official flag
image by Eugene Ipavec, 6 January 2006
Last modified: 2006-06-17 by dov gutterman
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See also:
The Colombian Military Army is divided into 7 Divisions, each
with a flag and a Coat of Arms. Each Army Division flag is based
on the Colombian Army Flag Without Arms,
but with the Division's Coat of Arms on the middle. Coat of Arms
are at <www.ejercito.mil.co>.
Pennants are based on <www.mindefensa.gov.co>.
E.R., 12 and 30 October 2005
The pennants are flown on Colombian Independence Day (July
20), and also whenever there are Military Parades. The pennants
are not displayed as car flags. They are used usually by a
designated Officer or NCO, mostly for mertiorious deeds (usually
the highest decorated soldier of a given military unit). The
pennant is at the top of a small pole, and the standard bearer
goes in front of the unit that his pennant represents. Not only
the Army Divisions have Pennants, but also other units. The
pennants are part of the military unit. The honor for the bearer
is the opportunity to lead his unit carrying the pennant. Thus,
the pennant IS NOT an award like the US CommendationRibbons.
E.R., 2 November 2005
There is also an additional flag for each one of the Seven
Army Divisions that Colombia currently has. This is the Colombian
official flag plus the name of the Division below. So that means
that all seven should have the same pattern. This is a general
rule for all Colombian Military flags.
Source: Capture from Colombian TV news channel RCN.
E.R., 6 January 2006
official flag
image by Eugene Ipavec, 6 January 2006
additional official flag
image by Eugene Ipavec, 12 October 2005
Pennant
image by Eugene Ipavec, 8 June 2006
Official website of Primera División (First Division) at <www.primeradivision.mil.co>.
E.R., 8 June 2006
official flag
image by Eugene Ipavec, 6 January 2006
additional official flag
image by Eugene Ipavec, 12 October 2005
Pennant
image by Eugene Ipavec, 8 June 2006
Official website of Segunda División (Second Division) at
<www.segundadivision.mil.co>.
E.R., 8 June 2006
official flag
image by Eugene Ipavec, 6 January 2006
additional official flag
image by Eugene Ipavec, 12 October 2005
Pennant
image by Eugene Ipavec, 9 June 2006
Official website of Tercera División (Third Division) at <www.terceradivision.mil.co>.
E.R., 8 June 2006
official flag
image by Eugene Ipavec, 6 January 2006
additional official flag
image by Eugene Ipavec, 12 October 2005
Pennant
image by Eugene Ipavec, 9 June 2006
Official website of Cuarta División (Fourth Division) at <www.cuartadivision.mil.co>.
E.R., 8 June 2006
official flag
image by Eugene Ipavec, 6 January 2006
additional official flag
image by Eugene Ipavec, 12 October 2005
Pennant
image by Eugene Ipavec, 11 June 2006
Official website of Quinta División (Fifth Division) at <www.quintadivision.mil.co>.
E.R., 8 June 2006
official flag
image by Eugene Ipavec, 6 January 2006
additional official flag
image by Eugene Ipavec, 12 October 2005
Pennant
image by Eugene Ipavec, 11 June 2006
Official website of Sexta División (Sixth Division) at <www.sextadivision.mil.co>.
E.R., 8 June 2006
official flag
image by Eugene Ipavec, 6 January 2006
additional official flag
image by Eugene Ipavec, 8 June 2006
Pennant
image by Eugene Ipavec, 26 December 2005
Official website of Séptima División (Seventh Division- HQ
in Medellin, Department of Antioquia) at <www.septimadivision.mil.co>.
E.R., 12 October 2005 and 8 June 2006
image by Eugene Ipavec, 2 March 2006
All the additional official flags have the same plain
beckground.
E.R.,
obverse
image by Eugene Ipavec, 30 October 2005
reverse
image by Eugene Ipavec, 7 March 2006
This is the flag of the Military Communications branch based
on photo taken from El
Espectador on July 20, 2005 during a military parade to
commemorate Colombia's Independence Day and coat of arms from the
book "Himnos y Símbolos de Nuestra Colombia", by Julio
César García, Camer Editing (2000). See also official site at
<www.jedoc.mil.co>.
