Commonly referred to as a unit patch, the Shoulder Sleeve Insignia worn by U.S. Army personnel assigned to U.S. Special Operations Command Africa (SOCAFRICA) was approved on 16 January 2009, three-and-a-half months after SOCAFRICA was activated on 1 October 2008.
A red shield signifies a strong defense while simultaneously representing the organization’s command structure: Its three sides denote missions on air, land, and sea. The lion’s head signifies the attributes of strength, courage, and determination employed with intelligence and wisdom. A black, upright dagger is associated with the heritage and mission of Special Operations. The red background is for sacrifice, courage and fortitude, while black stands for determination and constancy.
A sub-unified command of United States Special Operations Command, SOCAFRICA falls under the operational control of U.S. African Command (AFRICOM) and is headquartered at Kelley Barracks in Stuttgart-Möhringen, Germany. The organization’s joint nature is referenced in its motto of PROCEDIMUS UNA, Latin for “Let Us Go Forward Together.”
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