U.S. ARMY 31ST CHEMICAL BRIGADE UNIT CREST (DUI)

The Distinctive Unit Insignia of the Alabama National Guard’s 31st Chemical Brigade was originally approved for the 31st Armored Brigade on 12 August 1974, which was redesignated as a Chemical unit in 2002. “Dixie Brigade,” the unit motto, is a derivation of “Dixie Division,” nickname of the 31st Infantry Division that was a forebear of the 31st Armored and subsequently 31st Chemical Brigades.

A close examination of the insignia reveals that the white disc is enclosed by a decagon, a ten-sided polygon that represents ten Civil War Campaigns fought by a predecessor in the Brigade’s lineage. The “x” in the middle is referred to as the “scarlet cross of St. Andrew” (said cross is normally white) taken from the Alabama state flag. A fleur-de-lis represents service by the 31st Infantry Division in France during World War I, while the sunburst below it is a symbol of the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.

In the middle of the insignia is an arrow pointing to the viewer’s left. The scarlet arrowhead is for the 31st Infantry Division’s assault landing on New Guinea in World War II, and the black arrow is a nod to the area’s Native American heritage (the unit’s home base of Tuscaloosa is on the banks of the Black Warrior River).

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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. Current regulations do not permit the DUI to be worn on the Dress variations of either uniform, however.

Enlisted personnel wear the insignia 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.

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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U.S. ARMY 31ST CHEMICAL BRIGADE UNIT CREST (DUI)