U.S. Army / U.S. Army Heraldry / Unit Insignia / Distinctive Unit Insignia, Shoulder Sleeve Insignia, Coat of Arms / Military Police / 535 Military Police Battalion /

535TH MILITARY POLICE BATTALION
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Distinctive Unit Insignia

Distinctive Unit Insignia

Description
A gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height overall consisting of a gold winged demi-griffin, its head concealing the lower portion of a red fleur-de-lis, holding in his right talon a raised gold sword, its upper portion in front of the fleur-de-lis and his left talon suspended above a gold star; all above a green scroll, the ends curling inwards and bearing the inscription GUARD AND DEFEND in gold letters.

Symbolism
Green and yellow are the colors used for Military Police.  The griffin, a fabulous creature with the body of a lion, and the head and wings of an eagle, is a symbol of courage and eternal vigilance, attributes of the Military Police organization.  Furthermore, the griffin in holding a raised sword in one talon and the other suspended protectively above a star (symbol of enlightenment), alludes to the basic mission of the organization To Guard and Defend.  The fleur-de-lis refers to France where the organization was first activated.

Background
The distinctive unit insignia was approved on 2 February 1970.




Coat of Arms

Coat of Arms

Blazon

Shield

Vert, a demi-griffin grasping in its dexter claw a sword bendwise sinister above, in dexter base a mullet Or, on a chief of the last a fleur-de-lis Gules.

Crest

That for the regiments and separate battalions of the Army Reserve:  From a wreath Or and Vert, the Lexington Minute Man, Captain John Parker (H.H. Kitson, sculptor), stands on the common in Lexington, Massachusetts.

Motto

GUARD AND DEFEND.

Symbolism

Shield

Green and yellow are the colors used for Military Police.  The griffin, a fabulous creature with the body of a lion, and the head and wings of an eagle, is a symbol of courage and eternal vigilance, attributes of the Military Police organization.  Furthermore, the griffin in holding a raised sword in one talon and the other suspended protectively above a star (symbol of enlightenment), alludes to the basic mission of the organization To Guard and Defend.  The fleur-de-lis refers to France where the organization was first activated.

Crest

The crest is that of the U.S. Army Reserve.

Background
The coat of arms was approved on 9 May 1997.





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