Shoulder Sleeve Insignia

 

On a blue rectangle arced at the top and bottom with a 1/8 inch (.32cm) golden orange border 3 inches (7.62cm) in height and 2 inches (5.08cm) in width overall, a golden orange flame of twelve tongues charged with a blue griffin’s head erased, eye golden orange.

Ultramarine blue and golden orange are the colors traditionally associated with the Aviation Corps. The flame signifies the combat mission and quick strike capabilities of the unit. The twelve tongues allude to the Brigade’s numerical designation. The griffin, a mythological creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle, symbolizes courage, alertness and swiftness and reflects the attributes of the Aviation Brigade.

The insignia was authorized on 9 Mar 1988. 

Distinctive Unit Insignia

A device of gold color metal and enamel 1 3/16 inches (3.02cm) in width overall consisting of nine gold tongues of flame issuant from a common center with orange enamel at their centers and their outer ends curled inwardly in a clockwise direction; separating the flames into three groups three blue wings emerging from a red disc in center the lower portion of this design enclosed by a gold scroll bearing the motto "AD EXCELSUM CONAMUR" in red letters.

A mythological phoenix symbol, depicted in heraldry as a demi-eagle with wings displayed rising out of flames of fire and said to represent hope and life eternal, is the basis for this design. The blue wings symbolize the organization’s aircraft rising triumphant out of the tempering fires of combat, signifying hope and the continuity of life throughout hardships. The Aviation colors, blue and orange, are represented in the wings and flames and the total number of the tongues of flame and the wings equal the numerical designation of the unit.

The insignia was originally approved for the 12th Aviation Group on 10 Jul 1967. It was redesignated on 16 Mar 1988 for the 12th Aviation Brigade.