Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (SSI):
Symbolism: The dark colors of the background, maroon, white and dark blue represent the medical departments of the Army, Air Force and Navy. The stars suggest the higher caliber of personnel selected from the three services with the fourth star to represent personnel from any other future participating organization. The gold winged flaming torch with the stem of the torch entwined by a green serpent is a combined adaptation of both the staff of Aesculapius (Asclepius) and the caduceus both of which are symbolic of the medical profession. The flaming torch, supplanting the plain staff of Aesculapius and that of the caduceus, alludes to medical education and research mission of the institution; the globe, placed upon the three colors of the background, suggests the capability to utilize the existing worldwide medical resources of the three military medical departments and others as may become available. The color gold is symbolic of wisdom and achievement, and the green of the serpent, denoting health, life and vitality, is also the faculty color for medicine.
The shoulder sleeve insignia was approved for wear by US Army personnel of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences on 29 March 1984.