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Colombia - Military Schools Flags

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Superior School of War

image by Eugene Ipavec, 25 August 2005
War Flag

image by Eugene Ipavec, 14 June 2006
Standard - obverse

image by Eugene Ipavec, 14 June 2006
Standard - reverse

image by Eugene Ipavec, 14 June 2006
square "pennant"

image by Eugene Ipavec, 14 June 2006
coat of arms

This military institution is called ESDEGUE (Escuela Superior de Guerra, or Superior School of War). This is where the Colonels study to become Generals and also where the Generals become Major Generals and so on...
Official website: www.esdegue.mil.co.
E.R., 14 June 2006

The caption of the bottom of the ESDEGUE official flag reads ESC. SUPERIOR DE GUERRA, and it follows the same pattern as other official flags.
E.R., 25 August 2005

The Superior School of War was founded on 1 May 1909 by Decree No. 453 of President of the Republic General Rafael Reyes Prieto to professionalize the Colombian Armed Forces. Its first director was the Chilean Major Pedro Charpin Rival; the first Colombian director, Alejandro Posada, was appointed in 1912.
The symbols of the Superior School of War are described on the institute's website. The flag is in dimension 1.10 m x 1.35 m, blue with the coat of arms of the institute in the middle. The flag is bordered with a 5-cm long golden fringe, stating that the flag has been awarded the Cross of the Order of Boyacá (see http://www.armada.mil.co/index.php?idcategoria=1536 ).
The coat of arms of the Superior School is prescribed by Decree No. 2222 of the Ministry of War, adopted on 14 December 1946. The shield is blue with a border argent, in the upper part the writing "ESCUELA DE GUERRA / COLOMBIA", in the lower part the writing "ESTUDIOS SUPERIORES", all in white. In the middle is placed a red book outlined in golden yellow, supporting a lamp. A wreath of laurel is placed under the book, a sword is placed horizontally above the lamp. Argent represents integrity, firmness, honesty, tenacity and constancy. Blue represents loyalty, serenity, majesty and royalty. The book symbolizes study, while its golden border represents nobleness, light, knowledge and constancy. Red represents strength. The lamp represents science and knowledge. The sword represents power, justice, watch, authority and the nobleness of all the military virtues. The laurel is the symbol of fame; the laurel wreath awards the heroic acts, force and personal merit.
www.esdegue.mil.co
Note that the coat of arms shown here has a different writing, "ESCUELA SUPERIOR DE GUERRA" on top and "COLOMBIA" on bottom.
Ivan Sache, 15 November 2010


Lancers School

image by Eugene Ipavec, 7 February 2006
War Flag

image by Eugene Ipavec, 10 September 2006
Standard

image by Eugene Ipavec, 10 September 2006
Standard - detail

image by Eugene Ipavec, 10 September 2006
coat of arms

This is the flag of the Escuela de Lanceros (or Lancers School), in which the military and police personnel of the Colombian forces take courses to become an elite force of highly trained mobile force to combat the guerilla and the paramilitaries. It is based on the US Army Ranger system, and lots of foreign applicants go there as well. The flag is the Colombian flag, plus the Coat of Arms and on the bottom it reads ESCUELA DE LANCEROS.
These units as elite units, initially within the Cavalry Branch of the Colombian Army, but currently it is another specialty course taken by any Army member who passes the tests and is eligible to take the course.
I recall that when this Lancers School was established back in the mid 1950's during the military regime of General Gustavo Rojas Pinilla (who took power on a coup d'etat and actually ran a series of military reforms), the model of the Lancers School was taken form the U.S. Rangers.
For further information about the Escuela de Lanceros, please refer to www.specwarnet.com
Source: Picture taken at the Indepenedence Day parade held in Bogota on July 20, 2004 ( from the Ministry of National Defense at www.mindefensa.gov.co).
E.R., 7 February 2006

The additional official flag is based on photo of the flag taken by me at the Museo Militar. Coat of Arms based on García, Julio Cesar: "Himnos y Símbolos de Nuestra Colombia", Camer Editores (2000).
The motto reads on black letters LEALTADA, VALOR,  SACRIFICIO (Loyalty, Valor, Sacrifice).
ESLAN official website is at www.eslan.mil.co.
E.R., 10 September 2006

The proportions of the stripes are 4:2:3:2:5:2:3:2:4. The logo inside the shield on the flag is simplified and thus significantly different from the normal ESLAN logo.
Eugene Ipavec, 10 September 2006

There was a military parade in the city of Villavicencio, the capital of the Department of Meta. During the parede, a picture shows a Pennant  with the colors of the Lancers School Standard and the black letter "A", most likely standing for A Company of the School.
Source: http://www.ejercito.mil.co/?idcategoria=251100
Esteban Rivera, 9 July 2010


Military Cadet School

image by Eugene Ipavec, 20 December 2005
War Flag

image by Eugene Ipavec, 3 October 2005
Standard - obverse

image by Eugene Ipavec, 3 October 2005
Standard - reverse

image by Eugene Ipavec, 26 December 2005
pennant

Flag of the Escuela Militar de Cadetes "General José María Córdova" (Military Cadet School Jose Maria Cordova). It is often abbreviated as ESMIC (EScuela MIlitar de Cadetes). This school is for all Army Cadet students who want to be officers.
Description of the flag: Horizontally divided flag, with upper side divided into two equal stripes (bootom left green, top right, red). On the obverse the Coat of Arms is located on the green part of the flag.
Sources: Coat of Arms at "Himnos y Símbolos de Nuestra Colombia", by Julio César García, Camer Editing 2000. ISBN 958-33-1489-7 page 175, photos from official site www.esmic.edu.co.
E.R., 3 October 2005

