heraldic and other military symbols have been used by the u.s. armed forces and government agencies since the beginning of the american revolution. however, there was no coordinated military heraldry program until 1919, when an office within the united states department of war staff was established to approve and coordinate the coats of arms and insignia of u.s. army organizations. in 1924, formal staff responsibility for specific military designs was delegated to the quartermaster general. as the needs for symbolism by the military services and the national government expanded, the scope of the services furnished by the quartermaster general's office evolved into the heraldic program.