Insignia, symbols and flags of the M.V.S.N
The M.V.S.N and its branches use a (relatively) coherent iconographic system in order to distinguish between different units and formations.
Army Corps-level Commands
Army Corps-level Commands are fairly uncommon within the M.V.S.N. As of 2020, there are 9 Army Corps-level Commands across the whole organisation of the M.V.S.N. and of its branches. Of these 20 commands, however, only three have operational duties: the Internal Defence Command and the Legionary Corps of the Italian National Royal Guard, and the Operational Forces Command of the Ethiopian National Imperial Guard.
Coats of arms of the Army Corps-level Commands follow the Italian Army pattern: a French eschuteon with a golden (or) bordure. At the base of the eschuteon there are three golden stars, signalling the rank of the command (and of its commander). The Legionary Corps has as the main charge a gladius in gold (or). All other commands display a gladius of reduced size and contained between two bars in gold (or). While the field is always black (sable), the large fess is of a different heraldic colour. In case of territorial commands, a golden (or) script in chief may be present and the fess is black.
Italian National Royal Guard
Internal Defence Command
Legionary Corps
M.V.S.N.
1st Command "Rome and Centre"
2nd Command "Padua and North-East"
3rd Command "Milan and North-West"
4th Command "Naples and South"
5th Command "Palermo and Isles"
Ethiopian National Imperial Guard
Operational Forces Command
Ethiopian Fascist Guard
Ethiopian Fascist Front unitary command
Division-level commands
Division-level commands within the M.V.S.N. and its branches usually are specialist or apical territorial commands which are not worth of the Army Corps level. As of 2020, Division-level territorial commands only exist within the Ethiopian Fascist Guard and they are 11 in number.
Coats of arms of the Division-level territorial commands follow the pattern used for the Army Corps-level commands: a French eschuteon with a golden (or) bordure. At the base of the eschuteon there are three golden stars, signalling the rank of the command (and of its commander). All Division-level territorial commands display a gladius of reduced size and contained between two bars in gold (or). While the field is always black (sable), the large fess is of a different heraldic colour. A golden (or) script in chief may be present.
Brigades
Brigades are the premier combat formations of the M.V.S.N. and of its branches in the Italian Empire. Under the overall command of the Commandant-General of the M.V.S.N. there are 34 Brigades or Brigade-level formations, with varying degrees of capability or autonomy, alongside several other one-star commands with other support tasks. Brigade-level (territorial) Militia Commands are also present in some Militia forces of the Realms of the Italian Empire.
The Italian National Royal Guard and the M.V.S.N. deploy a total of 14 separate Brigades, not including those framed within other, higher-level formations; the Libyan National Royal Guard has 8 Brigade-level formations, with varying degrees of autonomous combat capability; the Ethiopian National Imperial Guard deploys 7 separate Brigades; the Eritrean National Princely Guar deploys 3 Brigade-level commands (including the Coast Guard); the Somali National Republican Guard has a Brigade and a Brigade-level Coast Guard command; Albania and Montenegro have a single Brigade each.
Coats of arms of the Brigades follow Italian Army conventions: an Heather eschuteon shape with three curved sides. The field has a golden (or) bordure, while the tincture varies according the Realm of the Italian Empire: green (vert) for the Ethiopian National Imperial Guard, red for Albania, black (sable) for all other Realms, including Italy. However, due to long-standing history, the 5th Bersaglieri Brigade "Italia" has a parted per pale field. All charges are in gold (or).
Italian National Royal Guard
1st Paratrooper Blackshirts Brigade "Littorio"
5th Bersaglieri Brigade "Italia"
Brigade "Etna"
Ethiopian National Imperial Guard
1st Brigade "Yebireti Yebut’ī"
2nd Brigade "Isati Diragoni"
3rd Brigade "Ye’igizī’ābiḥēri Anibesa"
4th Brigade "Tamanyi Gwadenyochi"
5th Brigade "Imipērīyali Bale’āderawochi"
Anti-Insurgency Brigade "Agazi"
Regiments
While the Italian National Royal Guard does not use the Regimental level for its combat units and formations (save for few exceptions), the other Guard forces of the Realms of the Italian Empire do use such military units for elite and separate specialities. Eschuteon shapes vary according the individual Realm, and every coat of arms is surmounted by the heraldic Crown of the relevant Realm of the Italian Empire as heraldic achievement.