E.R., 30 October 2005
On an bright orange field, a shield chequy black and
seafoam-green, with a smaller shield in its center, parted per
bend sinister or, charged with gules bezant, and argent, charged
with azure bezant. Crest is the Earth with an arm holding three
red lightning bolts jutting out of the North pole. Red ribbon
below with motto "CIENCIA, DOMINIO, VIGILANCIA.".
Eugene Ipavec, 30 October 2005
obverse
image by Eugene Ipavec, 9 August 2005
reverse
image by Eugene Ipavec, 2 March 2006
The flag of the Decimotercera Brigada (Thirteenth Brigade)
based on patch of this Army Brigade at Colombian Army's official
website and photo of flag seen during a parade at the
Brigade's HQ in Bogotá at CAMBIO magazine.
E.R., 9 August 2005
image by Eugene Ipavec, 3 November 2005
.jpg)
Coat of Arms
image contributed by E.R., 15 June 2005
The MFO is an indpendent "task force", created after
the Camp David Accords (1978). It is an independent international
organization (non-UN peacekeeping force) and it is made up of
different countries. The Multinational Force & Observers is
responsible for supervising implementation of the security
provisions of the Treaty of Peace between Egypt and Israel.
The "Batallón de Infantería Colombia" No. 3 (Infantry
Battalion No. 3 "Colombia"), abbreviated BICOL, is
attached to the MFO. Official website at <bicol3.galeon.com>.
Here is a photo of the
pennant of Infantry Battalion No. 3 "Colombia".
E.R., 15 June and 3 November 2005
See also: Sinai Multinational Force & Observers Flag
Additional official flag
image by Eugene Ipavec, 20 November 2005
Pennant
image by Eugene Ipavec, 20 November 2005
The AFEAU (Agrupación de Fuerzas Especiales Antiterroristas
Urbanas, Urban Special Antiterrorist Forces Group) are an elite
force depending directly from the Comando General de las Fuerzas
Militares (General Command of Military
Forces).
The Additional official flag should be the official flag of
Colombia with the same ratio with Coat of Arms, but the
inscription on the upper red fringe of the Coat of Arms reads
"REPUBLICA DE COLOMBIA" and the bottom inscription
hould read AFEAU. The image is based on photo from Colombia's
Independence Day, July 20th, 2002. taken from the Ministry of
National Defense official website.
The Pennant is based on photo taken from TV channel Canal A. The
photo is from Colombia's Independence Day, July 20th, 2003.
Homepages of AFEAU at <www.ejercito.mil.co>
and <www.cgfm.mil.co>.
E.R., 20 November 2005
The difference between the Brigada de Fuerzas Especiales (Special Forces Brigade) and the AFEAU (Urban
Special Antiterrorist Forces Group), is that the Brigade is made
up of Battallions that operate temporarily attached to any given
Army Battalion or Army Brigade, with national jurisdiction, while
the AFEAU units are platoon-sized elements that are permanently
based on the Headquarters of each Army Division, so they only
have operational jurisdiction over the area in which their
Division operates. Now, there are five AFEAU groups even though
there are seven Army Divisions in existence: the Colombian
government is getting the funds and its men trained in order to
create two more AFEAU groups.
Source: <www.ejercito.mil.co>.
E.R., 25 December 2005
Additional official flag
image by Eugene Ipavec, 25 December 2005
Pennant
image by Eugene Ipavec, 25 December 2005
All Colombian Military Units have an official flag and also an
official pennant (usually having the initials of the unit). This
is the Pennant of this military unit called Brigada de Fuerzas
Especiales, or Special Forces Brigade. It's abbreviation is
BRFER.