There is another official flag of this Military Cadet School. All military flags have the same legislation (the flag of Colombia plus the lettering of the Unit, and also another official flag with its on Coat of Arms and the proper color background).
Source: photo taken at Colombia's Independence Day in Madrid, 2005.
There is also pennant of this Military Cadet School. Notice that it reads JMC, the initials of the name of the School (José María Córdova).
Source: photo taken at Colombia's Independence Day Parade in Bogotá, July 20, 2003.
E.R., 20 and 26 December 2005

The official name is Escuela Militar de Cadetes José María Córdova (and not Córdoba). The difference is the "v" goes instead of "b". The explanation for this is pretty simple: back in the 1800's the last name of the youngest Army General in the Colombian Army (José María Córdova), the spelling was with "v". However the Department of Córdoba is spelled with "b". So, for all military purposes, the name of this General is spelled with "v" (The top Army Order is called José María Córdova) and for all civilian purposes it's spelled Córdoba (for example the Police Command for the Department is called Córdoba).
This Military Cadet School is a University level institution. This transition towards full academic approval by the Colombian Education authorities was done very recently.
E.R., 28 December 2005


NCO's Military School

image by Eugene Ipavec, 3 November 2005
obverse

image by Eugene Ipavec, 8 March 2006
reverse

image contributed by E.R., 3 November 2005
Coat of Arms

image by Eugene Ipavec
director Pennant

Coat of Arms and flag of the Escuela Militar de Suboficiales Sargento Inocencio Chincá (NCO's Military School Sargeant Inocencio Chinca). The official abbreviation is EMSUB. Official website at http://www.emsub.mil.co.
E.R., 3 November 2005

The Pennant of the Director of the EMSUB is seen at www.ejercito.mil.co on a photograph taken on July 20, during a military parade held in Bogotá to commemorate Colombia's Independence Day.
It is a tricolour Pennant, with the rank of Colonel in yellow. This follows the same pattern as the General commanding a Unit Rank Flag.
The EMSUB is headed by a Colonel. However military schools head's are called Directors and not Commanders.
E.R., 10 August 2009


Military Education Center

image by Eugene Ipavec, 25 August 2008

image by Eugene Ipavec, 25 August 2008
Coat of Arms

Centro de Educación Militar (CEMIL, Military Education Center) is located in Bogotá. The CEMIL flag is a red and charged with the coat of arms. The coat of arms can be seen in the school's website at www.cemil.mil.co.
The CEMIL was previously named Decimoquinta Brigada (Fifteenth Brigade), and its symbols were the Roman Numerals XV.
CEMIL is in charge of study, doctrine and leadership and  handles the curriculum of the following schools:
- Escuela de Armas y Servicios  
- Escuela de Infantería
- Escuela de Caballería
- Escuela de Artillería
- Escuela de Ingenieros Militares
- Escuela de Comunicaciones
- Escuela de Logística
- Escuela de Policía Militar
- Escuela de Relaciones Civiles y Militares
- Escuela de Equitación
- Escuela de Aviación Ejército
- Batallón de Servicios para la Educación Militar
- Compañia Avanzada de Tiro.
Source: www.cemil.mil.co.
E.R., 25 August 2008

Previous Flag of Decimoquinta Brigada (Fifteenth Brigade)

image by Eugene Ipavec, 25 August 2008


Infantry School

image by Eugene Ipavec, 31 October 2006
obverse

image by Eugene Ipavec, 31 October 2006
reverse

Escuela de Infantería (Infantry School) is known fir short as ESINF. Three days after the declaration of Independence, on July 23, 1810, the Batallón de Voluntarios de la Guardia Nacional (Volunteer Battallion of the National Guard) was established. This was the genesis of today's Colombian Infantry units. Later on by Decree 578 of May 18, 1907, the President General Rafael Reyes creates the Batallón Modelo de Ifantería (Model Infantry Batallion) in order to adopt the reforms of the Chilean mission.
Sources: Julio César García: Himnos y Símbolos de Nuestra Colombia, Camer Editing, (2000), page 179. Official websute at www.jedoc.mil.co Photo of the reverse of flag. Image on Independence Day parade of 2005. Photo taken at Colombian Independence Day Parade on July 20, 2006
Official website at www.esinf.mil.co.
E.R., 31 October 2006

The Colombian Army's Infantry School's motto featured on its Coat of Arms is PASO DE VENCEDORES (Victors march). This writing appears on the lower part of the Coat of Arms.
Source: Official website.
E.R., 24 August 2008


Parachuting School

image by E.R., 10 August 2009

The Director's Pennant of the ESPAM (Escuela de Paracaidismo Militar) is seen here in this picture reported on the official Army website taken in Bogota on July 20 during Colombia's Independence Day.
Notice that this is the School's Standard, and as some other schools, the ESPAM flag may also have its Coat of Arms in the middle. The Coat of Arms is seen on their official website which is a combination of several Course Badges as seen here and here.
One more Pennant regarding this subject is seen at this picture: a triangular black pennant with a yellow outline with the yellow capital letters SLIIDI(V?). My best guess is that this may be it is a current military parachute course.
E.R., 10 August 2009

The "II" are really // (slashes) I believe.
Jan Mertens, 11 August 2009