The U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command patch, officially referred to as a Shoulder Sleeve Insignia–Military Operations in Hostile Conditions insignia (SSI–MOHC), was approved on 5 February 1979, seven years and one day after its Distinctive Unit Insignia (DUI) crest) had been approved on 4 February 1972. Oddly, it was cancelled with an effective date of 1 June 2019—the same date that the DUI was redesignated back to U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command, which for the previous twenty-five years had operated as the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command.
Its maroon and white tones are the colors used for Army Medical organizations, with the flames symbolizing the advancements in medical knowledge and practice realized through the efforts of research and development. An unsheathed, upright sword denotes the Command’s prior role in a combat area and its unbroken ability to function in combat mode thanks to its constant readiness.
A single serpent entwined around the sword signifies that the medical research is crafted to address problems and issues unique to the military; the white spherical segment at the bottom is a partial view of a globe that denotes the worldwide scope of the Command’s activities. The hexagon shape of the insignia is a reference to the symbol used in chemical formula for the structure of matter, and the gold of the sword is for excellence and high achievement.
The spherical segment denotes the worldwide activities of the Command. The hexagon alludes to the symbol used in chemical formulas for the structure of matter. Yellow (or gold) is symbolic of achievement.