It is directly below the General Command
of Military Forces in the structure on the military
organization. The difference between the Brigada de Fuerzas
Especiales (Special Forces Brigade) and the AFEAU
(Urban Special Antiterrorist Forces Group), is that the Brigade
is made up of Battallions that operate temporarily attached to
any given Army Battalion or Army Brigade, with national
jurisdiction, while the AFEAU units are platoon-sized elements
that are permanently based on the Headquarters of each Army
Division, so they only have operational jurisdiction over the
area in which their Division operates. Now, there are five AFEAU
groups even though there are seven Army Divisions in existence:
the Colombian government is getting the funds and its men trained
in order to create two more AFEAU groups.
Source: <www.ejercito.mil.co>.
E.R., 25 December 2005
obverse
image by Eugene Ipavec, 3 October 2005
reverse
image by Eugene Ipavec, 8 March 2006
Flag description from the
official
website (translated from Spanish):
"The flag of the Criminal Military Justice (Justicia Penal
Militar) has a white background and four stripes, from top to
bottom red, dark blue, light blue and green. On the center a
circled Coat of Arms, on dark yellow background, bearing a sword
with the tip facing upwards, superimpossed on the balance of
justice, both with golden ends, with the Coats of Arms of the
Army, Navy, Air Force and National Police [hence the colors
mentioned before], and with the motto around reading 'CRIMINAL
MILITARY JUSTICE' written in black letters.
Coat of Arms (translated
from Spanish):
"White represents transparency, trust, honesty; the colors
red, dark blue, light blue and green, as well as their
corresponding Coats of Arms, represent each one of the Forces in
which the Criminal Military Justice serves which are: National
Army, Navy, Air Force, an National Police; the yellow and gold
colors stand for commitment and wisdom. The balance featured on
the flag is the universal symbol of justice".
E.R., 27 June 2005
.jpg)
Aviation Branch Emblem
image contributed by E.R., 10 July 2005
The Brigada de Aviación (Aviation Brigade) or 25th Brigade is
located in Tolemaida, Tolima. This unit was activated on August
23, 1997. It has national jurisdiction as a support brigade and
it comprises two Battalions (which several companies each):
1. Batallón de Transporte Aéreo (Air Transport Battalion),
fixed wing aircraft
2. Batallón de Helicópteros (Helicopters Battalion), rotary
wing aircraft.
Note the blue background plus the Battalion's Coat of Arms.
E.R., 10 July 2005
Helicopters Battalion
image by Eugene Ipavec, 2 October 2005
The Batallón de Helicópteros (Helicopters Battalion) flag is
based on a photo. This
Battalion is part of the Brigada de Aviación (Aviation Brigade),
a newly created Colombian Army Branch.
E.R., 10 July 2005
image by Eugene Ipavec, 7 February 2006
This is the flag of the Escuela de Lanceros (or Lancers
School), in which the military and police personnel of the
Colombian forces take courses to become an elite force of highly
trained mobile force to combat the guerilla and the
paramilitaries. It is based on the US Army Ranger system, and
lots of foreign applicants go there as well. The flag is the
Colombian flag, plus the Coat of Arms and on the bottom it reads
ESCUELA DE LANCEROS.
These units as elite units, initially within the Cavalry Branch
of the Colombian Army, but currently it is another specialty
course taken by any Army member who passes the tests and is
eligible to take the course.
I recall that when this Lancers School was established back in
the mid 1950's during the military regime of General Gustavo
Rojas Pinilla (who took power on a coup d'etat and actually ran a
series of military reforms), the model of the Lancers School was
taken form the U.S. Rangers.
For further information about the Escuela de Lanceros, please
refer to <www.specwarnet.com>
Source: Picture taken at the Indepenedence Day parade
held in Bogota on July 20, 2004 ( from the Ministry of National
Defense at <www.mindefensa.gov.co>).
E.R., 7 February 2006
official flag
image by Eugene Ipavec, 20 December 2005
additional official flag - obverse
image by Eugene Ipavec, 3 October 2005
additional official flag - reverse
image by Eugene Ipavec, 3 October 2005
pennant
image by Eugene Ipavec, 26 December 2005
Flag of the Escuela Militar de Cadetes "General José
María Córdova" (Military Cadet School Jose Maria Cordova).
