The Distinctive Unit Insignia of the 2290th U.S. Army Hospital Distinctive Unit Insignia was approved on 26 Mar 1969. Its focal point is a cross bottony rendered in the Army Medical Department colors of maroon and white surmounted upon a Greek cross of black and gold. The color gold is indicative of the sun and dispelling the darkness; black connotes despair and adversity. The cross is also emblematic of support in distress and alludes to the motto of the organization, "Console In Adversity." The serpent, a symbol associated with physicians, refers to the effective medical treatment provided by the Hospital. The colors of the cross botonny, combined with the colors gold and black from the Great Seal and Flag of Maryland, denotes the Hospital's location in that state.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 (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.
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. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
The 2290th U.S. Army Hospital is an inactive unit of the U.S. Army Reserve that was stationed in Alexandria, Virginia. It is unclear when it was inactivated, but it was active in July 2015 because there are reports of its participation in Greater Chenango Cares, an Innovative Readiness Training missions that provided real-world training in a joint civil-military environment while simultaneously delivering medical care to the inhabitants of Chenango County in New York.