Posted on Jun 23, 2014
Say hello to the newest logo for Special Operations Command Forward West Africa
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Okay...so an email went out from the Commander where I'm deployed, asking for submissions for the new logo for the command. Being that I'm the initiative taker that I am, I go ahead and throw some stuff together.....well....8 different logos later, this is the one I went with...... Mine got picked Say hello to the newest logo for Special Operations Command Forward West Africa. I could do this stuff all day....lol (keep in mind, this isn't even my job in the Army, I do this crap for fun haha)
Posted in these groups: 
Command
Command
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 23
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I am impressed with the 25M skills SSG Williams. You didn't show much originality by superimposing a map of Africa behind a symbol from the '60s, but it will do. As far as the symbolism of the logo is concerned, I think everyone's concern is misplaced. Symbols are very important in most societies, especially in tribal societies with low literacy rates. Symbols are how they communicate without verbal interaction. If this were a product being disseminated out to a specific target audience for the purpose of influencing a change in behavior, then I would be concerned. We could not assume that anyone either within the intended target audience or tangential to it had never read the story of the Trojan horse and wouldn't associate it with the treachery of the Greeks. I would probably kill the product in a murder board. This particular logo, however, is not intended for use in a product or for dissemination to a target audience. It is for INTERNAL USE ONLY. In that case, I would look at the value that the logo had to identify the command, increase the morale of the unit, and symbolize the mission, values, and scope of the command. This logo seems to do just that. It tells you what the unit does and where it does it, and by using the old 10th SFG logo, ties the unit in to the historical SOF units responsible for the AO. This is good work, if not terribly original, that accomplishes the purpose for which it is intended. I suggest that people should leave the analysis of symbols and audiences to those who are trained and do it for a living.
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Wow... Wow...
The design is great. Beats the hell out of the Vagina patch for Africom...
The heraldric devices might need some explanation to prevent certain imperial overtones. The Trojan Horse representing the overreach of Greek Forces in the Trojan Wars... which if I remember right lasted 9 years... not as long as some of the sieges the US has been involved in recently, but long for the era. It was also the symbol of the ultimate deception that undid one of the world's greatest city states.
The Thunderbolt of Zeus, supreme god on Olympus... representative of divine mandate? or manifest destiny?
Not saying this is what you wanted to represent when you created it... unfortunately it's what I see when I look at it.
The design is great. Beats the hell out of the Vagina patch for Africom...
The heraldric devices might need some explanation to prevent certain imperial overtones. The Trojan Horse representing the overreach of Greek Forces in the Trojan Wars... which if I remember right lasted 9 years... not as long as some of the sieges the US has been involved in recently, but long for the era. It was also the symbol of the ultimate deception that undid one of the world's greatest city states.
The Thunderbolt of Zeus, supreme god on Olympus... representative of divine mandate? or manifest destiny?
Not saying this is what you wanted to represent when you created it... unfortunately it's what I see when I look at it.
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Congrats! A history question for you though. Why the Trojan Horse? That has some "underhanded" tones to it. Sneak in, fool someone with a gift and then shove a spear down their throat.
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SSG (Join to see)
The Trojan Horse Crest was worn by members of the Group on their berets during the 1950s. On 10 December 1982,the 1st Special Operations Command (Airborne) adopted the Trojan Horse part of this crest as its official emblem. The Trojan Horse remains the symbolic, if unofficial, 10th group crest.
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COL (Join to see)
Understood. But beyond the fact that it was there before...WHY was it there before? What does it symbolize? As I stated before, it is a known historic use of deception.
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SGT Floyd Shown
The Trojan horse is also part of MI heraldry. The 1st SOCOM patch uses the horses head to represent that same Trojan horse. SOCOM is much more than SF. It has a very large MI aspect to it. In fact, when I was in, the MI portion was much larger than the door kickers. The attached photo is my patch. I think he did a fine job of not only representing the operational area and aspects of his current command, but incorporating historical details.
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I get so aggravated when non 46s and 25s produce stuff better than me.
Lol this is stellar SSG Williams, good job!
Lol this is stellar SSG Williams, good job!
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CW3 (Join to see)
I really hate that 25Ms are considered Signal. They shouldn't be. They should be 46s
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CW3 (Join to see)
It is NOT wrong to call me Sir... but I'm one of those CWOs who actually prefers 'Chief'. It's a recognition of, and respect for, my skills and expertise. I will answer to both....
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SSG V. Michelle Woods
I agree with you, too easy Chief :)
I will answer to Michelle, SSG Woods or Command Sergeant Major.
However it is wrong to call me Command Sergeant Major...for now ;)
I will answer to Michelle, SSG Woods or Command Sergeant Major.
However it is wrong to call me Command Sergeant Major...for now ;)
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So what you are saying is we are sending in a Trojan horse to destroy them where they sleep?
Thats what I see.
It looks great though!
Thats what I see.
It looks great though!
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SGT Floyd Shown
CPT (Join to see) - you can now get photoshop under a subscription plan for much less. It has the advantage of staying current to the latest versions and keeping up with new capabilities. Also, if you are into photography with a camera instead of a phone, the photography package is only $9 a month and includes Lightroom.
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