What is a Guidon?

What is a Guidon?

• A. A swallow-tailed flag carried by companies, batteries, troops, and certain detachments
• B. A small drum used in parades
• C. A standard carried only by infantry units
• D. A color badge worn on the uniform

Answer: (A)

A Guidon is the swallow-tailed flag carried by smaller combat units to symbolize the unit, such as a company, battery, troop, or certain detachments. It is mounted on a staff and carried on parade and in formations to identify the unit, rather than being worn or used as a drum. This distinguishes it from other options: it isn’t a drum, it isn’t a badge worn on the uniform, and it isn’t limited only to infantry—artillery and other company-sized elements use guidons as their distinctive flag.

A Guidon is the swallow-tailed flag carried by smaller combat units to symbolize the unit, such as a company, battery, troop, or certain detachments. It is mounted on a staff and carried on parade and in formations to identify the unit, rather than being worn or used as a drum. This distinguishes it from other options: it isn’t a drum, it isn’t a badge worn on the uniform, and it isn’t limited only to infantry—artillery and other company-sized elements use guidons as their distinctive flag.