t. Groups. (See fig 6-17 .)

6-10. Support battalion of a division

a. Headquarters company (Heavy & Medium Division). The guidon has a buff color background with scarlet letters and numerals. (See fig 6-18 .)

b. Companies of battalion. The guidons have branch oriented colors with the battalion number above and the company letter below the branch insignia. (See table 6-1 for colors and type of branch insignia.) (See fig 6-19 .)

6-11. TOE companies, batteries, troops, and detachments of regiments and separate battalions

The guidons for units of regiments and separate fixed battalions (including companies of battalions of Special Forces units) will be the same color as the organizational color with the applicable branch insignia centered between the regiment or battalion number above and HQ or company letter below the insignia. The letters and numbers are 3 1/2 inch high. The numbers and letters will be the secondary branch color. (See table 6-2 for colors.) (See fig 6-20 for units authorized a branch insignia; fig 6-24 for cavalry units; and fig 6-23 for units not authorized a branch insignia.)

6-12. TOE companies, batteries, troops and detachments of battalions or squadrons of regiments

The guidons are the same as described in paragraph 6-11 above with the addition of the battalion/squadron number on the horizontal center line midway between the heading and the branch insignia. The battalion/squadron numerals are 2 5/8 inches high. Letters and numbers will be in the secondary branch color. (See table 6-1 for colors.) (See fig 6-22 for cavalry units and fig 6-21 for all other units.)

6-13. Named TOE companies

The guidon is of the same applicable branch colors with the insignia of branch centered between the number of the battalion above and the approved abbreviation, or monogram in lieu of a company letter, below the insignia. (See figs 6-25 , 6-26 and 6-27 .)

6-14. TOE separate companies, batteries, detachments, and equivilant size TOE units

The guidon for TOE separate units will be the color indicated in table 6-2 . The authorized insignia of branch or device is centered above the unit number. (See fig 6-28 .) Units not authorized an insignia of branch or device on the guidon will have the number of the unit centered on the guidon. (See fig 6-29 .)

6-15. TDA detachments and company size units

a. Except as otherwise specified in this regulation and unless specifically authorized for certain units, the guidons are the applicable branch colors. The branch insignia is centered with nothing above or below the insignia. (See fig 6-30 .) (See table 6-2 for color and type of device.)

b. Guidons for units not oriented to branch are the colors and insignia for branch immaterial (See fig 6-31 .)

c. Requisitions for these guidons should indicate "Guidon, TDA Unit, and Branch."

6-16. Headquarters Company, U.S. Army Garrison

A teal blue guidon with the insignia for branch immaterial centered thereon. (See fig 6-31.)

6-17. Numbered USAR garrison support units A teal blue guidon with the insignia for branch immaterial centered above the unit number. (See fig 6-32.)

6-18. Troop command and medical brigade of medical centers

The guidon is the same pattern and colors as the distinguishing flag. The unit designation will be below the canton in white letters. (See fig 6-33 .)

6-19. Headquarters company, hospital centers

The guidon is diagonally divided from upper hoist to lower fly in maroon and white with maroon above. On the white portion are the letters "HC" in maroon. On the maroon portion is the number of the center in white arabic numerals. (See fig 6-34 .)

6-20. Numbered Medical laboratories, numbered Medical Materiel Centers

The guidon is white with a maroon triangle starting at the bottom edge of the guidon with the apex near the vertical center. The branch insignia is centered thereon. (See fig 6-35 .)

6-21. Companies of hospitals and Medical Centers

The guidon is maroon with the medical branch insignia centered thereon. This pattern is that described for TDA organizations in para 6-15 .

6-22. U.S. Army service schools

a. Guidons for headquarters company or detachment of a service school oriented to branch of service are the branch colors with the applicable branch insignia centered thereon. (See fig 6-30 .)

b. Guidons for headquarters companies of service schools not oriented to branch use the colors and insignia for branch immaterial. (See fig 6-31 .)

6-23. School brigades and officer candidate school (OCS) brigades

Guidons for headquarters companies of a school brigade or officer candidate brigade are the same design and colors as the brigade flag. (See figs 6-36 and 6-37 .)

6-24. Battalions of school brigades or OCS brigades

a. The headquarters company of battalions of school brigades is the same design as the battalion. (See fig 6-38 and 6-39 .)

b. Guidons for companies of battalions of a school brigade, are the same design and colors as the brigade flag with the company letter added above the battalion number, below the canton. (See fig 6-40 and 6-41 .)

