The color palette of the 313th Military Intelligence Battalion flash and oval—an orange border and teal blue shield—pays homage to the unit’s history. Orange, branch color of the Signal Corps, reflects its original designation as 1942 as the 215th Signal Depot Company, also symbolized by lightning flashes often seen in Signal heraldry; teal blue (branch immaterial) signifies its redesignation as the 313th Army Security Agency Battalion. The flash itself was approved on 8 July 1992 while the Battalion was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division.
More properly called an organizational flash because it is authorized for one of the four colored berets worn by units within a specific unit type (Airborne, Ranger, Special Forces, or Security Assistance Command/Brigade); this flash is worn on the maroon beret. The flash is worn centered on the beret stiffener so that it is located above the wearer’s left eye.
As a general rule, Officers (except Chaplains) wear their insignia of grade centered on the flash, while Enlisted Soldiers wear their Distinctive Unit Insignia (DUI) in the same manner (Regimental Distinctive Insignias are worn by personnel in units not authorized a DUI). Exceptions to these rules are listed
paragraph 4-10(e), "Headgear Guidance," of the January 2021 edition of DA PAM 670-1.
Technically called background trimming, ovals are worn behind Parachutist and Air Assault badges by all personnel on Service Uniform coats and shirts (AGSU and ASU) and by female Soldiers on the green or blue Army Maternity Tunic. Specific guidance on placement of the badge on the oval and rules for placement and measurement of the oval-badge combination is found in DA PAM 670-1,
paragraph 21-32(b)2.
The 313th Military Intelligence Battalion was inactivated in 2006. We encourage customers who wish to learn about the Battalion's lineage, history, and unit decorations to visit our
313th Military Intelligence Unit Crest store page.