U.S. Military Heraldic Colors
(originally created Sep 2009)
(Last Updated 22 September 2023)

Defense Management Journal, Volume 10 (1974), Issue 5 (Image of Article from Google Books)

Services Adopt Standard Colors

The military services have adopted new heraldic color standards to eliminate confusion and overlapping of shade names. The previous 161 shades have now been reduced to 99.

The new shade names, along with color samples and identifying cable numbers, are included in a brochure titled, “DOD Standard Color Card of Official Standard Shades for Heraldic Yarns for Embroidery and Ribbons, 1974.’’ The individual shade designations in the brochure were produced by the Color Association of the United States under contract from the U.S. Army Natick Laboratories, Natick, Mass.

Color

Yarn

Textile

Pantone #

Hex (via Pantone.com)

White

67103

65005

N/A

#FFFFFF

Black

67138

65018

N/A

N/A

Gold

67106

80110

872

#89734C

Oriole Orange

67148

14389

152

#E57200

Burnt Orange

67149

80112

166

#E35205

Orange

67110

65004

1655

#FC4C02

Air Force Yellow

67103

65023

116

#FFCD00

Golden Yellow

67104

65001

116

#FFCD00

Goldenlight

67107

17425

135

#FFC658

Yellow

67108

65002

136

#FFBF3F

Crimson

67112

65013

220

#A50050

Old Gold

67105

65021

871

#89764B

Golden Orange

67109

65003

1375

#FF9E1B

Brick Red

67113

65020

202

#862633

Maroon

67114

65017

504

#572932

Ultramarine Blue

67118

65010

Pantone Reflex Blue

#001489

Cobalt Blue

67122

65011

281

#00205B

Purple

67115

65009

267

#5F249F

Brittany Blue

67119

80130

551

#A3C7D2

Blue

67123

65019

289

#0C2340

Sky Blue

67116

80011

5445

#B7C9D3

Light (Saxony) Blue

67120

65014

5415

#5B7F95

Flag Blue

67124

80077

282

#041E42

Navy Blue #1

67179

80174

282

#041E42

Navy Blue #2

67180

70089

282

#041E42

Teal Blue

67121

65024

3035

#003E51

Midnight Blue

67125

N/A

539

#00263A

Dark Blue

67126

65012

539

#00263A

Graphite Blue

67181

70114

539

#00263A

Spruce Green

67130

80066

3302

#004C45

Olive

67134

66022

574

#4E5B31

Mosstone Green

67127

65022

377

#7A9A01

Army Green

67131

66034

553

#284734

Buff

67135

65015

465

#B9975B

Emerald

67128

80063

369

#64A70B

Light Green

67132

N/A

5575

#92ACA0

Brown

67136

65016

161

#603D20

Green

67129

65007

357

#215732

Olive Drab

67133

66021

455

#695B24

Silver Gray

67137

65008

422

#9EA2A2

Chamois

67142

80006

4525

#C5B783

Nugget Gold

67146

70215

110

#DAAA00

Marine Corps White

67139

N/A

461

#E9DF97

Jasmine

67143

80067

134

#FDD26E

Bronze

67147

80111

874

#896C4C

Ivory (no PMS Given)

67140

80003

FS 595 – 17886

#EEEAD9

Lemon Yellow

67144

80090

114

#FBDE40

Eggshell

67141

80004

468

#DDCBA4

Star Yellow

67145

13143

115

#FDDA25

Terra Cotta

67150

80113

174

#963821

Marine Corps Scarlet

67154

N/A

185

#E4002B

Garnet

67158

80083

209

#6F263D

Rally Red

67159

13802

209

#6F263D

Soldier Red

67157

14270

209

#6F263D

Paprica

67151

80041

172

#FA4616

Flame Red

67152

80030

178

#FF585D

Scarlet

67111

65006

200

#BA0C2F

Cardinal Red

67155

80081

200

#BA0C2F

Old Glory Red

67156

80108

200

#BA0C2F

Mahogany

67160

80150

491

#7F3035

Apple Red

67153

80107

199

#D50032

Imperial Purple

67161

80102

254

#981E97

Ostende Blue

67170

11635

542

#7BAFD4

Bluebird

67117

65026

542

#7BAFD4

Old China Blue

67169

80131

542

#7BAFD4

Cannes Blue

67171

11636

542

#7BAFD4

Parrot Blue

67163

80175

318

#88DBDF

Old Blue

67167

80157

429

#A2AAAD

Forget-Me-Not

67168

80012

304

#9ADBE8

Oriental Blue

67172

65027

285

#0072CE

Yale Blue

67176

80172

285

#0072CE

Grotto Blue

67165

80022

3115

#00C1D4

Victory Medal Blue #1

67173

68002

301

#004B87

Victory Medal Blue #2

67174

68003

301

#004B87

Old Glory Blue

67178

80075

280

#012169

Tarragon Green

67182

80034

5773

#899064

Imperial Blue

67175

10686

293

#003DA5

Gherkin Green

67183

21214

364

#4A7729

Aspic Green

67184

12269

397

#BFB800

Corsaire Blue

67177

11628

288

#002D72

Spring Green

67185

80061

374

#C5E86C

Mintleaf Green

67186

80062

367

#A4D65E

Myrtle Green

67190

80065

356

#007A33

Gold Brown

67194

80166

471

#B86125

Prophet Green

67187

11586

363

#4C8D2B

Bottle (Jungle) Green

67191

65025

343

#115740

Toast

67195

10042

154

#9B5A1A

Primitive Green

67188

80119

347

#009A44

Natural

67192

80008

454

#CAC7A7

Spice Brown

67196

80129

168

#73391D

Irish Green

67189

80120

348

#00843D

Khaki

67193

80162

452

#B0AA7E

Putty

67197

80097

408

#978C87

Steel

67199

80141

430

#7C878E

Air Force Grey

67203

N/A

415

#919388

Greebe Gray

67200

80096

425

#545859

Smoke

67201

80099

425

#545859

Bagby Green

67204

80089

399

#A09200

Foliage Green

67202

N/A

5615

#5E7461

Combat Arms

Branch

Primary Color

Piping Color

Notes

Infantry
(1776-1851)

White

NO PIPING

Infantry
(1851-1886)

Light /Saxony Blue

NO PIPING

Infantry
(1886-1902)

White

NO PIPING

Infantry
(Since around 1903)

Light /Saxony Blue

NO PIPING

In 1917, the cape was still lined with light blue but the Infantry trouser stripes were of white as were the chevrons for enlisted men. The infantry color is light blue; however, infantry regimental flags and guidons have been National Flag blue since 1835. White is used as a secondary color on the guidons for letters, numbers, and insignia.

Cavalry
(Obsolete)

Yellow

In March 1855, two regiments of cavalry were created and their trimmings were to be of "Yellow". In 1861, the designation of dragoon and mounted rifleman disappeared, all becoming Cavalry with "yellow" as their colors.

Yellow was continued as the color for cavalry units subsequent to abolishment as a branch. Although the regimental flags for cavalry units are yellow, the troop guidons are red and white without an insignia on the guidon.

Armor

Yellow

NO PIPING

Armor was assigned the colors green and white by circular 49 on 21 February 1947. When the Cavalry branch was abolished, the present Armor was assigned the former Cavalry color yellow by SR 600-60-1 dated 26 October 1951.

Artillery

Scarlet

NO PIPING

The uniform for the Corps of Artillery, which was formed in 1777, included red trimmings. The plume on the hat was also red. Except for a short period at the beginning of the 1800's when yellow was combined with it, scarlet has been the color of the Artillery throughout the history of the branch. Scarlet has been used by the Coast, Field, and Air Defense Artillery.

Chemical Corps

Cobalt Blue

Golden Yellow

The colors were originally those of the American Chemical Society and were adopted by the Army in 1918.

Aviation

Ultramarine Blue

Golden Orange

The branch colors for aviation were approved concurrently with the branch insignia on 7 August 1983 by the Chief of Staff Army. These colors were used by the Army Air Corps during its existence.

Special Forces

Bottle (Jungle) Green

NO PIPING

The establishment of jungle green as the branch color was approved by the DCSPER on 22 May 1987. Silver Gray is used as a secondary color on flags and guidons.

Service Arms

Branch

Primary Color

Piping Color

Notes

Adjutant Generals

Dark Blue

Scarlet

The pompons on the Adjutant Generals' caps were topped with white in 1851. The facings were listed in the specification for the Adjutant General's uniform in September 1915 as dark blue. In Circular number 70 dated 28 October 1936, the Adjutant General's Corps and the National Guard Bureau exchanged colors and the present colors were established for the Adjutant General's Corps. The blue used in the branch insignia is ultramarine blue rather than the branch color.

Army Security
(Obsolete)

Teal Blue

White

The Army Security branch USAR was merged with the newly established Army Intelligence and Security Branch on 1 Jul 62. The branch was subsequently redesignated to the Military Intelligence Branch on 1 Jul 1967.

Chaplain Corps

Black

NO PIPING

Chaplains have used black since 1835. In regulations dated that year, a black coat was prescribed for Chaplains.

Civil Affairs

Purple

White

The colors were approved for civil affairs units in June 1956.

Cyber Corps

Steel Gray

Black

Steel Gray piped with Black authorized in 2015.

Corps of Engineers

Scarlet

White

Scarlet and White were established as the Corps of Engineers colors in 1872. Before that date, several other colors had been associated with the Engineers.

Finance Corps

Silver Gray

Golden Yellow

Silver gray piped with golden yellow was prescribed for the Finance Corps in 1920.

Command Sergeant Major

Teal Blue

Yellow

Colors apparently do not vary by the CSM's assigned branch as he is branch immaterial.

Inspector General

Dark Blue

Light /Saxony Blue

The Inspector General's Department in 1851 had pompons of buff with upper one third in scarlet. In 1915, specifications established the facings as dark blue. The 14 October 1921 regulation established the colors as dark blue piped with white. Circular #70, dated 18 October 1936 announced the exchange of colors with the Judge Advocate General's Department that resulted in the present colors.

Insular Affairs
(1902-1939)

Dark Blue

The Division of Customs and Insular Affairs was organized on 13 December 1898. This Division was responsible for the administration of U.S. possessions and islands under military occupation. The War Department managed some of the possessions and the State Department managed some of the affairs. In 1902, the Bureau was established with the War Department responsible for all of the possessions. The insignia was authorized on 31 December 1902 in General Regulations and amended by General Orders No. 132 on the same date. The Bureau was transferred from the War Department to the Department of Interior in 1939.

JAG Corps

Dark Blue

White

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 Oct 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.

Logistics

Soldier Red

Medical Department

Maroon

White

Green was prescribed as the first Medical Department color in 1847 when the sash for Medical Officers was described. The green was established in the insignia of the Hospital Stewards uniform on 31 October 1851 and in 1857 the green was piped with yellow and the pompon was topped with medium or emerald green. Later the pompon was green piped with white until 1902 when the maroon color was adopted. In 1903, the Hospital Corps chevrons were maroon piped with white. Maroon and white were established for all branches of the Medical Department by the uniform specifications dated October 1916.

Military Intelligence

Oriental Blue

Silver Gray

DA GO 38 dated 3 July 1962 announced the establishment of the Army Intelligence and Security Branch.  In October 1962, DCSPER approved the colors for the branch.  The branch was redesignated as the Military Intelligence Corps by GO 25 dated 16 June 1967.  The same colors were used when the name was changed.

Military Intelligence (Obsolete)

Golden Yellow

Purple

Military Police
(1922-1951)

Yellow

Green

The color yellow piped with green was assigned to the Military Police by AR 600-35 dated 20 April 1922.

Military Police
(1951-Present)

Green

Yellow

With the establishment of yellow for the Armor and the use of green for the insignia on the Armor flag, the colors for the Military Police were reversed. The current colors, green piped with yellow, were assigned by regulation 600-60-1 dated 26 October 1951.

National Guard Bureau

Dark Blue

Ordnance Corps

Crimson

Yellow

In 1835, the Ordnance Corps had a red plume - the same as Artillery. Crimson was prescribed as the Ordnance color in 1851. In 1902, it was changed to black and scarlet. Crimson and yellow were established as the branch colors on 14 October 1921.

Psychological Operations

Bottle (Jungle) Green

Silver Gray

The colors were traditionally used on the Psychological Operations flags and guidons.

Public Affairs

Teal Blue

Yellow

Since the public affairs functions are multi-branch, teal blue (branch unassigned) is the color used on the plaque and guidons. Yellow is used as the secondary color for the insignia and numbers on guidons.

Quartermaster Corps

Buff

The plumes for the Quartermasters in 1835 were prescribed to be light blue. In 1851, the pompon on the caps of all members of the staff corps consisted of the lower two-thirds in buff and the upper third of the color of the corps. Light or saxony blue was used for the Quartermaster Department. In 1884, the color buff was adopted which is presently used. Light blue is still used as the secondary color on flags for Quartermaster units.

Signal Corps

Orange

White

Orange was selected in 1872 as the Signal Corps branch color. In 1902, the white piping was added to conform to the custom that prevailed of having piping of a different color for all branches except the line branches.

Staff Specialist

Green

Transportation Corps

Brick Red

Golden Yellow

During World War I, the personnel of the Motor Transport Corps wore purple piping on overseas caps. In 1919, the Transportation Corps was assigned the colors scarlet piped with green. Under the requirement of an Act of Congress of 1920, these services were combined under the Quartermaster Corps. When the Transportation Corps was established in 1942, the brick red piped with golden yellow was assigned as the branch color.

Warrant Officers (Obsolete)

Brown

NONE

Brown has been used as the color to represent warrant officers.

Women's Army Corps
(1942-1978)

Mosstone Green

Old Gold