Pipehawk Patch Company

With its beginning as a symbol, born in SWCS and having spread to the operational force, the crossed pipehawks embody the spirit of conducting populace engagement while simultaneously being prepared for combat should the situation arise.

Carried by Lewis and Clark on the Corps of Discovery, the pipe tomahawk (pipehawk) provides direct symbolism to today's underlying Civil Affairs mission: civil engagement and civil reconnaissance.

As masters of the human domain, one must acknowledge the anthropological constant that sign and symbol are powerful tools to convey meaning and instill identity.  Symbols are more than a physical representation of objects but allude to ethos and meaning difficult to capture in words alone.  Their power is that they represent our beliefs, and in so doing, challenge us to keep the faith with those who share the responsibility of living up to our shared values.