According to U.S. Army Patches, Flashes and Ovals: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Cloth Unit Insignia by Barry Jason Stein, this Shoulder Sleeve Insignia-Military Operations in Hostile Conditions insignia, or SSI-MOHC, was originally worn by personnel serving at United States Army Armored Headquarters beginning in May 1941. It was redesignated for Armored Command on 2 July 1943 and then for the Armored Center on 20 February 1944. From March 1947 until 30 August 1955, it was designated for the Armored Replacement Training Center.
The color version of the insignia uses the traditional “Armor triangle” of yellow, blue, and red surmounted by a tank tread and lightning flash— the same design used by all Armor Divisions with the addition of their numerical designation placed in the yellow portion of the triangle. Several variations of this design would be created for Armor Training facilities, with the only differentiating factor being a black tab at the bottom with an inscription in yellow (gold).
Prior to 2018, The Institute of Heraldry listed two non-Divisional insignias using this basic design: one with a black tab reading “
USA Armor Center,” and another with a tab for “The Armor School.” As of Fall 2022, however, the Institute has no insignias listed for either the Armor Center or the Armor School.