The 426th Civil Affairs Battalion is an Army Reserve unit assigned to the 351st Civil Affairs Command and headquartered in Upland, California. It was constituted in the Organized Reserve Corps (which became the Army Reserve in 1952) on 8 April 1949 as the 426th Military Government Company and activated on 16 May 1949 at San Bernardino, California. It was reorganized and redesignated on two occasions and redesignated alone on another, receiving its current designation as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 426th Civil Affairs Battalion on 16 September 1992.
It has been ordered into active Federal military service on three occasions since that time, with a Detachment from the Battalion earning a Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC) while assigned to the 411th Civil Affairs Battalion between October 2004 and June 2005 and the Battalion as a whole (less a Detachment) being tapped for An MUC for its exceptional support of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in Nineveh Province in Iraq between January and July 2005. The Battalion was also awarded the non-combat Army Superior Unit Award for outstanding performance of a difficult mission carried out under extraordinary circumstances (29 October 2006 to 28 October 2007).
The 426th Civil Affairs Battalion Distinctive Unit Insignia, also known as a unit crest or a DUI, was approved on 15 April 1993. Its purple and white field incorporates the branch colors of the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations branch, with gold denoting excellence and high ideals used for the text of the motto (“Exceeding The Standard”); the red flame denotes courage and zeal. The torch is a traditional heraldic image associated with guidance, leadership, and the illumination provided by knowledge.
Full guidance on wear of the DUI is found in DA Pamphlet 670-1,
Section 21-22, "Distinctive unit insignia."Related Item
426th Civil Affairs Battalion Beret Flash and Oval