Prior to the approval of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team’s (ABCT) current organizational flash and Airborne background trimming seen here, the unit wore insignias that were identical in design save for a black trim in place of the current white border.
The current insignias were originally approved for the 173rd Airborne Brigade on 13 April 2000. But following the reorganization and redesignation of Headquarters, 173rd Airborne Brigade as the Headquarters, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team on 16, September 2006, all the units’ insignias were redesignated, with both the Shoulder Sleeve Insignia and Distinctive Unit Insignias redesignated on 11 October 2006 to reflect the new name and organization (the Combat Service ID Badge is automatically based on the Shoulder Sleeve Insignia). The redesignation of the beret flash and oval followed on 12 January 2007.
The shield-shaped insignia with a semi-circular bottom is often referred to as a beret flash because of where it is worn, but in the case of the 173rd ABCT is more accurately called an organizational flash because its design points to a specific unit or organization. The color of the beret upon which an organizational flash is worn depends on the unit’s classification; the 173rd ABCT flash is worn on the maroon beret, authorized for wear by personnel in Airborne-designated units since 1981. Other unit classifications for organizational flashes include Special Forces (green beret), Ranger (tan), and Security Force Assistance Command (brown).
Ovals, on the other hand, are worn only by personnel in Airborne-designated units who have qualified for a Parachutists or Air Assault badge. The oval is worn beneath the badge which is centered upon it to create a trim or border affect for the badge, with the combination currently authorized for wear on the coats of the AGSU and ASU, the shirt of the Class B AGSU, and Army Maternity Tunics (female Soldiers only).
Guidance for the wear and authorization of flashes and ovals is found in
Chapter 21-32, subsections (a) and (b) of the January 2021 edition of DA PAM 670-1. Placement of the oval-badge combination varies between the various approved uniforms; detailed instructions are found in
Chapter 22-16, subsection (b) of the same manual.
Related Items
173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team Patch (SSI)173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team Unit Crest (DUI)173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team Combat Service ID Badge (CSIB)