| Shoulder patches are more than just fashion. The use | | | | organizations. For example, the Signal Corps used the |
| of the shoulder patches began during the American | | | | colors orange and white and the insignia was cross |
| Civil War, when the Union Army started using cloth | | | | signal flags and farming torch while the Coast Artillery |
| patches. During World War I, General Pershing | | | | used the scarlet color and the insignia of crossed |
| authorized the use of shoulder patches for the | | | | cannon and shell in red oval. Apart from carrying |
| American Expeditionary Force in France. During World | | | | numbers that denote the unit or the brigade, shoulder |
| War II, almost all of the US Army was officially using | | | | patches also carry certain terms that are usually |
| shoulder patches. These patches however, were not | | | | abbreviations. Thus "AM" means "Airmobile" and |
| called patches in the official language. They were | | | | "ASH" means "Assault Support Helicopter." |
| known as "shoulder sleeve insignias." While the British | | | | Usually military shoulder patches can be embroidered. |
| use of shoulder patches was primarily to help identify | | | | Patches can be both 3 dimensional or flat, largely |
| units, the American saw these as actual insignia. | | | | depending on the particular type of artwork. |
| Shoulder patches are usually multi-colored that are | | | | Advances in modern embroidery technology facilitate |
| worn at the top of the left sleeve. The symbols | | | | the incorporation of a lot of details. During World War |
| contained within these patches were varied and | | | | II, patches were either machine-embroidered onto |
| consists of heraldic designs, visual references to the | | | | khaki cotton cloth or bullion-embroidered, a style that |
| home state, independent units, or a punning play on | | | | was changed with time. Shoulder patches are not |
| words. There was also a selection of color in the | | | | merely ornamental decoration. They add a good lot |
| shoulder patches that were based on specific | | | | of information on to the military uniform. |