The 1st Engineer Battalion, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division was originally constituted in 1861 as a provisional Engineer battalion; it went on to take part in every major campaign in the Eastern theater of the Civil War, from the Peninsula Campaign in 1862 to the final days of Appomattox. It was expanded to form two Engineer battalions (the 2nd has a distinct lineage), and it 1916 it was transformed into the 1st Regiment of Engineers.
The Regiment was broken up in 1939, with the 1st Battalion being assigned to the 1st Division (later 1st Infantry Division) and then being redesignated the 1st Engineer Combat Battalion in 1942. It was given its current designation of 1st Engineer Battalion in 1953, and in 2006 it was relieved from assignment to the 1st Infantry Division (though it continued to be based at Fort Riley). In October 2014, it was reorganized as a Brigade Engineer Battalion (but kept its designation) and was assigned to the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team (“Devil Brigade”), 1st Infantry Division.
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Also known as a unit crest or DUI, 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 (DUIs are not worn on the Dress variations of either uniform, however). 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.
Approved on 20 December 1924, the 1st Engineer Battalion Distinctive Unit Insignia uses imagery to display what by then was an already rich heritage. A black field on the lower half of the shield represents the color of the uniform facings worn by Engineers when Company A was formed in 1846; Company B was formed fifteen years later, and both served in the Army of the Potomac. Their work building pontoon bridges is reflected by the anchor and two crossed oars, the old badge of the Engineers and Pontioniers, and points to those units service in the Civil War.
A pair of crescents is inspired by the arms of General Winfield Scott and reflects the Engineers’ participation in the invasion of Mexico. The bend (diagonal stripe) on the chief (top portion) is from the coat of arms of Lorraine; the lion is from the arms of Picardy; and the fleur-de-lis is from Soissons’ coat of arms: all reflect service by the “Diehard” battalion in Europe during World War I.