US ARMY GROUPS

ORGANIZATIONAL FLAGS  •  COLD WAR ERA

Notes

The US Army adopted the group as an echelon of command during World War II when regimental identities were abolished in all branches but Infantry. A group headquarters usually controlled two or three separate battalions or a mix of battalions and separate companies. With some exceptions, notably the 207th Infantry Group of the Alaska Army National Guard, Cold War-era groups were oriented to the combat service support branches. The group organization was used in the Military Police branch for command and control of Criminal Investigation Division detachments. Groups were authorized organizational flags, 3 feet at the hoist by 4 feet on the fly with 2 1/2-inch yellow fringe. They were made of heavyweight rayon banner cloth with numerals applied to appear properly on both sides of the flag. Originally some group flags were diagonally divided, upper hoist to lower fly with the primary branch color over the secondary branch color and the group number countercharged. Later all group flags had a solid-color field with a diagonal stripe running from upper hoist to lower fly. For most group types, the field and numerical designation were in the primary branch color and the diagonal stripe was in the secondary branch color. If the number overlapped the field of the flag it was usually piped in the stripe color. In a few cases, different colors were used for numerals to ensure that the elements of the flag could be clearly distinguished. Units not oriented to a single branch were allotted distinguishing colors, e.g. buff and scarlet for support groups. Campaign and unit decoration streamers, if authorized, were always displayed with these flags. Organizational flag were always carried or displayed with a National Color of the same material and dimensions, as shown for the 207th Infanty Group. Page Revised & Updated July 2017