The 319th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Battalion beret flash—more accurately referred to as an organizational flash since it identifies a specific unit—is worn on the maroon beret that signifies that the wearer serves in an Airborne unit.
Flashes are centered on the stiffener of the beret, with Officers then centering their non-subdued insignia of grade on the flash and all Enlisted personnel placing either their Distinctive Unit Insignia or Regimental Distinctive Insignia on the flash in similar fashion. Because the 2nd Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment has no authorized Distinctive Unit Insignia, its enlisted personnel wear the 319th Regimental Distinctive Insignia, also called the 319th Field Artillery Regiment Unit Crest. Guidance for insignia placement on the flash is found the January 2021 edition of AR 670-1, paragaph 4–10(e).
Officially referred to as Airborne background trimming, an oval is worn underneath either a Parachutist or Air Assault badge by personnel serving in a unit that has been designated as either “Airborne” or “Air Assault.” The primary portion of the badge, i.e., excluding the star and star-and-wreath at the top of the Senior and Master Parachutist badges, is centered on the oval.
The oval and badge combination is viewed as a single decoration when determining maximum allowable badges and devices. It is worn on Service Uniform coats (AGSU, ASU, and ASU Dress variation) and Service Uniform shirts (except the Class B AGSU), as well as by female Soldiers on the green or blue Army Maternity Tunic.
Detailed wear guidance for organizational flashes and Airborne background trimming is outlined in paragraph 21-32 of the January 2021 editions of AR 670-1 and DA PAM 670-1.
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The 3rd Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment—often called the 319th Airborne Field Artillery—was formed at the same time as the Regiment’s 1st and 2nd Battalions and subsequently served in the same nine campaigns as they did in the First and Second World Wars, earning two Presidential Unit Citations during action in Italy and France.
Over the course of the fourteen campaigns in which the 3rd Battalion fought in during the Vietnam War, its outstanding service was recognized with a Presidential Unit Citation, a Meritorious Unit commendation, a Republic of Vietnam (ROV) Cross of Gallantry with Palm award, and an ROV Civil Action Medal, First Class. (The Battalion’s B Company was individually selected for a Navy Presidential Unit Citation, and C Company was tapped for a Valorous Unit Award.
The 3rd Battalion was called upon to serve in all three campaigns of the 1990-1991 Persian Gulf War, later receiving a Meritorious Unit Commendation for its in outstanding service in support of Coalition forces. In 2008, its bravery and courage against enemy combatants in Afghanistan between January and August 2003 was rewarded with a Valorous Unit Award. It has also been the recipient of two Meritorious Unit Commendations, both for action in Afghanistan—one for
service in 2010 and another 2012.
The 3rd Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment is currently assigned to the 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division and is stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
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319th Field Artillery Regiment Unit Crest