Soldiers will be reportedly be banned from displaying “death symbols” such as skulls and crossbones on patches or badges under a directive made by the defence force’s new chief.
Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Angus Campbell, who will step up as Australia’s new Chief of the Defence Force in July, earlier this week issued the directive to the army, News Corp Australia reported.
Soldiers will be banned from displaying “death symbology or iconography” including the pirate skill, crossbones, the punisher symbol, the Spartans or the grim reaper.
General Campbell says such symbols or emblems are “at odds with the army’s values and the ethical force we seek to build and sustain”.
“As soldiers our purpose is to serve the state, employing violence with humility always and compassion wherever possible. The symbology to which I refer erodes this ethos of service,” he said.
He called on commanders to take immediate action and remove such symbols from any use – informal or formal – within the army.
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