The 464th Chemical Brigade Combat Service ID Badge is based upon the color version of the Brigade’s Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (SSI) that was approved shortly after the unit was redesignated from a Group to a Brigade. Cobalt blue and golden yellow used exclusively for the colored SSI and CSIB are branch colors of the Chemical Corps, and the droplets allude to a common chemical dispersion method; the also signify the numerical designation of the Brigade (4 blue, 6 yellow, 4 blue).
In addition to its command and control function over Chemical battalions and other assigned or attached units, the Brigade allocated its resources and unit in support of Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) reconnaissance and decontamination, detection of biological threats, and smoke operations. It also carried out decontamination for civilian authorities in response to domestic CBRN incidents; these received little fanfare, but mission success was all that mattered to the Brigade whose motto was “We Serve In Silence.”
Among its other achievements was serving as the exercise director for the Rio Grande exercises from 1998 to 2002. Sponsored by Army Reserve Command, these exercises were valuable because they employ a contemporary opposing force scenario to closely mimic possible real-life scenarios. The Brigade also served as one of the lead WMD training organizations in the United States, and its expertise was so highly valued it was selected to train law-enforcement agencies prior to the 1999 visit of Pope John Paul II, an especially high-profile assignment given the number of attempts made on the Pontiff’s life throughout his Papacy. And after the terror attacks of 11 September 2001, the Brigade mobilized over 1,000 Soldiers from a total of two dozen units (five of them complete) for deployment, first in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and subsequently in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Related Items
464th Chemical Brigade Patch (SSI)
464th Chemical Brigade Unit Crest (DUI)