“This We’ll Defend,” the motto for personnel assigned to U.S. Army Training Activities featured on the U.S. Army Trainer Personnel Distinctive Unit Insignia, is taken from the Seal of the Department of the Army. Also borrowed from the Department of the Army Seal are the serpent (which recalls the imagery of the Gadsden flag) and the breastplate in the center of the insignia, all of which symbolize our nation’s readiness to defend itself against aggression.
Serving as a crest is a torch of liberty at the top center of the insignia surrounded by a total of thirteen stars, a reference to our nation’s founding; the light of the torch is also a symbol of leadership and knowledge acquired through training.
The Distinctive Unit Insignia for U.S. Army Trainer Personnel was originally approved to be worn by Soldiers and personnel assigned to U.S. Army Training Activities on 15 January 1958, with the authorization for its wear extended to personnel of the U.S. Army Training Center, Caribbean on 27 May 1960.
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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.
For Enlisted personnel, the insignia is 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.
Full 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.