Insignia

Insignia or insigne pl -nia or -nias (in Latin, insignia is the plural of singular insigne: emblem, symbol, ensign, badge of honor) : a symbol or token of personal power, status or office, or of an official body of government or jurisdiction. An insignia is usually the emblem of a specific or general authority.

Typical examples of insignia are:

  • Badges
  • Cockades
  • Coats of arms and Heraldry
  • Crowns
  • Ensigns
  • Flags of a country or state
  • Military aircraft insignia
  • Military rank and unit markings:
    • British Army officer rank insignia
    • British Army Other Ranks rank insignia
    • British Royal Air Force officer rank insignia
    • British Royal Air Force other rank insignia
    • British Royal Navy officer rank insignia
    • British Royal Navy ratings rank insignia
    • Croatian military ranks insignia
    • Nazi Party rank insignia
    • Polish Armed Forces rank insignia
    • U.S. Army officer rank insignia
    • U.S. Army enlisted rank insignia
    • U.S. Navy officer rank insignia
    • U.S. Navy enlisted rate insignia
    • United States Air Force enlisted rank insignia
    • United States Air Force officer rank insignia
    • United States Marine Corps enlisted rank insignia
    • United States Marine Corps officer rank insignia
  • Other National Emblems
  • Roundels
  • Seals
  • Shoulder patch, or shoulder sleeve insignia (SSI)

Official insignia are often protected by law as to allow their use only by people holding a specific office or staff members acting on behalf of such a person. Misuse, defacement and destruction of such symbols is considered an offense in many countries.

Military ranks and insignia by country
Africa
  • Egypt (Army, Navy, Air Force)
  • South Africa
  • Tanzania
Americas
  • Argentina
  • Brazil
  • Canada
  • Colombia
  • Cuba
  • Mexico (Army, Navy)
  • United States (Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard)
  • Venezuela
Asia
  • Burma
  • People's Republic of China (Army, Navy, Air Force)
  • Republic of China
  • India (Army, Air Force, Navy)
  • Indonesia
  • Iran (Army, Navy, Air Force)
  • Iraq
  • Israel
  • Japan
  • Jordan
  • Korea
  • Lebanon
  • Malaysia
  • Pakistan (Army, Air Force, Navy)
  • Philippines
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Singapore
  • Sri Lanka (Army, Navy, Air Force)
  • Syria
  • Thailand
  • Vietnam
Former
  • Imperial Japan (Army, Navy)
Europe
  • Albania
  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Bulgaria
  • Croatia
  • Denmark (Army, Navy, Air Force)
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France (Army, Navy, Gendarmerie, Air Force)
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Iceland (Land Forces, Coast Guard)
  • Ireland (Army, Naval Service, Air Corps)
  • Italy (Army, Navy, Air Force, Carabineers)
  • Lithuania
  • Macedonia
  • Monaco
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Romania
  • Russia (Army, Navy, Air Force)
  • Serbia
  • Slovenia
  • Spain (Army, Navy, Air Force)
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Turkey
  • Ukraine
  • United Kingdom (Army, Navy, Air Force)
  • Vatican
Former
  • Austria–Hungary
  • East Germany
  • Nazi Germany (Army, Navy, Air Force, People's Militia, SA, SS)
  • Kingdom of Greece (Army, Navy, Air Force)
  • Soviet Union
  • Yugoslavia
  • Serbia and Montenegro
Oceania
  • Australia
  • New Zealand