Who can approve a new design of a guidon for a new company, battalion or brigade?

• A. The unit commander
• B. Secretary of the Navy
• C. Assistant Secretary of the Army
• D. Commanding General

Answer: (C)

Design approvals for new unit guidons are handled at the Army’s policy level, not by individual unit leaders. The Assistant Secretary of the Army oversees heraldry and symbols, reviewing and approving new guidon designs to ensure they meet standard Army criteria and symbolism. A unit commander can propose a design, but final authority rests with the Army’s civilian leadership responsible for these matters. The Secretary of the Navy is for Navy items, and a Commanding General would implement or oversee matters at their level but does not have final approval authority for Army heraldry. In short, the final sign-off comes from the Assistant Secretary of the Army because this is an Army-wide heraldry decision.