The US Army's 11th Airborne Division was first activated in 1943, and the following year it was sent to the Pacific theater of operation, where it saw combat in the Phillippine campaign. Postwar, the division served on occupation duties in Japan, returning to the US in 1949. A regimental combat team formed from divisional elements served with distinction in the Korean War. In 1956, the division was sent to West Germany. In 1958 it was inactivated in Germany and reflagged as the 24th Infantry Division. But in 1963, the division was reactivated at Fort Benning, Georgia as the 11th Air Assault Division (Test), with the mission of testing the helicopter-based airmobile concept. Upon the successful conclusion of the program in 1965, the assets of the division were merged with those of other participating units, the 11th was inactivated, and the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) was activated in its place.

In 2022 the Department of the Army announced that the 11th Airborne Division would again be activated, assuming the responsibilities and absorbing the units of United States Army, Alaska. Also, two brigade combat teams of the 25th Infantry Division were reflagged to the 11th. In recognition of the division's unique status, the Army authorized the addition of the ARCTIC tab above the AIRBORNE tab of the divisional shoulder sleeve insignia (SSI).

The 511th Military Police Company traces its lineage to the 1125th Military Police Company, which was constituted 12 November 1942 in the Army of the United States and activated on 1 January 1943 at Brookley Field, Alabama. After World War II service in the Pacific theater, the company was inactivated on 25 March 1946 in Japan. On 1 November 1970, the 1125th was redesignated as the 511th Military Police Company, allotted to the Regular Army and activated at Fort Dix, New Jersey. The 511th is currently stationed at Fort Drum, New York, as a unit of the 91st Military Police Battalion, 10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade.

The 511th Military Police Company's campaign credits include Leyte (Philippines�World War II), Panama (1989), Iraq (2006 and 2008-09) and Afghanistan (2010-11). The 511th received the Republic of the Philippines Presidential Unit Citation for its service on Leyte and the Meritorious Unit Commendation for its service in Iraq in 2006.

The 511th's guidon is of the standard pattern for separate TO&E companies, with the Military Police branch insignia over the unit's numerical designation in the Military Police branch colors. Also depicted are the Regimental Insignia of the Military Police Corps, the Combat Action Badge and the campaign streamer awarded for the 511th's 2010-11 Afghanistan deployment.

The soldiers of the 511th Military Police Company (including the daughter of the author of this site) deployed to Afghanistan on 11 September 2010 and returned to their home station on September 5, 2011. Their guidon will remain on display here in honor of the 511th's exceptional service during its Afghanistan deployment.

See also US Army Guidons of the Combat Arms.

In 2019 I marked the fiftieth anniversary of my entry into military service. On 4 June 1969 at what was then the Boston Army Base, I took the oath of enlistment for the first but not as it proved the last time. In all I served for 28 years: nine on active duty and nineteen as a drilling reservist. In 1997-98, HHD 380th Quartermaster Battalion was my final unit of assignment. My position was Battalion Supply Sergeant and in that capacity it fell to me to order the battalion's Organizational Color and HHD Guidon, an exercise that stimulated my interest in military flags and led to the creation of this website. The guidon is flanked on the left by the Regimental Insignia of the Quartermaster Corps and on the right by the Distinctive Unit Insignia of the 380th Quartermaster Battalion. The Army Institute of Heraldry designs the unit coat of arms and DUC to reflect the motto chosen by the members of the unit. The 380th's motto�SUSTAIN THE WARRIOR�was suggested by me and ultimately adopted. The colors gold (buff) and light blue are the branch colors of the Quartermaster Corps. The color black and the three drops symbolize the 380th's mission, which is fuel supply.

See also Flags, Colors & Guidons of the US Army