Semper paratus

For the common motto of the scouting movement, see Scout Motto. For the 1928 song, see Semper Paratus (march).

Semper Paratus is a Latin phrase, meaning "Always Ready". Sometimes shortened to Semper P. It is used as the official motto of some organizations, such as the United States Coast Guard. A 1928 song of the same name is also used as the U.S. Coast Guard's official march, and the phrase appears on the organization's flag.

"SEMPER PARATUS" inscribed on the official flag of the U.S. Coast Guard

Usage

Canada

• Semper Paratus is the motto of The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment) of the Canadian Army formed in 1862 and headquartered at the James Street Armoury in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.^[1]
• Semper Paratus is the motto of The Brockville Rifles a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army formed 5 October 1866 and headquartered at the Brockville Armoury in Brockville, Ontario, Canada.^[1]
• "Semper Paratus" is also the motto of Galt Collegiate Institute (GCI) in Cambridge, Ontario, the first high school in Canada to become a Collegiate Institute (established 1852).

DPR Korea

• The phrase is translated into the Korean "항상 준비", and became the motto of the Korean Children's Union.

Philippines

• "Semper Paratus" is the Motto of the Roxas City Fire Station, Capiz, Philippines. It is embedded in its official logo and flag. Semper Paratus inspires firefighters to be Always Ready Anytime, Anywhere in Any Weather. Semper P is a form of greeting at Roxas City Fire Station

Hungary

• "Semper Paratus" is the motto of the Hungarian Disaster Victim Identification Team (HUN DVI), in addition to the Nemo Resideo (No One Left Behind).

Hong Kong

• Semper Paratus is the motto of Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force,^[2] it is also used by Hong Kong Government Flying Service.

Romania

• Semper Paratus is the motto of the Romanian Obstacle Course Racing Association - also known as OCR Romania - the organization that founded the Romanian Obstacle Sports Federation (established in 2021).

United Kingdom

• Semper Paratus is the motto used by numerous armigers, including the Barons Clifford of Chudleigh,^[3] Armytage baronets, of Kirklees, Yorkshire, and Elphinstone baronets, of Sowerby, Cumberland.^[4]
• It is also the family motto of the family Upton and has been used since the 11th Century.^[5]
• Tremeirchion Cricket club official motto
• Bowdon Cricket Club official motto
• Netherlee Primary School official motto
• New Romney Fire Brigade official motto
• Grangemouth High School official motto

United States

• Semper Paratus is the motto of the United States Coast Guard, and is the title of their marching song "Semper Paratus".^[6]
• It is the motto of the U.S. Army 16th Infantry Regiment, Fort Riley, Kansas.^[7]
• It is the motto of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing, a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Combat Command and Sixteenth Air Force, stationed at Beale Air Force Base.
• It was the motto of the United States Navy destroyer tender USS Sierra (AD-18).^[8]
• It is the motto of the Long Beach (California) Fire Department.
• It is the motto of the Bradford County Sheriff's Office of Emergency Management (Starke, Florida).
• It is the motto of the FEMA Region 5 Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT), Chicago, Illinois.

Australia

• It is the motto of Queensland Fire and Rescue Service, a part of Queensland Fire and Emergency Services
• It is the motto of the 5th Battalion of the 5/6th Battalion, Royal Victorian Regiment
• It is the motto of 'A' Battery, Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery (RRAA). 'A' Battery is the oldest and longest continuous full-time serving unit in the Australian Defense Force. 'A' Battery was established on the 1 August 1871, being also the date of the RRAA birthday.
• It is the motto of the Hobart Fire Brigade (HFB)^[9] a brigade within the Tasmania Fire and Emergency Service (TFES).

References

1. Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003
2. . www.britishempire.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2020-02-09. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
3. "Clifford Coat of Arms Meanings and Family Crest Artwork".
4. The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, Bernard Burke, Harrison & Sons, 1884, pp. 25, 204, 324
5. "The Upton family from Newcastle West, Limerick to the world". 28 January 2013.
6. "Semper Paratus" (Always Ready)
7. Special Unit Designations
8. "NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive".
9. "Tasmania Fire Service History | TFS Education".

Bibliography

• Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments
• "'Semper Paratus' (Always Ready)". Coast Guard History - FAQ's. U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office. Retrieved 2020-04-27.
• . United States Army Center of Military History. 2010-04-21. Archived from the original on 2010-06-09. Retrieved 2017-07-17.