The 234th Field Artillery Detachment’s organizational flash and background trimming, or oval, were both approved for wear on 20 June 2000. Both insignias have a field of scarlet, the branch color of Field Artillery, and a gold border like the one seen on the Distinctive Unit Insignia of the 27th Field Artillery Regiment. The lightning flash symbolizes the speed at which this Airborne unit can strike.
The 234th FA Detachment is worn centered on the stiffener of the maroon beret that signifies a unit’s Airborne status. All Officers except Chaplains wear their non-subdued insignia of grade centered on the flash, while all Enlisted personnel (with a handful of exceptions) wear their Distinctive Unit Insignia or a Regimental Distinctive Insignia if their unit has no DUI.
Better known as an oval for obvious reasons, background trimming is worn by personnel who have earned a Parachutist and/or Air Assault Badge and are serving in an organization designated by structure, equipment, and mission as “Airborne” or “Air Assault.” The oval is worn beneath the badge on the Service Uniform coat (ASGU, ASU/ASU Dress variation) and service uniform shirt (except on the Class B AGSU), as well as by female Soldiers on the blue or green Army Maternity Tunic. An oval and badge are considered one item for measurement and placement purposes.
Headquartered at Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg), the 234th Field Artillery Detachment is assigned to 3rd Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment, 18th Field Artillery Brigade, a subordinate unit XVIII Corps.