The 623rd Field Artillery Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia—a device also known as “unit crest” or DUI—was originally approved for the 623rd Field Artillery Battalion on 1 May 1952. It was redesignated for the 623rd Artillery Regiment on 13 January 1971 and was given its current designation a year-and-a-half later on 24 July 1972.
Because the Regiment’s history dates back to just before the Mexican War, it would be impossible to use images commemorating all the organization’s highlights or achievements. Instead, the oldest major events in the unit’s history are symbolized on the chief, the top third of the shield and the area of the greatest honor on the it. The chief is yellow, signifying Cavalry, while the gray Saltire is a sign of Confederate service in the Civil War and the giant cactus recalls the Mexican War.
The field of the shield below the chief is packed with fleurs-de-lis to memorialize the 106th AntiAircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion’s World War II service and numerous battle honors earned as Artillery. Two vertical bars of blue, called “pallets,” are emblems of service as Infantry in the Spanish-American War and in World War I (originally issued to the 138th Machine Gun Battalion which was consolidated with this organization).
“Seize The Opportunity,” the Regiment’s motto, is taken from the coat of arms of the former 123rd Cavalry Regiment; it was reassigned to this Regiment and is a nod to the acclaimed military feats performed by the by Morgan and his Raiders during the Civil War. The ancient history, i.e., Mexican War and Civil War, is represented on the chief, which is the most honorary position on the shield. The chief is yellow for Cavalry; the saltire, symbol for Civil War, is gray to indicate Confederate service, and the giant cactus represents Mexican War service. The motto, "Seize The Opportunity," taken from the coat of arms of the former 123d Cavalry Regiment, is reassigned to this organization and implies the tenor of the feats performed by Confederate General John Hunt Morgan and his Raiders during the Civil War.
Full guidance on wear of the DUI is found in DA Pamphlet 670-1,
Section 21-22, "Distinctive unit insignia" and 21–3(d) and (e),
"Beret" and
"Garrison Cap," respectively.
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Still a unit in the Kentucky Army National Guard, the 623rd Field Artillery Regiment began its existence in 1846 as two units—1st Kentucky Cavalry and 2nd Kentucky Volunteer Infantry—in the Kentucky Militia, that era’s equivalent of today’s Army National Guard. Its battle honors (campaign participation credits) include twenty-one Civil War Campaigns (thirteen in Confederate service, eight as Union), World War One (no specific battle/campaign named), ten World War II campaign (half with Arrowhead devices for having taken part in an assault landing), four from the Korean War, and two more from the Persian Gulf War; its campaign credits for War on Terrorism action have yet to be determined.
Military decorations awarded to the Regiment and/or its elements include two for the whole Regiment from its Korean War service, the Navy Unit Commendation and a Republic of Korea Presidential Citation, and a Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for Battery B, 1st Battalion and Meritorious Unit Commendations for 1st Battalion’s A and B Batteries for service in Iraq in 2005.
As of Summer 2023, the 623rd Regiment comprises two Battalions, both components of the Kentucky Army National Guard's 138th Field Artillery Brigade. 1st Battalion, 623rd Field Artillery Regiment (1-623 FA BN or 1/623 FA BN) is stationed at Glasglow, Kentucky and wields M142 HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) rocket launchers, while the 2nd Battalion (2-623 FA BN or 2/623 FA BN) is equipped with 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzers and is stationed at Lexington, Kentucky.