Commonly referred to as a shoulder patch or unit patch, the Shoulder Sleeve Insignia-Military Operations in Hostile Conditions (SSI-MOHC) insignia worn by U.S. Army personnel assigned to the Multi-National Force – Iraq was approved for wear on 7 January 2005. It was subsequently amended to change the symbolism on 24 February 2005.
At the top of this shield-shaped insignia is a seven-pointed star that represents the seven peoples of Iraq—Armenian, Assyrian, Kurd, Sunni, Shia, Turkoman, and Yazidi—and a vision of unity among them that serves as the basis for a future that is more prosperous, secure, and free for all Iraqis. Below the star is a pair of crossed scimitars behind a human-headed, winged bull called a lamassu, a protective supernatural hybrid from ancient Assyrian, Babylonian, and Mesopotamian cultures, depending upon the source.
The scimitars are a visual representation of the partnership between the Multi-National Force – Iraq and the Iraq Security Forces that was essential to ensuring a democratic way of life for the nation in the future. The lamassu, on the other hand, looks back on the country’s rich heritage spanning thousands of years, while simultaneously serving as an emblem of strength and protection for Iraqis seeking to rebuild their nation.
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U.S. Army Element, Multi-National Force Iraq Unit Crest (DUI)Enwrapping the scimitars and lamassu are a pair of palm fronds that denote the peace and prosperity that are the promise of a democratic government founded on the protection of individual liberties.
Multi-National Force Iraq was established on 15 May 2004, the successor to Combined Joint Task Force 7 that was responsible for military operations in Iraq until it was inactivated in December 2009 and replaced by the United States Forces – Iraq on 1 January 2010.