Approved on 30 July 1084, the organizational flash of the U.S. Army Element, Special Operations Command Pacific (SOCPAC) is worn on the maroon beret that is authorized for personnel assigned to units whose primary missions are Airborne operations. As a general rule, Army Officers assigned to SOCPAC wear their non-subdued insignia of grade centered on the flash and Noncommissioned Officers and Junior Enlisted Soldiers wear the SOCPAC Distinctive Unit Insignia, or unit crest, in the same manner. Exceptions to these results are found in the January 2021 edition of DA PAM 670-1,
paragraph 4-10(e), “Headgear guidance.”
Also approved on 30 July 1984, the U.S. Army SOCPAC oval—officially known as Airborne background trimming—is worn only by members of the organization that have earned a Parachutist or Air Assault Badge. The primary portions of these badges (i.e., not including the wreath and star of some Parachutist badges) are centered on the oval, with the two items counting as one toward maximum allowable badges for a given uniform. This oval-badge combination is worn on the coats of the AGSU and ASU Service/Dress, the ASU shirt (Class B ASU), and the blue or green Army Maternity Tunic.
Related ItemsArmy Special Operations Command Pacific Patch (SSI)Army Special Operations Command Pacific Combat Service ID Badge (CSIB)
Army Special Operations Command Pacific Unit Crest (DUI)