The 2nd Engineer Brigade Shoulder Sleeve Insignia–Military Operations In Hostile Conditions insignia (SSI–MOHC), commonly referred to as a “unit patch” or “shoulder patch,” pays homage to the unit’s stint as an Engineer Special Brigade (ESB). Originally designated as the 2nd Engineer Amphibian Brigade (EAB), the 2nd Engineer was one of five EABs chosen for conversion to ESB, which specialized in sustained amphibious operations.
The EABs were trained to become ESBs by Amphibian Training Command, which had an insignia consisting of a red seahorse on a white disc inside a blue circle; the brigades simply adopted that insignia and augmented it with a textual numerical designation tab.
2nd Engineer Brigade would be affiliated with amphibious operations for 67 years until its redesignation to its current title in 2009, but 44 of those years were spent inactivated.
Related Items: 2nd Engineer Brigade Unit Crest (DUI)2nd Engineer Brigade Combat Service ID Badge (CSIB)