The U.S. Army Special Warfare Medical Group (Airborne) flash and oval—officially designated as an organizational flash and Airborne background trimming—were both approved for wear on 1 October 2007.
Specifically known as an organizational flash because it represents a specific unit or organizations, the Special Warfare Medical Group (Airborne) flash is normally worn on the maroon beret reserved for members of Airborne-designated units, but it can also be worn on the green beret by Group personnel authorized to wear it (see January 2021 DA PAM 670-1,
Chapter 20-4(b)2, "Green beret.") The flash serves as backing for Officers' nonsubdued rank insignia and Enlisted personnel's Distinctive Unit Insignia, or unit crest; both are centered on the stiffener of the appropriate beret.
Airborne background trimming is an embroidered insignia using a similar design as the flash, but obviously shaped like an oval and worn not on headgear but on the coats of Service uniforms (both AGSU and ASU), the shirt of the Class B ASU, and on the Army Maternity Tunic (female Soldiers only). Unlike organizational flashes, which are approved for Special Forces, Airborne, Ranger, and Security Force Assistance Command/SFAC Brigades, ovals are authorized only for Airborne-designated units and are worn only by personnel in those units who have qualified for a Parachutist and/or Air Assault Badge.
Wear guidance for flashes and ovals is found in subsections
(a) and
(b), respectively, of Chapter 21-32 of the edition of DA PAM 670-1 mentioned above. Rules regarding the wear and positioning of Parachutist and Air Assault Badges vary between the approved uniforms; detailed instructions regarding this can be found
Chapter 22-16 (b) of DA PAM 670-1.