What does the guidon flag represent?
What does the guidon flag represent?
In the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, a guidon is a military standard or flag that company/battery/troop or platoon-sized detachments carry to signify their unit designation and branch/corps affiliation or the title of the individual who carries it.
What do the numbers on a guidon mean?
“Field” guidons have the regimental number only. All letters and numerals are black. Initial entry training platoons carry colored guidons to signify what phase of training they have attained. The guidon bearer normally stands with the platoon guide when stationary and marches at the head of the column.
What is the flag on a guidon called?
Some guidons can be found shaped as a rectangle, but the 19th-century guidon had the distinctive triangular portion removed. This flag shape is also known as a “swallow-tail.” The Cavalry Guidon flag was carried by some of the most prominent, famous regiments throughout history.
What was the original purpose of having a swallow tailed guidon?
Guidons are used to represent military units and are displayed on vehicles attached to a particular unit. In some countries (such as the United States), guidons do not necessarily have a swallow tail. The military use of the guidon originated from the flags used by cavalry units in Europe.
Where does the guidon stand in formation?
When the unit is formed, the guidon bearer is one step in front of and two (15-inch) left steps to the right of and facing the person forming the unit (the person forming the unit is facing the unit.) If the first sergeant forms the unit, the guidon bearer steps forward three steps on the command POST.
What is a cavalry flag?
The Cavalry Guidon was a pennant shaped flag with two rows of circles in the canton. The U.S. Cavalry used guidons in the Civil War as well as the Plains Indian Wars later on.
What are the parts of a guidon?
Cadet recruits are encouraged to begin studying The Guidon before arriving at The Citadel. The Guidon consists of three parts: general information that will help a cadet recruit become acclimated to The Citadel campus and lifestyle, required fourth-class knowledge, and practical “how to” tips on life as a knob.
Where does the guidon stand?
What were Civil War flags made of?
Although variations of the Battle Flag pattern were numerous and widespread, the most common design, known as the “Southern Cross,” featured a blue saltire (diagonal cross), trimmed with white, with 13 white stars—representing the 11 states of the Confederacy plus Missouri and Kentucky—on a field of red.
What is a triangle flag called?
A pennon or pennant is a flag that is larger at the hoist than at the fly. It can have several shapes, such as triangular, tapering or triangular swallowtail.
Is a guidon a weapon?
The guidon is a company, battery, or troop identification flag. It is present at all unit formations unless otherwise directed by the commander. b. When armed with a rifle, the guidon bearer slings the weapon behind his back with the sling diagonally across his chest and the muzzle end up and to the left (Figure C-1).
Who holds the guidon?
The guidon bearer is usually the senior enlisted member or first sergeant of a unit, and that person generally stands behind three officers.