U.S. ARMY 1ST PSYCHOLOGICAL OPERATIONS BATTALION UNIT CREST (DUI)

The 1st Psychological Operations Battalion (Airborne) was originally known as Headquarters 1st Radio Broadcasting and Leaflet Group when it was organized in November 1950 at Fort Riley, Kansas; it designation was appended with “8239th Army Unit” in September 1951. During the Korean War, the unit was awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation and a Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, due in no small part to the role it played in the development and distribution of leaflets encouraging North Korean pilots to defect to the South with a MiG-15.

In 1965, the unit was redesignated as the 1st Psychological Operations Battalion (POB) , and then again in 1990 as HHC, 1st POB. Today, it is an Airborne unit that is a subordinate unit of the 8th Psychological Operations Group. Its motto, “First With The Finest,” is found on its Distinctive Unit Insignia, which also incorporates the three colors (white, gray, black) associated with the three types of warfare information—truth, half-truth, and untruth—and a lightning flash symbolizing the speed of delivery of psychological operations through TV and radio transmissions. The Greek symbol for “Psi” is an oblique reference to the psychological nature of the mission.

Also known as a unit crest or DUI, a 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 (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.

For Enlisted personnel, the insignia is centered on a shoulder loop by placing it an equal distance from the outside shoulder seam to the outside edge of the shoulder-loop button. Officers (except Generals) wearing grade insignia on the shoulder loops center the DUI by placing it an equal distance between the inside edge of the grade insignia and the outside edge of the button.

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.