Unlike the default standard blue Army flash worn on the black beret by the vast majority of Army personnel, the flash approved for the currently inactivated 73rd Cavalry Regiment’s 4th Squadron not only singularly represents that unit, but also is worn on the maroon beret that the Army has set aside for personnel serving in organizations that has been “designated (by structure, equipment, and mission) by HQDA as ‘Airborne.’”
A shield-shaped embroidered insignia with a semi-circular bottom, the flash employs the design of the flash worn by the Squadron’s parent Regiment but with the addition of four notches on the left and right sides to denote its numerical designation. Squadron Officers wear nonsubdued rank insignia centered on the flash, while Enlisted Squadron Soldiers wear the 73rd Cavalry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia, or unit crest.
The oval-shaped insignia is technically designated as Airborne background trimming and its wear is authorized only for Squadron members who earned an Air Assault or Parachutist badge. Its technical name derives from the fact that it is placed beneath the badge so that its border serves as a trim for the device (although Senior and Master Parachutists badges have a star and a wreathed star that protrude above the oval).
The oval-badge combination is by all authorized personnel on the coats of the ASU and AGSU and the shirt of the Class B AGSU and only by female Soldiers on the blue or green Army Maternity Tunic. Placement of the Parachutist and Air Assault badges varies by uniform; detailed guidance on their positioning is found in
Chapter 22-16, subsection (b), “Wear of nonsubdued combat and special skill badges and special skill tab metal replicas.”
Inactivated in 2015, the 4th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment had been assigned to the 4th Brigade Combat Team since 2006 and deployed to the Middle East with the Brigade on more than one occasion. In May 2012, the Squadron’s Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, along with its B and C Troops, were awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation for their service in subduing enemy insurgencies in Farah Province, Afghanistan between August 2009 – August 2010. On the same day, the Squadron’s Troop A was honored with a Valorous Unit Award for its outstanding courage and heroism in action while assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2nd Battalion, 321st Field Artillery Regiment as part of Task Force Professional.
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73rd Cavalry Regiment Unit Crest (DUI)