1st Airborne Regiment "Berari Neber"
1st Cavalry Regiment "San Giorgio"
2nd Paratroopers Regiment "Al-Saiqa"
Legions
Legions are the territorial units of the Militia forces of each Realm of the Italian Empire. They are usually raised and maintained at the Provincial level and are considered to be a type of Regiment. While line Regiments have different coats of arms, those of the Provincial Legions are more standardised. Each coat of arms presents a black bordure, while the field colour varies according the relevant Realm of the Italian Empire. The inescutcheon is carried by an Eagle (which becomes a double-headed eagle for Albanian Legions) and takes inspiration from local traditions.
Albanian Fascist Militia
1st Albanian Legion
2nd Albanian Legion
3rd Albanian Legion
Eritrean Militia for Internal Security
1st Provicial Legion
2nd Provincial Legion
3rd Provincial Legion
4th Provincial Legion
5th Provincial Legion
Battalions
Save for limited exceptions, the M.V.S.N. does not use the regimental level for its combat units. Battalions and other Battalion-level combat units of the M.V.S.N. are directly attached to higher-level formations. These formations' commanders also exercise the tasks of Unit Commander related to the individual subordinate Battalions. Therefore, Battalions and other Battalion-level combat units of the M.V.S.N. maintain their lesser coat of arms along Italian Army lines, but without any other heraldic achievement.
Infantry Battalions
Bersaglieri Battalions
1st G.N.R. Bersaglieri Battalion "Aldo Resega"
2nd G.N.R. Bersaglieri Battalion "Igino Ghisellini"
3rd G.N.R. Bersaglieri Battalion “Goffredo Mameli”
4th G.N.R. Bersaglieri Battalion "Enrico Toti"
5th G.N.R. Bersaglieri Battalion "Gorizia"
Paratrooper Battalions
681st Paratrooper Blackshirts Battalion "Ali Nere"
682nd Paratrooper Blackshirts Battalion "Ali Tricolori"
683btgAlidItalia.png 683rd Paratrooper Blackshirts Battalion "Ali d'Italia"
Cavalry Squadrons Groups
7th Reconnaissance Squadrons Group "Dux"
8th Tank Squadron Group
686th Paratrooper Cavalry Blackshirts Squadrons Group "Avanguardia"
Artillery Groups
13th Self-propelled Heavy Artillery Group "Enzo Savorgnan di Brazzà"
685th Paratrooper Artillery Blackshirts Group "Pugno di Ferro"
"M" Battalions
"M" Battalions, administratively grouped within the "M" Brigade "Etna", have their own pattern: an Heather eschuteon, the field sable and charges gules and argent.
6th "M" Battalion "Fulgor"
7th "M" Battalion "Lupo"
12th "M" Battalion "Lucania"
13th "M" Battalion "Etruria"
14th "M" Battalion "Histria"
15th "M" Battalion "Coraggio"
16th "M" Battalion "Valore"
17th "M" Battalion "Audacia"
18th "M" Battalion "Fascismo"
Officers rank insignia
' Officers
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Shoulder insignia | 
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| M.V.S.N. rank | Comandante Generale della Milizia Commandant General M.V.S.N. |
Capo di Stato Maggiore della Milizia Chief of M.V.S.N. Staff |
Luogotenente Generale Lieutenant General |
Console Generale Consul General |
Console Consul |
Seniore | Primo Tribuno Prime Tribune |
Tribuno Tribune |
Capomanipolo Maniple Chief |
Centurione Centurion |
Vice-Centurione Deputy Centurion | ||||||||||
| G.N.R. and O.V.R.A. rank | - | Comandante Generale G.N.R./Direttore Generale O.V.R.A. Commandant General G.N.R./Director General O.V.R.A. |
Luogotenente Generale Lieutenant General |
Maggior Generale Major General |
Brigadier Generale Brigadier General |
Colonnello Colonel |
Luogotenente Colonnello Lieutenant Colonel |
Maggiore Major |
Capitano Captain |
Luogotenente Lieutenant |
Sotto-Luogotenente Under-Lieutenant | ||||||||||
| British Army equivalent rank | Chief of Defence Staff | Chief of Service Staff | Lieutenant General | Major General | Brigadier | Colonel | Lieutenant Colonel | Major | Captain | Lieutenant | Second Lieutenant | ||||||||||
See also
| M.V.S.N. branches |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Militias of the Realms of the Empire | ||
| Guards of the Realms of the Empire | ||
| M.V.S.N. Specialities | ||
| Individual units and formations | ||
| Specific topics | ||