Military Army Schools and Centers 8

Thunderbird Avn Schl	Worn from: March 1941 - 1945. The insignia was worn by civilian contractor personnel providing primary flight training to personnel assigned by the Army Air Forces Training Command. The thunderbird is an Indian symbol meaning "sacred bearer of happiness unlimited" and alludes to the location of the school in Arizona.
USA Med Dept Vet Schl	Worn from: 15 June 1953 - 15 November 1961 (Unauthorized). The design is that of the distinctive insignia of the unit. Maroon and white are colors for the medical department. The torch, symbolic of learning, is entwined by serpents that represent health-giving virtues. The unicorn, a fabulous creature whose horn possessed the power of purification, denotes the hygienic function of the organization. "Knowledge-Integrity" is the unit's motto.
USMA	Worn from: 24 October 1941 - 9 March 1957. The helmet of Pallas Athena is the symbol of wisdom and learning. Together with the sword, which represents the military profession, the military educational functions of the academy are presented. Red, white, and blue are the national colors.
USMA Corps of Cadets	Worn from: 13 April 1950 - Current. The shield of the insignia is quartered black and gray. The helmet of Pallas Athena, symbol for learning and wisdom, and the Greek sword are adapted from the shield of the arms of the academy.
USMA Mil Personnel	Worn from: 9 March 1957 - Current. The shield of the insignia is gray with black bend. The helmet of Pallas Athena, symbol for learning and wisdom, and the Greek sword are adapted from the shield of the arms of the academy.
USMA Prep Schl	Worn from: July 1957 - Current. The insignia is that of the United States Military Academy, Military Personnel, with the addition of a tab to denote the unit's designation. The present school, located at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, was originally founded in June 1946 at Stewart Air Force Base in Newburgh, New York, and was, for a brief time, located at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
USMA Recondo Schl	Worn from: 1970's. Superimposed on an arrowhead is the inscription "USMA" which is the unit's designation. "Recondo" refers to reconnaissance.
ROTC	Worn from: 7 May 1947 - 18 June 1979. The torch perpetuates the historical traditions of the Reserve Officer Training Corps in developing future honorable leaders and reflects enlightenment through knowledge. The torch also symbolizes the passing of military history from one generation of soldiers to another.
JROTC	Worn from: 11 June 1971 - 19 September 1974. Re-designated: Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps -- United States Army. Worn from: 19 September 1974 - Current. The torch, taken from the 1947 Reserve Officer Training Corps' shoulder-sleeve insignia design, perpetuates the history of the Reserve Officer Training Corps' program in developing young students in body and mind. The torch reflects enlightenment through knowledge and indicates the program's academic instruction. It further symbolizes the passing of military history from one generation of soldiers to another. The laurel wreath signifies achievement and leadership. The combined symbols denote the goals of the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps' program to instill knowledge to cadets and stimulate them to achieve their leadership potential.
SROTC	Worn from: 20 February 1974 - 16 September 1979. Re-designated: Senior Reserve Officer Training Corps. Worn from: 16 September 1979 - Current. The building depicts institutions of higher learning, of which Army Reserve Officer Training Corps is an integral part, and indicates that the Reserve Officer Training Corps develops leaders with knowledge and wisdom. The building is blue, the color of honor, to stress that honorable leaders emerge from a program emphasizing intellectual progress, educational achievement, and military learning. The sword symbolizes the military learning acquired concurrently with academic knowledge, and the gold color reflects the gold braid which may adorn the cadet's uniform after he is commissioned. The sword points skyward to show freedom, which the cadet is prepared to defend; it also portrays the mythological Excalibur, which could only point skyward after being freed from a rock by a knight of extraordinary character and ability.
USA Med Tng	Worn from: 1930's.(Unauthorized). The origin of the insignia is unknown.
Tab Primery Helicopter	Worn from: 1958 - 1963. Worn with the Army Aviation Center and School patch, at Fort Wolters, Texas.
Army Med Tng Dept	Worn from: 1940's. The design is that of the caduceus, the medical service branch insignia, and was worn by hospital personnel.