It is often abbreviated as ESMIC (EScuela MIlitar de Cadetes).
This school is for all Army Cadet students who want to be
officers.
Description of the flag: Horizontally divided flag, with upper
side divided into two equal stripes (bootom left green, top
right, red). On the obverse the Coat of Arms is located on the
green part of the flag.
Sources: Coat of Arms at "Himnos y Símbolos de Nuestra
Colombia", by Julio César García, Camer Editing 2000. ISBN
958-33-1489-7 page 175, photos from official site <www.esmic.edu.co>.
E.R., 3 October 2005
There is another official flag of this Military Cadet School.
All military flags have the same legislation (the flag of
Colombia plus the lettering of the Unit, and also another
official flag with its on Coat of Arms and the proper color
background).
Source: photo taken at Colombia's Independence Day in
Madrid, 2005.
There is also pennant of this Military Cadet School. Notice that
it reads JMC, the initials of the name of the School (José
María Córdova).
Source: photo taken at Colombia's Independence Day
Parade in Bogotá, July 20, 2003.
E.R., 20 and 26 December 2005
The official name is Escuela Militar de Cadetes José María
Córdova (and not Córdoba). The difference is the "v"
goes instead of "b". The explanation for this is pretty
simple: back in the 1800's the last name of the youngest Army
General in the Colombian Army (José María Córdova), the
spelling was with "v". However the Department of
Córdoba is spelled with "b". So, for all military
purposes, the name of this General is spelled with "v"
(The top Army Order is called José María Córdova) and for all
civilian purposes it's spelled Córdoba (for example the Police
Command for the Department is called Córdoba).
This Military Cadet School is a University level institution.
This transition towards full academic approval by the Colombian
Education authorities was done very recently.
E.R., 28 December 2005
obverse
image by Eugene Ipavec, 3 November 2005
reverse
image by Eugene Ipavec, 8 March 2006
emsub.gif)
Coat of Arms
image contributed by E.R., 3 November 2005
Coat of Arms and flag of the Escuela Militar de Suboficiales
Sargento Inocencio Chincá (NCO's Military School Sargeant
Inocencio Chinca). The official abbreviation is EMSUB. Official
website at <www.escuelamilitarsuboficiales.mil.co>.
E.R., 3 November 2005
obverse
image by Eugene Ipavec, 24 October 2005
reverse
image by Eugene Ipavec, 3 March 2006
This is the flag of the Escurela de Armas y Servicios (E.A.S.)
- School of Arms and Services. It is the equivalent to the
ordnance branch of the Colombian Army. Image based on coat of
armstaken from the book "Himnos y Símbolos de Nuestra
Colombia", by Julio César García, Camer Editing, 2000 and
photo from <www.jedoc.mil.co>.
E.R.,24 October 2005
obverse
image by Eugene Ipavec, 24 October 2005
reverse
image by Eugene Ipavec, 3 March 2006
I located Colombian Military Intelligence Service flag at <www.esici.edu.co>.
Jarig Bakker , 9 September 1999
Here is the emblem as
appear at "Himnos y Símbolos de Nuestra Colombia", by
Julio César García. Camer Editores. 2000. ISBN 958-33-1489-7.
(image from page 196). The Military Intelligence is a Branch of
the Colombian Army.
E.R., 2 July 2005
Is there a reason it uses the insignia of United States Army
Intelligence?
Nathan Lamm, 24 October 2005
I do not know if this is the same insignia as the United
States Army Intelligence. If that's true then it could possibly
be because there were guidelines coming from the U.S. military in
either establishing or reestructuring the Intelligence Service.
E.R., 24 October 2005
The correct name should be "Escuela de Inteligencia y
Contrainteligencia Brigadier General Ricardo Charry Solano"
(Brigadier General Ricardo Charry Solano Intelligence and
Counterintelligence School).
E.R., 3 November 2005
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