Approved on 17 November 1988, the 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia (also called a DUI or unit crest) is crafted almost totally in red and yellow, colors traditionally associated with U.S. Army Artillery. Red is also the color of courage, zeal, and vitality while gold denotes leadership, achievement, and excellence.
A demi-sun set against a red background has seven rays that stand for the seven Indian tribes of North Dakota. Below it is a bow and arrow armed with a flaming arrow; the weapon is an emblem of the North Dakota Army National Guard, while the flaming arrow not only emphasizes the significant Indian heritage of the state, but also suggests the ordnance aimed skyward as part of the Air Defense mission. A fully drawn bow highlights the unit’s preparedness and significant striking power and reinforces the motto of “Forever Vigilant.”
Distinctive Unit Insignias are 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. You can find more guidance on wear of the DUI 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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The 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment was constituted on 1 October 1988 in the North Dakota Army National Guard as the 188th Air Defense Artillery, a parent regiment under the United States Army Regimental System, and organized to consist of the 1st Battalion. A September 2001 reorganization altered it to comprise the 1st Battalion and Battery E, followed a year later by the addition of Battery F, which was ordered into Federal service from 28 June 2004 to 24 December 2005. Redesignated as the 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment on 1 October 2005, the organization would see the 1st Battalion ordered into Federal service three times between January 2009 and March 2017.
Since it was organized in 1988, the 188th ADA Regiment has earned credit for participation in the Iraq Governance campaign in the War on Terror and been awarded a pair of Meritorious Unit Commendations. However, the units that were used to create the Regiment’s HQ Battery brought their battle honors and military decorations with them; these include nine World War II campaign streamers, a World War II Presidential Unit Citation, a French Croix de Guerre with Silver Star, a citation in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army, and a Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. Additionally, the Regiment’s Company A, 1st Battalion was individually recognized with a Meritorious Unit Commendation for service in Afghanistan between March and December 2006.
In August 2023, it was announced that Battery B, 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery would be deployed to a location within the area of operations of U.S. Central Command at some point in early Fall 2023 in order to provide integrated air-defense coverage and early warning capabilities to support a Battalion Task Force. It would mark the 13th deployment of Regimental units since 2004.
As of Autumn 2023, the 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, North Dakota Army National Guard is headquartered at Grand Forks, North Dakota.