Designed by Captain John W. Frye of the Original 10th Special Forces Group that had forward deployed to Bad Tolz.

Background: The shoulder sleeve insignia was originally approved on 22 Aug 1955.

It was amended to add an airborne tab on 20 Nov 1958.

Description: On a teal blue arrowhead 3 1/8 inches (7.94cm) in height and 2 inches (5.08cm) in width, point up, a yellow dagger, its blade surmounted by three yellow lightning flashes, bendwise in pale, all inset 1/8 inch (.32cm) from the edge of the arrowhead. On a tab placed 3/16 (.48cm) inch above the insignia, the word "AIRBORNE" in yellow letters on a black background.