Military colours, standards and guidons

Soldiers use special flags.

These flags help soldiers find their group. In the past, smoke made it hard to see. The flags showed where to go.

Flags are very special. A leader often gives them to a group. They show the pride of the team.

Some flags have names on them. They might show old wins from battles. Groups work hard to protect them.

Today, soldiers use flags in big parades. They are beautiful to see.

Military groups use special flags. These are called colours, standards, or guidons.

This practice is very old. It may have started in Ancient Egypt 5,000 years ago. The Roman Empire also used battle standards. Later, armies in Europe used standards with a leader's coat of arms.

In the past, these flags had a job. Battlefields were often full of smoke and dust. Soldiers used the flags to find their group. This helped them stay in formation.

These flags are very important to a group. A head of state often gives them out in a ceremony. They represent the pride of the unit. Some flags have names of old battles on them. Because they are so special, groups use a colour guard to protect them.

Today, soldiers do not take flags into battle. They use them for formal events and parades.

Many countries have their own designs. For example, the flag of the People's Liberation Army of China is red. It has gold fringe and a special pole.

Military groups use special flags to show who they are. These flags are called colours, standards, or guidons.

They serve as a way to mark where a leader is located. They also act as a rallying point for troops. This means soldiers can look for the flag to find their group. These flags carry a lot of meaning for the people in the unit. They represent the history and the pride of the whole group.

In the past, these flags had a very important job during battle. Large armies often moved in set formations to stay organized. However, battlefields could become very messy with lots of dust and smoke.

Soldiers needed to know exactly where their specific regiment was located. If they could see their flag, they could stay in their proper place. This helped the entire army stay successful. Because the flags were so vital, special soldiers called a colour guard protected them.

This tradition is a very old part of human history. Some people think it began in Ancient Egypt about 5,000 years ago. The Roman Empire also used battle standards to lead their vast armies. Later, in the High Middle Ages, armies in Europe made this practice official. They would put a commander's coat of arms on the standards. Today, soldiers do not carry these flags into actual battles anymore. They are now used for formal events, parades, and special ceremonies.

Different countries use many different designs for their flags. In China, the People's Liberation Army uses a red flag. It has gold fringe and sits on a red-and-gold pole. The flag has special gold characters for the numbers 8 and 1. These numbers stand for August 1, 1927, which is when the group was founded. In Indonesia, the flags are called Panji-panji. These flags often feature a gold Garuda finial on top of the pole.

Flags are treated with great respect by military groups. A head of state often gives them to a regiment during a ceremony. Some flags even have the names of old battles written on them. These are called battle honours. When a flag becomes too old to use, it is not just thrown away. Instead, it is often placed in a museum or a religious building. This keeps the history of the unit alive for many years to come.

Military colours, standards, and guidons are specialized flags used by armed forces. They serve two primary functions: acting as a rallying point for troops and marking the location of a commander.

These objects are deeply symbolic. They represent the honor and the long traditions of a specific military regiment. Because they carry such high meaning, they are often awarded to units by a head of state during formal ceremonies.

Historically, these flags provided a vital practical service during combat. As armies adopted organized, set formations, maintaining those lines became essential for success. However, battlefields were often filled with thick dust and smoke.

This chaos made it difficult for soldiers to see their leaders. A regiment's flag allowed soldiers to identify their specific group and stay in formation. To ensure the flag was not lost, units often used a "colour guard." This was a group of experienced or elite soldiers tasked with protecting the colours.

Because they were so important, capturing an enemy's standard was considered a massive achievement in arms.

The tradition of using flags to lead armies is ancient. Some historians believe the practice originated in Ancient Egypt roughly 5,000 years ago. The Roman Empire also utilized battle standards, often inscribed with "SPQR," to organize their vast military forces. During the High Middle Ages, European armies formalized these practices. They began emblazoning standards with the personal coat of arms of the commander. While modern weapons and tactics mean colours are no longer carried into active combat, they remain central to formal military life.

Different nations have developed unique systems for their military flags. In the People's Republic of China, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) uses a single ceremonial colour for all formations. This flag is based on the national flag but features the Chinese characters for "8" and "1." These numbers represent August 1, 1927, the date the PLA was founded. The PLA also uses branch-specific flags. For example, the Ground Forces flag is identical to the Army flag but includes a green lower section. The Navy flag features three blue and two white horizontal stripes on its lower 40 percent.

In the Republic of China (Taiwan), the army uses a red flag with a "Blue Sky with a White Sun" emblem.

Individual units use variations that include a white strip near the hoist for the unit name. The Air Force uses sky blue colours, while the Navy has used red with a dark blue canton for its seals. Different branches have distinct colors; for instance, the Military Police use brown, and units reporting to the Ministry of National Defence use orange.

Indonesia refers to its military and service colours as "Panji-panji." These are often carried by a specialized escort known as a "Pataka."

The Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) use specific colors for different branches. The Army uses green, the Navy uses dark blue, and the Air Force uses sky blue. The National Police use black. Many of these flags feature a gold Garuda finial on the pole, which is the national arms of Indonesia.

In the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Korean People's Army (KPA) uses flags that are closely tied to national identity. Until 1993, the KPA used a single ceremonial colour based on the national flag. Modern KPA colours often feature the emblem of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) on the reverse side. Many flags also include specific inscriptions in Hangul. Some include the number "4.25" to honor the foundation of the People's Anti-Japanese Guerrilla Army on April 25, 1932.

Because colours are so respected, they are treated with great care even when they are no longer in use. When a flag becomes too old for service, it is not simply discarded. Instead, they are often "laid up" in museums, religious buildings, or other significant locations.

This allows the history and battle honours of the regiment to be preserved. In many modern armies, however, standing orders require that colours be intentionally destroyed if there is a risk they might be captured by an enemy.