The 312th Military Intelligence Battalion Distinctive Unit Insignia, more commonly referred to as a DUI or “unit crest,” was approved on 1 March 1982. A wavy, white (silver) partition is an allusion to campaign participation in the Pacific during World War II, with the taeguk in the center a reference to Korean War service. A pair of crossed lightning bolts is a nod to the unit’s origins in the Signal Corps, as well as the organization’s present Combat Electronic Warfare and Intelligence functions. A torch is the light of truth and reinforces the motto of SEMPER VERITAS, Latin for always truthful. A chess knight in the upper portion of the shield symbolizes Military Intelligence because of the piece’s ability to “jump” over enemy pieces.
Oriental blue and silver (white) are the colors traditionally associated with Military Intelligence. The wavy alludes to past campaign participation in the Pacific during World War II, the Taeguk to service in Korea. The crossed flashes refer to the unit's origin as Signal and their present Combat Electronic Warfare and Intelligence function. The torch is a symbol of truth and reflects the motto "SEMPER VERITAS" and the mission of the unit. The chess knight, a piece that can move covertly, further symbolizes the military intelligence mission.
Assigned to the 470th Military Intelligence Brigade, the 312th Military Intelligence Battalion was constituted on 31 December 1943 in the Army of the United States as the 23rd Signal Construction Battalion and activated 10 February 1944. Reorganized and redesignated twice over the next few months and was designated as the 23rd Signal Heavy Construction Battalion at the time of its inactivation in January 1946, having earned an uninscribed Asiatic-Pacific Theater for its wartime service.
It was redesignated the 23rd Signal Construction Battalion and allotted to the Regular Army on 27 September 1951 and was activated less than two months later in Korea on 2 November 1951. The Battalion took part four campaigns in the Korean War before being inactivated on 15 May 1953, then was converted and redesignated as the 312th Communication Reconnaissance Battalion on 19 May 1955, followed by the activation of its HQ and HQ Company in Germany on 25 June 1955.
It would be redesignated once more as the 312th Army Security Agency Battalion on 1 July 1956 before being given its current designation on 1 October 1981 when it was redesignated as the 312th Military Intelligence Battalion, assigned to 1st Cavalry Division, and activated at Fort Hood (known today as Fort Cavazos). At the same time, it’s A and B Companies were concurrently consolidated with the 371st Army Security Agency Company and the 191st Military Intelligence Company, respectively.
Company A’s previous battle honors included thirteen Korean War campaigns, and it had earned an extensive array of military decorations for its service in Vietnam: Two Presidential Unit Citations, a Valorous Unit Award, four Meritorious Unit Commendations, three Republic of Vietnam (ROV) Cross of Gallantry with Palm awards, and an ROV Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class. Company B’s campaign record included four Korean War campaigns and an astonishing sixteen (our of seventeen total) campaigns in Vietnam;’ its military decorations included a Presidential Unit Citation, a Valorous Unit Award, two Meritorious Unit Commendations (one from Korea, another Vietnam), a trio Republic of Vietnam (ROV) Cross of Gallantry with Palm awards, and an ROV Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class.
Since the time those units were annexed, the Battalion as whole has been awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation for the First Gulf War and another for action in Iraq in the War on Terrorism between September 2003 and June 2005. And in May 2008, the whole Battalion (less Company B) was tapped for a Valorous Unit Award recognizing its heroism in actions in Anbar Province.