The 387th Maintenance Battalion Distinctive Unit Insignia, more commonly referred to as a unit crest or DUI, was approved for wear on 4 February 1987. Its red and light blue tones in the upper half of the insignia are colors typically associated with Maintenance units, with the golden, demi-sunburst representing the unit’s home area of California.
Seven rays emanating from the sunburst are an allusion to seven World War II campaign credits. Those rays are sandwiched between red and blue gears which suggest the unit’s mission of maintenance. When viewed in tandem with the black semicircle, the red gear also simulates the appearance of the famous “shell and flame” Ordnance insignia, itself a derivation of a heraldic bomb (flammant) to recall the oranization’s past as an Ordnance unit. A golden fleur-de-lis on a red background is a symbol for the Meritorious Unit commendation the unit was awarded for service in France. “Committed To Support” is the Battalion motto.
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Also known as a unit crest or DUI, a Distinctive Unit Insignia is worn by all Soldiers (except General Officers) in units that have been authorized to be issued the device.
It is worn centered on the shoulder loops of the Army Green Service Uniform (AGSU) and the blue Army Service Uniform (Enlisted only) with the base of the insignia toward the outside shoulder seam. DUIs are not worn on the Dress variations of either uniform, however.
Enlisted personnel wear the insignia centered on a shoulder loop by placing it an equal distance from the outside shoulder seam to the outside edge of the shoulder-loop button. Officers (except Generals) wearing grade insignia on the shoulder loops center the DUI by placing it an equal distance between the inside edge of the grade insignia and the outside edge of the button.
More guidance on wear of the DUI is found in DA Pamphlet 670-1, Section 21-22, "Distinctive unit insignia" and 21–3(d) and (e), "Beret" and "Garrison Cap," respectively.