This part prescribes the Department of the Army policy governing the manufacture, commercial sale, reproduction, possession, and wear of military decorations, medals, badges, insignia, and their components and appurtenances. It also establishes the Heraldic Quality Control Program to improve the appearance of the Army by controlling the quality of heraldic items purchased from commercial sources.

Related publications are listed in paragraphs (a) through (d) of this section. (A related publication is merely a source of additional information. The user does not have to read it to understand this part.)

(a) Department of Defense Manual 1348.33, Volume 3, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards: DoD-Wide Personal Performance and Valor Decorations. (Available at https://www.esd.whs.mil/Directives/issuances/dodm/).

(b) Army Regulation 360-1, Army Public Affairs Program. (Available at https://armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/AR.aspx).

(c) Army Regulation 670-1, Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia. (Available at https://armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/AR.aspx).

(d) Army Regulation 840-1, Department of the Army Seal, and Emblem and Branch of Service Plaques. (Available at https://armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/AR.aspx).

(e) Army Regulation 27-60, Intellectual Property. (Available at https://armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/AR.aspx).

(a) Abbreviations. (1) CFR—Code of Federal Regulations.

(2) DA—Department of the Army.

(3) DAASA—Deputy Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army.

(4) DLA—Defense Logistics Agency.

(5) DUI—Distinctive unit insignia.

(6) ID—Identification

(7) MCS—Military Clothing Store.

(8) RDI—Regimental Distinctive Insignia.

(9) ROTC—Reserve Officers' Training Corps.

(10) SSI—Shoulder sleeve insignia.

(11) TIOH—The Institute of Heraldry.

(12) U.S.C.—United States Code.

(b) Terms—(1) Appurtenances. Devices such as stars, letters, numerals, or clasps worn on the suspension ribbon of the medal, or on the ribbon bar that indicate additional awards, participation in specific events, or other distinguishing characteristics of the award.

(2) Awards. An all-inclusive term that consists of any decoration, medal, badge, ribbon, or appurtenance bestowed on an individual or unit.

(3) Badge. An award given to an individual for identification purposes or that is awarded for attaining a special skill or proficiency. Certain badges are available in full, miniature, and dress miniature sizes.

(4) Cartoon. A drawing, six times actual size, showing placement of stitches, color of yarn and number of stitches.

(5) Certified manufacturer. A manufacturer who demonstrated the capability to manufacture controlled heraldic items according to Government standards.

(6) Certificate of authority to manufacture. A certificate assigning manufacturers a hallmark and authorizing manufacture of heraldic items.

(7) Decoration. An award given to an individual as a distinctively designed mark of honor denoting heroism or meritorious or outstanding service or achievement.

(8) Die. The block of steel that is used to form a metal insignia and is the intricate three dimensional reversed design of the insignia cut into the surface of a block of steel.

(9) Hallmark. A distinguishing mark consisting of a letter and numbers assigned to certified manufacturers for use in identifying manufacturers of insignia.

(10) Heraldic items. All items worn on the uniform to indicate unit, skill, branch, award or identification and for which a design has been established by TIOH on an official drawing.

(11) Heraldic Quality Control Program. A program that improves the public image of the Army by controlling the quality of insignia purchased from commercial sources.

(12) Hub. The block of steel that is used to form a die and is the intricate three dimensional raised design of the insignia cut into the surface of a block of steel.

(13) Lapel button. A miniature enameled replica of an award, which is worn only on civilian clothing.

(14) Letter of agreement. A letter signed by manufacturers before certification, stating that the manufacturer agrees to produce heraldic items in accordance with specific requirements.

(15) Letter of authorization. A letter issued by TIOH that authorizes the manufacture of a specific heraldic item after quality assurance inspection of a preproduction sample.

(16) Medal. An award issued to an individual for the performance of certain duties, acts, or services, consisting of a suspension ribbon made in distinctive colors and from which hangs a medallion.

(17) Rosette. A lapel device created from gathering the suspension ribbon of a medal into a circular shape. The device is worn on the lapel of civilian clothing.

(18) Service medal. An award made to personnel who participated in designated wars, campaigns, or expeditions or who have fulfilled specified service requirements in a creditable manner.

(19) Tools. The generic term used for hubs, dies, cartoons, and drawings used in the manufacture of heraldic items.

(20) Unit award. An award made to an operating unit, which is worn by members of that unit who participated in the cited action (permanent unit award).

The Director of The Institute of Heraldry (TIOH) will—

(a) Monitor the overall operation of the Heraldic Quality Control Program.

(b) Establish policy and procedures to:

(1) Certify manufacturers of insignia and plaques.

(2) Control the manufacture and quality assurance of military decorations, the DA seal and emblem, Branch of Service plaques, and other heraldic items.

(3) Grant certificates of authority for the manufacture and commercial sale of Service flags and Service lapel buttons.

(4) Provide heraldic services to the Executive branch, Department of Defense, and other Federal agencies on a reimbursable basis.

(5) Provide advisory opinions on the use of Army heraldic items for licensing or other commercial purposes (for example, the Army Emblem, Army Flag, unit insignia, and items approved for wear on uniforms), at the request of the Army Trademark Licensing Program.

(a) The manufacture, commercial sale, possession, and reproduction of badges, identification cards, insignia, or other designs prescribed by the head of a U.S. department or agency, or colorable imitations of them, are governed by Title 18, United States Code, section 701 (18 U.S.C. 701).

(b) The wear, manufacture, and commercial sale of military decorations, medals, badges, and their components and appurtenances, or colorable imitations thereof, are governed by 18 U.S.C. 704.

(c) The Army's providing heraldic services to other Military departments and Federal agencies is governed by 10 U.S.C. 7594.

(d) The display of and license to manufacture and sell the approved Service flag or Service lapel button is governed by 36 U.S.C. 901.

(e) The ownership and licensing of trademarks, service marks, and collective marks such as DUI, RDI, SSI, and other Army-owned heraldic insignia are governed by 15 U.S.C. 1051 et seq., and 10 U.S.C. 2260.