The beret flash designated for U.S. Army Element, Special Operations Command, Europe (SOCEUR) is worn centered on the stiffener of the maroon beret that denotes the organization’s Airborne status. Also called an organizational flash, it is authorized for wear by all personnel in the organization regardless of their own Airborne or Airborne-related qualifications or decorations.
Officers (except Chaplains) center their non-subdued insignia of grade on the flash, while NCOs and Junior Enlisted Soldiers instead wear the Distinctive Unit Insignia for the Army Element, SOCEUR. Detailed instructions for insignia placement on the flash are found in the January 2021 edition of DA PAM 670-1,
paragraph 4–10(e).
Technically referred to as Airborne background trimming, the oval for U.S. Army Element, SOCEUR is worn only by organization members who have earned the Parachutist and/or Air Assault Badge. The oval is worn beneath the badge, which is centered on the insignia (the star and wreath on the Senior and Master Parachutist badges are not considered when centering). These two items count as one toward the maximum number of badges/devices allowed on a given uniform.
The badge and oval are worn by both male and female personnel on the coats of the AGSU and the ASU (including the ASU Dress variation) and on the shirt of the Class B ASU. Female Soldiers are authorized to wear the combination on the green or blue Army Maternity Tunic. Complete wear guidance for Airborne background trimming is outlined in
paragraph 21-32(b) of the January 2021 edition of DA PAM 670-1.
Both the organizational flash and the oval were approved for wear on 30 January 1997.
Related Items
U.S. Army Element, Special Operations Command, Europe Patch (SSI)
U.S. Army Element, Special Operations Command, Europe Unit Crest (DUI)
U.S. Army Element, Special Operations Command, Europe Combat Service ID Badge (CSIB)