The U.S. Army Broadcasting Service Distinctive Unit Insignia (DUI), or unit crest, was approved on 29 January 1986 as an exception to policy. Its teal blue and yellow tones reflect the organization’s branch immaterial status, while the radio microphone and television camera denote its mission. Besides describing the core components of the service, the phrase "ABS Radio TV" also serves as the organization's motto.
Distinctive Unit Insignias are 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.
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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In 2005, private company SeaChange International began assisting the Army in transitioning the Army Broadcast Service into the Soldiers Media Center by licensing the service its SeaChange Broadcast MediaCluster (BMC) video server technology. By 2007, Soldiers Media Center had become the parent headquarters for Armed Forces Network (AFN) Europe, AFN Korea, AFN South, AFN Honduras, and AFN Kwajalein (Marshall Islands). The Center uses an international network of stations to broadcast American TV and radio to United States Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Department of Defense civilians, and their families serving across the globe
Based upon recommendations made the by 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission, the Soldiers Media Center—along with other information programs hosted by different branches of the U.S. Armed Forces such as Soldiers Radio/TV, Naval Media Center, Air Force News Agency, Army/Air Force Hometown News Service with the American Forces Information Service, and the Marine Corps’ internal information assets—were all placed under a new Defense Media Activity established on 1 October 2008. All these services and more were planned to be operated from a single installation at Fort Meade, Maryland that was completed and occupied by September 2011.
In Winter 2024, the Defense Media Activity oversees several media services, including WEB.mil, an enterprise hosting solution and robust distribution system that meets all Department of Defense standards; the Defense Information School, which
trains U.S. Military, DoD civilian, international military, and interagency students in a variety of subject areas including public affairs, print and broadcast journalism, and photography, to name a few; the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service; and two news services, the Joint Hometown News Service and DoD NEWS.Related items
Army Broadcasting Service Patch (SSI)
Soldiers Media Center Patch (SSI)