One of eleven unified combat commands in the United States Department of Defense, United States Northern Command, or USNORTHCOM, was established on 1 October 2002. Its area of responsibility includes the continental United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and The Bahamas, as well as all land, sea, and air approaches to those areas, and one of its main missions is to provide military support for non-military authorities and offices in the United States. USNORTHCOM is the primary force for the defense of the U.S. against an invasion.
The United States Army’s component of USNORTHCOM is U.S. Fifth Army/Army North; other service components include First Air Force/AFNORTH, United States Fleet Forces/NAVNORTH, and Marine Corps Force Command/MARFORNORTH.
The United States Northern Command Distinctive Unit Insignia, or unit crest, was approved on 1 October 2002. A spread-winged eagle, taken from the Great Seal of the United States, is the emblem for the United States, and behind it is the land mass of North America which the organization was created to defend. Five stars at the top are for the five Armed Forces of the United States. The three stars between the land mass and the arrows clutched by the eagle are the approximate geographical locations where terrorist attacks occurred on 11 September 2001.
An eagle, taken from the Great Seal, represents the United States. The landmass of North America highlights the scope of the Northern Command mission. The five stars refer to the armed forces, which coordinate all mission efforts to protect the country. The three stars on the continent represent the approximate locations of the terrorist attacks of September 11th in New York City, Pennsylvania and the Pentagon.
Related Items
U.S. Army Element, United States Northern Command Patch (SSI)
United States Northern Command Patch (SSI)
United States Northern Command Badge