Lore of the Corps:Crossed Sword and Pen:The History of the Corps' Branch Insignia

摘要

While there have been judge advocates (JAs) in the Army since the Revolution, they did not have any distinguishing insignia until 1857, and the crossed sword and pen familiar to Army lawyers today did not exist until 1890. But the story of that insignia is an important one, since it is the trademark of the Corps and is today proudly worn by JAs, legal administrators, and paralegals. Some will be surprised to learn that for many years, JAs did not wear a uniform. While William Tudor, the first Judge Advocate General (JAG), had the military rank of lieutenant colonel, he did not wear a uniform, and neither did his successors. Army regulations published in 1825 explicitly stated that JAs (along with chaplains) "have no uniform."1