18th Military Police Brigade, US Army

18TH MILITARY POLICE BRIGADE, US ARMY

(Shoulder Sleeve Insignia)

(Distinctive Unit Insignia)

Official blazon

Shoulder Sleeve Insignia. Description: On a shield of 2¼ inches (5.72cm) in width and 3 inches (7.62cm) in height with a 1/8 inch (.32cm) yellow border a green field bearing the yellow silhouette of a Roman fasces charged with a green sword point up.

Distinctive Unit Insignia. Description: A silver color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86cm) in height overall consisting of a square, one point up, divided horizontally, the top half yellow, the bottom half black, bearing a red lion’s head guardant, mouth black and tongue blue; and attached below the square a silver scroll inscribed "EVER VIGILANT" in black letters.

Origin/meaning

Shoulder Sleeve Insignia: Green and yellow are the colors of the Military Police Corps. The fasces, an ancient symbol of the magistrate’s authority, and the sword for the military are combined to symbolize military law and order.

Distinctive Unit Insignia: The background represents the day (yellow/gold color) and the night (black) over which the strong watchful eye of the military police, here represented by the lion’s head, is in constant vigilance.

The Shoulder Sleeve Insignia and Distinctive Unit Insignia was authorized on 1 June 1966. The later was amended on 9 May 1985 to update the description and symbolism of the insignia.

Literature: Images from Wikimedia Commons. Inforamtion from The Institute of Heraldry, US Army.