The 117th Cavalry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia, also called a unit crest or a DUI, was approved on 20 November 1964. Its shield has been divided into black and gold, with the gold forming an arrow intruding into the part of the shield that is predominantly black and thus simulating the assault on Normandy beach, one of the campaigns for which the Regiment has been credited. Two fleur-de-lis stand for service in World War I and II, while the horse’s head in the gold section is taken from the crest of Essex Troop, one of the Regiment’s original units. A lion’s head forms the insignia’s crest and is for the entire New Jersey Army National Guard. “Show ’Em The Way,” the unit motto, is particularly appropriate for a Cavalry unit and its role in scouting and reconnaissance.
The Distinctive Unit Insignia is worn by all Soldiers (except General Officers) in units that have been authorized to be issued the device. It is worn centered on the shoulder loops of the Army Green Service Uniform (AGSU) and the blue Army Service Uniform (ASU, Enlisted only) with the base of the insignia toward the outside shoulder seam. Full guidance on wear of the DUI is found in DA Pamphlet 670-1,
Section 21-22, "Distinctive unit insignia."
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Organized in the New Jersey National Guard from new and existing elements and Federally recognized on 29 April 1921 as the 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry, the 117th Cavalry Regiment would have to wait more than three full decades before receiving that designation. After the 1st Cavalry was redesignated as the 102nd Cavalry, the 1st Squadron was assigned to the 21st Cavalry Division in June 1937 but was subsequently relieved from that assignment in November 1940. The unit was inducted into Federal service in January 1941 at home stations, then was reorganized and redesignated as the 102nd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized in January 1944. Its battle honors from World War II include three Asiatic-Pacific and five European-African-Middle Eastern campaigns. (Battle honors held by the existing units used to form 1st Squadron back in 1921 include the World War I campaigns Meuse-Argonne and Alsace 1918).
The unit underwent several reorganizations and redesignations during the 1950s, a period during which it was assigned to or was an element of the 50th Armored Division. On 31 January 1963, it was reorganized and redesignated as the 117th Cavalry, a parent regiment in the Combat Arms Regimental System (CARS) consisting solely of the 5th Squadron, an element of the 50th Armored Division. It was withdrawn from CARS in 1989 and reorganized under the U.S. Army Regimental System, and in 1993 was reorganized in that system to again consist of only the 5th Squadron, which was designated as an element of the 42nd Infantry Brigade.
On 1 October 2005, it was given its current designation as the 117th Cavalry Regiment and subsequently ordered into Federal service at home stations on 16 June 2008. Troop C, 5th Squadron was awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation on 20 October 2009 for its service while assigned as a subordinate unit of the 167th Cavalry Regiment.