The 83rd Chemical Battalion Distinctive Unit Insignia (DUI), also called a unit crest, was approved on 29 June 1966, and was amended on 28 May 1993 to revise the symbolism and to include metric measurements in its description. A cobalt blue background and golden yellow lightning flash incorporate the branch colors of the Chemical Corps. The flying, amphibious dragon is an allusion to the Battalion’s combat service during the Second World War: the Battalion earned eight campaign streamers, four of them with Arrowhead devices to indicate amphibious or airborne assault landings in Sicily, Italy, and France. The lighting flash symbolizes the destructive might of the weaponry wielded by the Battalion, and the hexagon that forms the shield is a symbol used in chemical formulas for a particle of matter; it also appears on the Chemical Corps branch insignia.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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Originally constituted on 12 March 1942 as 83rd Chemical Battalion in the Army of the United States, the 83rd Chemical Battalion was active in June 1942 at Camp Gordon in Georgia. Midway through its combat service in World War II, it was reorganized and redesignated as the 83rd Chemical Battalion, Motorized on 27 June 1944, an administrative process repeated on 7 December 1944 when it became the 83rd Chemical Mortar Battalion. In addition to fighting in eight campaigns (see above), the Battalion also earned a Meritorious Unit Commendation before it was inactivated on 26 November 1945.
Following World War II, the Battalion was briefly redesignated as HHD, 83rd Chemical Smoke Generator Battaliona (June 1951 to January 1952) and HHD, 83rd Chemical Mortar Battalion (January 1952 to February 1955) before being designated as HHD, 83rd Chemical Battalion. It would be inactivated from December 1966 to October 1993, when it was reactivated at Fort Bragg (renamed Fort Liberty in June 2023). During the War on Terrorism, the Battalion deployed to Kuwait and Iraq in February 2003 to provide support of all major ground forces including the 1st Marine Expeditionary Division, 3rd Infantry Division, U.S. Special Operation Froces, and the 173rd Airborne Brigade. It was awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation for it service from 8 January 2003 to 12 July 2003.
As of 2019, the 83rd Chemical Battalion is based at Fort Stewart and is poised to “Confront Any Mission.” comprises the 25th Tech Escort Company, 51st Chemical Company, 92nd Chemical Company, and the 75th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, all based at Fort Stewart. It also commands two Chemical Companies, the 21st and the 59th, that are stationed at Fort Drum, New York.