Army Guidon Research Paper

The guidon is a representation of a unit and its commanding officer. It can also be a symbol of pride for the unit and the rallying point for soldiers to fall in for formation when the order is given. The guidon is carried by a guidon bearer and he or she stands in front of the unit alongside the commander or first sergeant. The practice of using a guidon in the United States Army has been in place since the Revolutionary War; however, it was only implemented due to the leaders of the colonists being familiar with military traditions of Western Europe, such as England and France. On February 20, 1776, an order was given to have the units of the military to be more identifiable and “bear [similitude] to the Uniform of the regiment to which

Guidons are described as “guidons are swallow-tailed marker flags in branch-of-service colors, measuring 20 inches (51 cm) at the hoist by 27 inches (69 cm) at the fly, with the swallow-tail end forked 10 inches (25 cm)” (Chapter 6 of Army Regulation 840-10). Modern guidons are made in a way that numbers and letters appear correctly on both sides of the flag; however, older guidons show numbers and letters as if it were on the reverse side of the guidon. In the United States Army the units that are allowed to have guidons are: lettered companies, troops, batteries of regiments and separate battalions and headquarters elements of groups, brigades, divisions, corps, commands, and schools. The base color of the guidon is the first named color of the applicable branch, e.g. scarlet for field artillery, with the letters, numerals and insignia applied in the second named color of the branch, e.g. yellow for field artillery. For companies of separate battalions, the branch insignia is centered on the guidon between the battalion number above and the company letter below. For companies of battalions of regiments, the number above the insignia is that of the regiment; the number of the battalion is vertically centered between the insignia and the hoist. Groups use diagonal stripes of the branch's secondary color. The only exceptions for the colors of the guidons are from the infantry

On a different note the distinctiveness will give a sense of unity and individualism since guidons are similar enough to be a part of one another and that their design is distinct enough to promote a sense of individual pride for the soldiers in their distinct