Judge Advocate General's Corps

Branch Insignia: A gold color sword and pen crossed and superimposed on a laurel wreath, 11/16 inches in height.

In May 1890, “a sword and pen crossed and wreathed, embroidered in silver” was adopted for wear by officers of the Judge Advocate General’s Department. In 1899, the color was changed to gold. The pen represents the recording of testimony; the sword symbolizes the military character of the Corps. The wreath is symbolic of honor. The enlisted branch of service insignia was authorized on 4 August 1967.

Branch Plaque: The plaque design has the branch insignia, letters and rim in gold. The background is dark blue.

Regimental Insignia: A silver color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches in height consisting of a shield blazoned as follows: Argent, an escutcheon Azure (dark blue) charged with a wreath of laurel surmounted by a sword point to base in bend surmounted by a quill in bend sinister all gold. Attached below the shield is a dark blue scroll doubled and inscribed with the numerals “1775” in silver. The regimental insignia for the Judge Advocate General’s Corps was approved 22 August 1986.

Regimental Coat of Arms: The coat of arms appears on the breast of a displayed eagle on the regimental flag. The coat of arms is: Azure (dark blue), a wreath of laurel surmounted by a sword point to base in bend surmounted by a quill in bend sinister Or within an Orle Argent. The coat of arms was approved on 22 August 1986. The regimental flag is dark blue with white fringe.

Symbolism of Regimental Insignia: The quill and sword symbolize the mission of the Corps, to advise the Secretary of the Army and supervise the system of military justice throughout the Army. Dark blue and silver (white) are the colors associated with the Corps. Gold is for excellence. The motto “1775” indicates the anniversary of the Corps.

Branch Colors: Dark blue piped with white.

Dark blue – 65012 cloth; 67126 yarn; PMS 539.

In 1851, the pompon for the Judge Advocate was prescribed as all white. Specifications in 1915 indicated that the facings of the Judge Advocate General were dark blue. AR 600-35, October 1921 assigned dark blue piped with light blue to the Judge Advocate General. Circular 70, 28 October 1936, announced the exchange of colors of the Inspector General’s Department with the Judge Advocate General’s Department so that dark blue and white were adopted on that date for the Judge Advocate General.

Birthday: 29 July 1775. The Office of Judge Advocate of the Army may be deemed to have been created on 29 July 1775, and has generally paralleled the origin and development of the American system of military justice. The Judge Advocate General’s Department, by that name, was established in 1884. Its present designation as a corps was enacted in 1948.