U.S. ARMY CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION COMMAND UNIT CREST (DUI)

The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command (CID) was established in 1971 to provide a centralized command for all the Army’s criminal investigation organizations, a goal symbolized by a white star—often an emblem for command in military insignias—superimposed on a red disc in the center of the U.S. Army CID Distinctive Unit Insignia, also referred to as a unit crest or simply “DUI.”

The disc is placed in the center of a spider web whose individual strands suggestion latitudinal and longitudinal lines; the eight sides of the web denote the eight geographic regions over which the Command exercises authority. A web also alludes to the apprehension of criminals ensnared through investigations and here alludes to the methodical construction and scientific methods employed by such investigations.

Note that each of the star’s five points is projected outward to the gold band to which the spider web is attached, a visual representation of the far-reaching authority of U.S. Army CID or, as the old phrase goes, the “long arm of the law.” Blue, white, and red are used in the insignia to recall our national colors, and gold—emblematic of excellence—is used for the band around the Web and the inscription “Do What Needs To Be Done,” the motto of U.S. Army CID.

The Headquarters of U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command are located in the Russell-Knox Building, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia.

The Distinctive Unit Insignia of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command was approved on 6 June 1972. Distinctive Unit Insignias (DUIs) 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 (Enlisted only) with the base of the insignia toward the outside shoulder seam. DUIs are not worn on the Dress variations of either uniform, however.

For Enlisted personnel, the insignia is 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.

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.

Related Items
Criminal Investigation Command Unit Crest (SSI)
Criminal Investigation Command Combat Service ID Badge (CSIB)
Criminal Investigation Division Brassard