The Southern European Task Force (SETAF) was officially activated on 25 October 1955, with temporary headquarters established at Camp Darby (which itself was not formally dedicated for another three weeks) and forces stations at Vicenza and Verona (the latter would soon become the location of SETAF headquarters). In 1958, the task force was redesignated the United States Army Southern Task Force, and from 2001 to 2008 it was classified as an Airborne Command.
On 3 December 2008, the U.S. and Italian governments announced that SETAF was assuming the role of U.S. Army Africa, or USARAF, and less than a week later USARAF was established as U.S. Army’s Service Component Command of United States Africa Command, or AFRICOM. A little over three years later (January 2012), SETAF was officially designated USARAF/SETAF and connected with Ninth U.S. Army to form U.S. Army Africa.
With the exception of changing tabs, the Shoulder Sleeve Insignia design employed on the USARAF/SETAF Combat Service ID Badge has remain unchanged since it was first approved for the Southern European Task Force on 6 December 1955. The winged lion is known as the “Lion of St. Mark” and is a symbol of peace through strength; it is a sign of the Command’s NATO origins. Red, white, and blue are U.S. colors, while the book has the word “PAX,” Latin for peace, in blue.
The USARAF/SETAF Headquarters Battalion is nicknamed “Lion’s Pride” in reference to the insignia.
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