I found this looking for emblems of military ranks.. thought I would share it..

2 sites that shows rank emblems

Had a customer come in.. to tell me the corel book was not using the most up to date images...

http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/insignias/enlisted.html

and

http://www.ndu.edu/nwc/nwcCLIPART/US_AIR_FORCE/Rank-Insignia-Logos/Enlisted_Rank/0003.html

I'm going to guess not, but...

As American citizens (for those of us who are) who pay taxes to support our military shouldn't we be able to assume that we collectively as a country own these images and emblems, and thus we should be free to use any manner of official military graphic, our state seals, etc.?

Nah, probably not. I'm gonna guess someone has the rights to these symbols about as tightly clamped as the rights to Mickey Mouse.

Sei

You are correct in assuming that the insignia are trademarked. The various branches own the trademarks.
Unfortunately a necessary step to protect the integrity of the images. It would be most unfortunate to see a military insignia on offensive products - suggesting a military endorsement.

That is good to know. Of course the job I am trying to do right now requires the official seal of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines.
The application for the Air Force is 12 pages long.

The following is in regards to service emblems and seals, not rank insignia. It is from the DOD fact sheet:

"Use of the DoD Seal and Military Service Seals

Department of Defense and Military Seals are protected by law from unauthorized use. These seals may NOT be used for non-official purposes.

However, the Military Services typically approve the use of their Service emblem or coat of arms on a case-by-case basis as a substitute. There is no such substitute for the Department of Defense Seal.

There is NO optional graphic that would represent the Department of Defense."

Contacts to use for asking permission are listed here:

http://www.defenselink.mil/faq/pis/sealuse.html

James,
We have done many retirement plaques for members of the military. Usually the person placing the order is in uniform or will show me their ID. Sometimes we get a FAX or email with a return address of the government or military. Right now we are doing plaques for Homeland Security and they give me a business card when the order is placed. I call to tell them when it is ready. As long as the plaque is along the lines of retirement or thank you I feel free to use the logo.

Dee

Philadelphia, PA (Really Bensalem)

Dee,

That was where my thinking was headed in the beginning and since it is for a thank you plaque to grade school kids I am going ahead and using them. The customer is a veteran and they wrote poems of what veterans mean to them. How could they be upset with their insignia on a plaque thanking them for that?
I had seen on the DOD website that they are trademarked and that spooked me as I have heard horror stories of businesses being shut down for unauthorized usage of trademarked images. I am finally to the breakeven point I don't want to loose it all for a $60 plaque.

Jim,
I think you just have to use your common sense & not do anything that would seem deceitful.

Last year I had a man ask me to engrave a well know logo on pieces of metal that would be affixed to pocketbooks. Duh. I don't think so!

A few years ago while at home, we got a call from one of our employees saying that there was a man there who wanted her to engrave what appeared to be car ID plates with what appeared to be serial numbers. He had about 20 of these plates. I called the mall police sub station and they said she should start engraving until they got there. When 2 uniformed officers approached he dumped the done tags in a mall garbage can. When he dumped them the chain of evidence was broken and although they cuffed him & took him away there was nothing they could do. I didn't understand that as she could have testified he ordered them. Duh, car ID plates are stamped not engraved!

Dee

Philadelphia, PA (Really Bensalem)

I must not be thinking today but I don't get it.

Dee

Philadelphia, PA (Really Bensalem)