Worn on the maroon beret to denote that the wearer serves in an organization designated as Airborne by the Army, the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, 1st Battalion flash features a color combination approved by The Institute of Heraldry for both the Regiment and Battalion. The Battalion’s flash is identified by the small black notch in the center of the left- and right-side borders that indicates the unit’s numeric designation in the parent Regiment.
Referred to interchangeably as a beret flash or organizational flash, the shield-shaped patch is worn centered on the stiffener of the maroon beret. Officers place their non-subdued insignia of grade centered on the flash, while all Enlisted personnel wear their unit’s Distinctive Unit Insignia (or Regimental Distinctive Insignia if their unit has no DUI—see link below) in similar fashion.
Exceptions to the guidance for Enlisted Soldiers include the Sergeant Major of the Army (and Soldiers serving in the office of the SMA) and the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (SEAC); these personnel wear the unique collar insignia created for these positions.
Commonly referred to as an “oval” for obvious reasons, Airborne background trimming is worn by personnel who (1) have earned a Parachutist or Air Assault badge, and (2) are currently serving in a unit identified by the HQ, Department of the Army as Airborne or Air Assault.
structure, equipment, and mission) by HQDA as “Airborne” or “Air Assault.” Ovals are worn beneath the badge—hence the name “background trimming”—and the two items are counted as one when determining maximum allowable badges or devices for a particular uniform.
The combination of oval and badge is worn by male and female personnel on Service Uniform coats and shirt (ASGU and ASU, including Dress variation) and by female Soldiers on the green or blue Army Maternity Tunic.
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160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia