Following up on the thread on Canadian military training establishments, I thought I’d start one on the better heraldry of some of our own, beginning with the federal service academies.
First, the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs:
http://www.au.af.mil/au/afhra/rso/images/major_command/usafa.gif
The US Military Academy, West Point, NY:
http://www.costumearmour.com/westpoint.JPG
The US Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD:
http://www.usna60.com/images/USNA Crest.bmp
And the US Coast Guard Academy, New London, CT:
http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/4/4b/200px-Coast_Guard_Academy_seal.png
A couple of state military academies:
The Virginia Military Institute
http://www.rivierarental.com/vmi/images/crest.gif
And the Corps of Cadets of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (generally known as Virginia Tech), our spring 2007 design award winner:
http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/1/12/VTCC_Crest.png
More advanced military schools:
US Army Command and General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, KS:
http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Schools/Image1018.gif
Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL:
http://wwwacsc.maxwell.af.mil/GFX/shield3.gif
Naval War College, Newport, RI:
http://www.law.uga.edu/library/acquisitions/RuskSpecial/NWC.gif
US Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, PA:
Joseph McMillan;54030 wrote:
The US Military Academy, West Point, NY:
Here’s the official TIOH emblazonment of the USMA arms:
http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Graphics/USMilitaryAcademyCOA.jpg
And the official blazon and history:
Quote:
Coat of Arms.
Blazon:
Shield: On a shield of the United States of America the emblem of the United States Military Academy, viz; a helmet of Pallas over a Greek sword, Proper.
Crest: An eagle with wings displayed.
Motto: “Duty, Honor, Country,” borne on a scroll with the words “West Point, MDCCCII, U.S.M.A.”
</b>
<b> Symbolism: The emblem consists of the helmet of Pallas Athene, which has for centuries been the symbol of wisdom and learning, over a Greek sword, the symbol of the military profession. The two together typify the military and educational functions of the Academy.
Background: The coat of arms of the United States Military Academy was approved by the Secretary of War on 8 October 1898. Sometime prior to 1898, a board consisting of the then Professors Larned, Bass and Tillman were appointed to design a coat of arms that could be used on diplomas, invitations, publications, insignia, Corps flags, buttons and other similar purposes as well as for sculptured decorations of the public buildings at the Academy. Before arriving at a final decision, the committee had prepared many tentative designs, original sketches of which are preserved in the Drawing Academy. The Committee also consulted with Dr. Holden, Librarian of the Military Academy and author of a book on Heraldry, and incorporated in its final design, suggestions received from certain well known artists including Mr. Stanford White, and calculated to improve the proportions, balance and general artistic beauty. In 1922, when the War Department was having Coats of Arms made up for the various regiments in the service, the Superintendent submitted the design for the coat of arms. After studying the designs and comparing them with certain books of Heraldry, Captain George M. Chandler, then on duty with the General Staff, in a letter to Brigadier General F.W. Sladen, then Superintendent, called attention to the fact that the eagle, the helmet of Pallas Athene and the Greek sword faced to the sinister (the left hand side of the shield from the standpoint of the man behind it) instead of dexter (the right hand side of the shield from the standpoint of the man behind it), which was contrary to the best heraldic usage. After having the subject carefully investigated, the Superintendent wrote to the Adjutant General of the Army, recommending the helmet, sword and head of the eagle be turned to dexter. These recommendations were approved, and on 2 July 1923, the Coat of Arms for the United States Military Academy, which is now in use, was drawn and approved by the Quartermaster General.
Joseph McMillan;54034 wrote:
Here’s the official TIOH emblazonment of the USMA arms:
http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Graphics/USMilitaryAcademyCOA.jpg
And the official blazon and history:
This was featured on a U.S. stamp.
some nice designs - besides West Point and the spring 2007 design winner - I find the Naval War College design appealing in its simplicity and symbolism.
I agree with George about the Naval War College arms. A possible design award candidate, I’ve always thought.
Here are the other main rungs in the Air Force professional military education (PME) hierarchy, none of them too inspired, one actually rather awful, but quite typical of the heraldry of the USAF in the 1950s-60s when the leitmotif was to be "new" and "modern."
Air War College, the senior USAF PME institution; students are senior lieutenant colonels and junior colonels.
http://st50.startlogic.com/~gunshowo/Organizations/airwarcollegelogo.gif
Squadron Officer College, the relatively new parent organization for the following two institutions for the education of company grade officers:
http://www.au.af.mil/au/soc/images/soc_shadow.gif
The upper component of the SOC, Squadron Officer School, which is for captains:
http://www.au.af.mil/au/soc/images/sos_shadow.gif
And the newly created Air and Space Basic Course, for second lieutenants:
http://www.au.af.mil/au/soc/images/asbc_crest.jpg
The little arrowhead-like objects were once-upon-a-time blazoned by the old Heraldic Services Branch (precursor of the Institute of Heraldry) as arrowheads, but the Air Force usually calls them "flight symbols."
The arms of the umbrella institution for all of the above-listed Air Force schools, Air University, which I posted once before several years ago.
http://www.au.af.mil/au/cpd/ho/images/air_university.gif
Presumably the symbolism is airpower radiating from the sky (bleu celeste) to the ground (green).
Moving to the army’s branch schools.
Adjutant General School, Ft. Jackson, SC:
http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Schools/Image954.gif
Air Defense Artillery School, Ft. Bliss, TX
http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Schools/Image5012.gif
Armor School, Ft. Knox, KY (one of my favorite military coats of arms; Vert semy of escutcheons and javelins alternating Argent.
http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Schools/Image970.gif
Aviation School, Ft. Rucker, AL:
Aviation Logistics School, Ft. Eustis, VA:
http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Schools/Image993.gif
Chaplain School, Ft. Jackson, SC:
http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Schools/Image1037.gif
Chemical School, Ft. Leonard Wood, MO:
http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Schools/Image1007.gif
Engineer School, Ft. Leonard Wood, MO
Four more Army branch schools:
Field Artillery School, Ft. Sill, OK:
http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Schools/Image1055.gif
I personally think this is a brilliant piece of heraldry. From the TIOH site:
Quote:
Blazon.
Shield: Gules, a field piece of the 16th century paleways in plan Or.
Crest: On a wreath of the colors (Or and Gules) the arm of Saint Barbara embowed clothed of the second, issuing from the upper portion of an embattled tower Argent, and grasping flashes of lightning Proper.
Motto: CEDAT FORTUNA PERITIS (Let Fortune Yield to Experience, or Skill is Better than Luck).
Symbolism: The shield is red for Artillery; the field piece depicted, having been used in the 16th century, is the forerunner of the modern artillery. The crest is the arm of Saint Barbara, the patron saint of Artillery, holding flashes of lightning alluding to the pagan idea of Jove’s ability to destroy with his bolts that which offended him.
Finance School, Ft. Jackson, SC:
http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Schools/Image2293.gif
Infantry School, Ft. Benning, GA (this is not described as a coat of arms but as a "device," possibly because of the inscription on the shield. The charge is a bayonet.):
http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Schools/Image1071.gif
Intelligence School, Ft. Huachuca, AZ (The blue-green color is blazoned as "Azure (teal blue)":
Joseph McMillan;54063 wrote:
Intelligence School, Ft. Huachuca, AZ (The blue-green color is blazoned as "Azure (teal blue)":
Unquestionably the most handsome of the lot!:D
Anyway, glad the nativist motto redactors haven’t had their way with this one. Right about the time I was at interrogator school at Huachuca in ‘90 (Holy geriatrics, Batman, that was half my life ago!), the motto for the M.I. branch as a whole went from "Toujours en avant" to simply "Always out front."
Joseph McMillan;54063 wrote:
Four more Army branch schools:
Field Artillery School, Ft. Sill, OK:
What does the "in plan" mean?
Daniel C. Boyer;54067 wrote:
What does the "in plan" mean?
Evidently it means "seen from above." I have no idea about the pedigree of this expression as a term of blazon, but I also don’t know offhand of any accepted phrase that would have this meaning.
Pressing ahead:
Judge Advocate General’s Center and School
http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Graphics/JAGLegalCtrSchoolDUI.jpg
Medical Department Center and School (Although it doesn’t show up well, the field is Sanguine. The charges in chief are an open book, a field hospital tent, and a field ambulance wheel. This is not described by TIOH as a coat of arms, only as a distinctive unit insignia.)
http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Schools/Image1397.gif
Military Police School
http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Schools/Image1145.gif
Ordnance School:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/images/usaoc.gif
Naval Supply Corps School - Athens, GA.
https://www.npdc.navy.mil/css/nscs/images/logo.gif
United States Naval Test Pilot School - Patuxent River, Maryland
Not sure if this is a COA in the traditional sense, or if it would be considered a logo.