6-25. Companies, U.S. Corps of Cadets

a. Dress guidons. The guidons are of rayon banner cloth, horizontally divided into two equal stripes, golden yellow above silver gray. "USCC" is centered horizontally in black between the regiment number above on the yellow stripe and the company letter below on the gray. All letters and numerals are black. (See fig 6-42 .)

b. Field guidons. The guidons are nylon horizontally divided into two equal stripes, golden yellow above silver gray, with the unit number in black numerals centered thereon. (See fig 6-43 .) 6-26 United States

6-26. Military Academy Preparatory School.

A black guidon inscribed with the letters "USMAPS" above the company letter, all in yellow (See fig 6-44 .)

6-27. Noncommissioned officer academies

The guidon is teal blue with the shoulder sleeve insignia of the organization or applicable STARC identified with the academy centered thereon, in proper colors 8 1/2 inches high above a teal blue rectangular scroll inscribed with a yellow "NCOA" (See fig 6-45 .)

6-28. Headquarters company, U.S. Army training centers

The guidon is the same design and color as the distinguishing flag for the applicable center. (See fig 6-46 .)

6-29. State Army National Guard OCS

The guidon is teal blue with the applicable STARC SSI, centered above the OCS monogram, in yellow. (See fig 6-47 .)

6-30. Companies of training brigades and battalions at U.S. Army training centers

a. Guidons for headquarters companies of a training brigade is the same colors and patterns as the brigade flag. (See fig 6-48 .)

b. The guidon for headquarters company of battalions of a brigade are the same as the battalion flag. (See fig 6-49 .)

c. Guidons for companies of battalions of brigades are the same as the battalion flag with the addition of the company letter above the battalion number below the canton. (See fig 6-50 .)

6-31. Companies or batteries, ROTC

a. Senior Reserve Officers' Training Corps.

(1) Branch-oriented companies. Guidons for branch-oriented companies are the same as the applicable branch guidon except "ROTC" is above the branch insignia.(See fig 6-51 .)

(2) Non-branch-oriented companies. The guidon is yellow with the SROTC shoulder sleeve insignia centered on the guidon with the battalion number above the SSI and company designation below in black letters. (See fig 6-52 .)

b. Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps. Guidons are silver gray with the ROTC torch enflamed between "ROTC" above and the company designation below. (See fig 6-53 .) All letters are in scarlet. On guidons requiring both the number of the regiment and the company designation, both are below the torch, the regimental number to the hoist and the company letter to the fly end of the guidon. (See fig 6-54 .)

c. Companies of National Defense Cadet Corps. Guidons are silver gray with the ROTC torch enflamed, centered between "NDCC" above and the company designation below all in maroon. (See fig 6-55 .) On guidons requiring both the regimental number and company designation, both are below the torch. The regimental number is to the hoist and the company letter to the fly end of the guidon. (See fig 6-56 .)

6-32. Disposition

a. Guidons that have seen war service. Serviceable and unserviceable guidons that have seen war service will not be burned.

b. Guidons that have not seen war service. Unserviceable guidons that have not seen war service and are not desired for retention may be disposed of locally.Disposal must be made in a dignified manner, preferably by burning.

c. TOE units, active. Unserviceable guidons that have seen war service will be numbered and retained in a repository in the organization to which they belong as long as the organization remains in an active status.

d. TOE units, redesignated. Serviceable guidons and unserviceable guidons that have seen war service, of an organization redesignated but not inactivated, must be retained by that organization or the lineal descendant of the unit as mementos of service for as long as the unit remains in an active status.

e. TOE units, inactive or being inactivated. Serviceable guidons, and unserviceable guidons that have seen war service of inactivated TOE units or TOE units in process of inactivation will be forwarded to the Commander, Center of Military History, ATTN: DAMH-MDH (Flag Mission), Anniston Army Depot, Anniston, AL 36201-5098. The guidons should be tagged with the organization's official designation to ensure proper identification of each item. The tag should include information about the guidons war service, place served, when served, and any further information of historical importance. Items should be shipped in padded bags, boxed, or rolled and placed in containers. Documents forwarded with the items or tags attached should be marked "Unit Inactivated" or "Unit in Process of Inactivation."

f. TDA units, active and discontinued. Unserviceable guidons of active TDA units and serviceable guidons of discontinued TDA units may be retained by the installation for display purposes or disposed of in a dignified manner (preferably by burning).

g. Army National Guard guidons. (See chap 10, para 10-5b .)