Tactical recognition flash (TRF) is the British military term for a coloured patch worn on the right arm of combat clothing by members of the British Army,[1] Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. A TRF serves to quickly identify the regiment or corps of the wearer, in the absence of a cap badge. It is similar to, but distinct from, the DZ Flashes worn by members of Airborne Forces.
TRFs should not be confused with formation signs or insignia, which are used to denote the formation (usually brigade or division or a higher headquarters) and are worn in addition to TRFs by a member of any regiment or corps serving in that formation.
| Royal Armoured Corps | Army Air Corps | Royal Regiment of Artillery | Royal Corps of Signals | Corps of Royal Engineers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| See individual regiments | |||||
| Corps of Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers | Royal Logistic Corps | Intelligence Corps | Royal Army Chaplains' Department | Infantry | |
| See individual regiments | |||||
| Adjutant General's Corps | Royal Army Medical Corps | Royal Army Veterinary Corps | Royal Army Dental Corps | Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps | |
| See branches | |||||
| Special Air Service | Royal Corps of Army Music | ||||
| None | No data | ||||
| Honourable Artillery Company | |||||
(Corps of Drums only, Special OP Sqns none) |
| 1st Regiment, Army Air Corps | 2nd Regiment, Army Air Corps | 3rd Regiment, Army Air Corps | 4th Regiment, Army Air Corps | 5th Regiment, Army Air Corps | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No data | No data | No data | |||
| 6th Regiment, Army Air Corps | 7th Regiment, Army Air Corps | 9th Regiment, Army Air Corps | |||
| No data |
Tactical Recognition Flashes are not to be worn by Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAVs) or cadets of the Army Cadet Force and army section of the Combined Cadet Force irrespective of any affiliation to a Corps or Regiment.[2] Cadets and CFAVs do wear county and contingent flashes of the Army Cadet Force and Combined Cadet Force respectively. Officers of the Air Training Corps and the RAF Section of the Combined Cadet Force wear the RAF tactical recognition flash, Adult Warrant Officers and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers wear the RAFAC Staff formation flash, and cadets wear RAFAC Cadet formation flash.[3]