The 82nd Cavalry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia was originally approved for the 82nd Armor, a parent regiment in the Combat Arms Regimental System (CARS), on 21 January 1963. It would be redesignated less than a year later, on 12 December 1963, for the 82nd Cavalry Regiment. Because Armor and Cavalry share yellow (gold) as a branch color, ts predominant use is appropriate for the 82nd Cavalry Regiment DUI since its heritage includes both branches. Blue and red chevrons thrusting upward allude to the campaign history of existing units that were used to organize the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron; they had earned two arrowheads for assault landings on New Guinea and in the Southern Philippines during World War II. The sea lion and star come from the Philippine Presidential Seal and refer to the organization’s parent unit being a recipient of the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. The unit motto, TEMERITAS, is Latin for "Temerity."The 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. Full 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 82nd Cavalry Regiment was originally constituted in the Oregon Army National Guard on 26 March 1959 as the 82nd Armor and organized from existing units, some of which had fought in wars dating back to the War with Spain. Its time as an Armored unit was brief: it was reorganized and redesignated as the 82nd Cavalry, consisting of just one Squadron and made an element of the 41st Infantry Division, on 1 March 1963.
It would undergo several other reorganizations and redesignations over the following decades, with the first of the most important changes coming in 1989 when it was withdrawn from CARS and reorganized under the U.S. Army Regimental System in the Nevada and Oregon Army National Guard as the 1st Battalion, an element of the 116th Cavalry Brigade. The second major change came in 2005 when it was redesignated as the 82nd Cavalry Regiment; the following year it was reorganized to once again consist of 1st Squadron, this time an element of the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team. Called into Federal service in 2009, the 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment was awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation for its service in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
As of Summer 2023, the Regiment has a single active unit: the 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment is assigned to the Oregon Army National Guard's 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team.