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The Army has launched an investigation into a National Guard social media post that showcased a soldier adorned with a patch bearing Nazi symbolism.

The inquiry was sparked by an Instagram photo shared by the 20th Special Forces Group, stationed in Alabama. This image, aimed at encouraging soldiers with a weekend training message, featured three soldiers, with one wearing a patch resembling the notorious Nazi SS Totenkopfverbände symbol. Nazi SS Totenkopfverbände patches were historically worn by units overseeing concentration camps during World War II. The Palm tree nods to an SS division’s African campaign.

The Army’s response to the incident has seen some back-and-forth. After concerns were raised, the 20th Special Forces Group’s account on Instagram addressed inquiries by stating, “There was not one. It’s a 3rd group team patch taken out of context,” apparently dismissing the Nazi imagery claim. Shortly after, the post was deleted. A following statement said “The use of symbols and patches depicting historic images of hate are not tolerated within our organization. We are investigating this misuse and will ensure accountability for our findings. We are focused on commitment to our families, teams, and nation.”

Jacqueline Hill, a spokesperson for the Army Special Operations Command, echoed this statement, adding, “The use of symbols and patches depicting historic images of hate are not tolerated and a clear violation of our values. We are aware of the situation and looking into the matter further.”