Introducing project “Military Insignia”, featuring top quality military heraldry designs. Here you will find designer apparel, accessories, custom postage and gifts decorated with insignia of the Army Medical Command (MEDCOM). The Army Medical Command (MEDCOM) is a major command of the Army that provides command and control of the Army's fixed-facility medical, dental, and veterinary treatment facilities, providing preventive care, medical research and development and training institutions. MEDCOM maintains day-to-day health care for soldiers, retired soldiers and the families of both. Despite the wide range of responsibilities involved in providing health care in traditional settings as well as on the battlefield, the Army Medical Department's quality of care compares very favorably with that of civilian health organizations, when measured by civilian standards. Many Army medical facilities report on their own quality-of-care standards on their individual website. When Army field hospitals deploy, most clinical professional and support personnel come from MEDCOM's fixed facilities. In addition to support of combat operations, deployments can be for humanitarian assistance, peacekeeping, and other stability and support operations. Under the Professional Officer Filler System (PROFIS), up to 26 percent of MEDCOM physicians and 43 percent of MEDCOM nurses are sent to field units during a full deployment. To replace PROFIS losses, Reserve units and Individual Mobilization Augmentees (non-unit reservists) are mobilized to work in medical treatment facilities. The department also provides trained medical specialists to the Army's combat medical units, which are assigned directly to combatant commanders. Many Army Reserve and Army National Guard units deploy in support of the Army Medical Department. The Army depends heavily on its Reserve component for medical support—about 63 percent of the Army's medical forces are in the Reserve component. MEDCOM is divided into Regional Medical Commands that oversee day-to-day operations in military treatment facilities, exercising command and control over the medical treatment facilities in their regions. The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the Army Health Services Command on 26 January 1973. It was redesignated for the Army Medical Command effective 2 October 1994, with the description and symbolism revised. Maroon and white are the colors used for the Army Medical Department. Green was the color first used in the medieval age for academic gowns for medicine and is currently the academic color for medicine. In 1847, green was prescribed as the first Army Medical Department color. The cross is a traditional symbol for medical aid and assistance, and the lamp represents dedication and service. The white rays together with the arms of the cross relate to the points of the compass alluding to the broad scope of the Medical Command. The serpents, suggested by the branch insignia of the Army Medical Department, are symbolic of wisdom, prudence, renewal, and convalescence.