Officially known as a Distinctive Unit Insignia or DUI for short, the unit crest of the 227th Aviation Regiment was originally approved for the 227th Aviation Battalion on 4 January 1967 and was updated on 20 September 1973. It was redesignated for the 227th Aviation Regiment on 30 June 1987. The focal point of the insignia is a hawk superimposed over a scarlet arrow (pheon); the hawk symbolizes courage and aggressiveness in flight, while the pheon recalls the armament and assault capabilities of the Regiment’s aircraft. POUVOIR, the unit motto, is French and translates into English as “Can Do.”
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. More 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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The 227th Aviation Regiment was originally constituted and activated on 11 February 1963 as the 227th Assault Helicopter Battalion, an element of the 11th Air Assault Division, but it has been associated with the 1st Cavalry Division since it was redesignated as an element of that organization in July 1965. Its units were deployed extensively during the Vietnam War, with its several Companies earning credit for participation for up to 14 campaigns and numerous as well as U.S. Vietnamese military awards, including Presidential Unit Citations, Valorous Unit Awards, Meritorious Unit Commendations, and Republic of Vietnam (ROV) Cross of Gallantry with Palm Awards and ROV Civil Action Honor Medals. (A list of each Battalion’s honors can be found here.) https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/av/defaultAV.htm
The Regiment’s Battalion’s also fought in all three campaigns in the First Gulf War and have been deployed on several occasions in the War on Terrorism, earning credit for participation in at least two campaigns in the Iraq Theater and the possibility of credit for others.
As of Autumn 2023, the 227th Aviation Regiment's 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions are all assigned to the Combat Aviation Brigade of the 1st Cavalry Division.