Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, US Army

MILITARY SURFACE DEPLOYMENT AND DISTRIBUTION COMMAND, US ARMY

(Shoulder Sleeve Insignia)

(Distinctive Unit Insignia)

Official blazon

Shoulder Sleeve Insignia: On a green disc with a 1/8 inch (.32 cm) white border 2 inches (5.08 cm) in diameter overall, a white broad arrow, point up.

Distinctive Unit Insignia: A gold color metal and enamel insignia 1 3/16 inches (3.02 cm) in height consisting of two discs within two white annulets conjoined horizontally, each disc composed of six horizontal way bands, alternately gold and blue, the upper sections surmounted by a larger green disc within a gold annulet the upper part inscribed "SERVING THE ARMED FORCES" in black letters; overall a white broad arrow, the point terminating on the green disc and the base extending beyond the white annulets.

Origin/meaning

Shoulder Sleeve Insignia: The green disc represents the "Go" signal used for traffic control of land transport. It is symbolic of the Command's "Can Do", "Go" attitude in the control of traffic, land transportation and common-user ocean terminal service. The arrow alludes to the military auspices of the organization and to the speed with which it accomplishes its mission. The three prongs represent the three military departments of the Department of Defense and the joint aspects of its responsibilities and manning.

Distinctive Unit Insignia: The green disc, representing the land, bridges the smaller wavy disc, representing the oceans; they refer to land transportation and ocean terminal service. The three annulets simulating wheels allude to motion. The white broad arrow over the discs provides direction; it stands for control of the movement of cargo and passengers, i.e., traffic management. The arrowhead and the colors green and white are taken from the shoulder sleeve insignia of the Command to indicate that the units are components of that organization; the green is symbolic of the Command's "Can Do", "Go" attitude in the exercise of its traffic management, land transportation and terminal service responsibilities; the arrow also alludes to the military auspices of the organization, the speed with which it accomplishes its mission and the air transport functions which it performs.

The Shoulder Sleeve Insignia was originally approved for the Military Traffic Management and Terminal Service on 17 August 1965. It was redesignated for the Military Traffic Management Command on 10 December 1974. The insignia was redesignated effective 1 January 2004, for the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, with the description updated. The Distinctive Unit Insignia was originally approved for the Military Traffic Management and Terminal Service on 6 January 1969 and was redesignated for the Military Traffic Management Command on 10 December 1974. It was redesignated effective 1 January 2004 for the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, with the description updated and the symbolism revised.

Literature: Image and Information from The Institute of Heraldry, US Army.