The U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command Distinctive Unit Insignia, also referred to as a “unit crest” or DUI, was originally approved for the U.S. Army Reserve Special Operations Command on 1 December 1990. It was subsequently redesignated for the U.S. Army CAPOC, with revised symbolism, less than three weeks alter on 19 December 1990.
A chess knight is often used in the insignia of CAPOC units because of its ability to move and attack in an indirect manner. Here, the gray knight is set against a globe with its two hemisphere colored black and white, thus encompassing the three types of propaganda (white, black, and gray) employed by PSYOPS units. The black and white division also reflects day and night operations, and the globe as whole represents the Command’s worldwide scope; it also reflects the Command’s ability to perform as combat force or peacekeeping presence.
The knight rests on a nebuly line, a device used in heraldry to suggest clouds that here denotes the Command’s airborne capabilities. A crossed sword and fasces (bundled sticks with an axe head symbolizing authority) on which the globe is superimposed, coupled with the chess knight, suggest the three major components of CAPOC’s mission: Special Ops (sword), Psychological Ops (knight), and Civil Affairs (fasces). The trio of devices also reinforces the unit motto, "By Sword, Deed, And Word." The color silver used in the insignia symbolize eminence, while the red denotes action and valor.
Distinctive Unit Insignias are worn by all Soldiers (except General Officers) 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). 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.
Founded in 1985 and headquartered at Fort Bragg (renamed Fort Liberty in 2023), the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (CAPOC) is comprised primarily U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers. While it has historically been a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, the Reserve components of CAPOC were placed under U.S. Army Reserve Command in 2006. In 2020, CAPOC consists of the 151st Theater Information Operations Group (which was placed under CAPOC in 2015), four Civil Affairs Commands, and two Psychological Operations Groups.
Related Items
USACAPOC Unit Patch (SSI)
USACAPOC Combat Service ID Badge (CSIB)
USACAPOC Beret Flash and Oval