There are two types of beret flashes: the standard Army flash worn with the black beret and organizational flashes, so named because they are worn on one of four “color coded” berets that signify that the wearer is serving in a specific, and usually somewhat elite, unit type. Maroon berets denote Airborne; green signify Green Beret; tan stand for Ranger units; and brown, the newest addition, are for personnel in the Security Assistance Command or Brigade. Personnel serving in the 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment wear maroon berets that reflect the unit’s Airborne status—a status that goes back to before the start of World War II (see history information below).
Officers wear insignia of grade centered on the 501st Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion flash; NCOs and Junior Enlisted wear the
501st Infantry Regimental Distinctive Insignia because the Battalion does not have its own Distinctive Unit Insignia. Very rare exceptions to these rules can be found in paragraph 4-10(e), DA PAM 670-1.
Ovals are technically known as Airborne background trimming because they serve as the backing for Parachutist and Air Assault badges worn by personnel serving in units the Army have classified as “Airborne” or “Air Assault.” The badge is centered atop the oval (the star and star-wreath “crests” of Sr. and Mstr. Parachutist badges will unavoidably project above the trimming), before they are pinned to the coats or shirts of the Army Green Service Uniform and Army Service Uniform (ovals are not authorized for the Class B AGSU, however),
An oval worn underneath a badge counts as a single item when calculating the maximum number of medals that may be worn on a given uniform. Measurements are made starting from the outer edge of the trimming except when measuring from the top of the Senior or Master Parachutist badges, in which case you measure from the tip of the star or wreath.
The 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment (Airborne) was originally constituted on 16 September 1940 as Company A, 501st Parachute Battalion. It would not see “Airborne” in its designation until April 1951 when it was redesignated as Company A, 501st Airborne Infantry; another thirteen years would elapse before it was increased to Battalion strength.
Today, the Battalion is part of the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division and is headquartered at Fort Richardson, Alaska. Customers interested in reading more about the Battalion’s lineage, battle honors (campaign participation), and military decorations are encouraged to visit our
501st Infantry Regiment Unit Crest page.