Organizational flashes are worn in lieu of the standard blue Army flash by personnel authorized to wear green, maroon, or tan berets issued to personnel serving in Special Forces, Airborne, or Ranger units respectively (or in other organizations or unit associated with those units). Enlisted Soldiers center their unit crest (Distinctive Unit Insignia) on the flash, while Officers wear nonsubdued grade insignia on it. Ovals (background trimming) are worn underneath Parachutist and Air Assault badges on the Army Service/Dress uniform coat, Service uniform shirt, and Maternity tunic.
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The 3rd Special Forces Group (SFG) Airborne was activated at Fort Bragg (now Fort LIberty) on 5 December 1963 with personnel drawn from four existing SFGs, which are represented by the four colors found on the Group’s flash and oval. Like other SFGs, however, the 3rd traces its lineage back to the establishment of the 1st Special Service Force, a joint American-Canadian special forces unit that is recognized as the forerunner of modern special warfare units.
Inactivated in December 1969, the Group was reactivated in 1990 and took part in the First Gulf War, earning credit for two of three Southwest Asia campaigns. In 1994 it was deployed to Haiti as part of Operation Uphold Democracy, where it earned an Army Valorous Unit award. Since the launch of the War on Terrorism, the Group’s four battalions and their subordinate units have been honored with at least eight Meritorious Unit Commendations, ten Valorous Unit Awards, and a Valorous Unit Commendation.