The 53rd Aviation Battalion Distinctive Unit Insignia—commonly referred to as unit crest or a DUI—was approved for wear on 18 January 1967. A falcon with extended wings and a belled leg is used as a symbol of the Battalion’s accuracy, speed, and maneuvering expertise in carrying out its aviation assignments, with the bell serving as an allusion to the planning and control functions provided by the organization. A black rectangle is a reference to the cargo transportation missions the Battalion performed. The unit motto of “Support Everywhere” verbalizes the unit’s dedication to fulfilling its mission goals regardless of location or circumstances.
Distinctive Unit Insignias are 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 (ASU, Enlisted only) with the base of the insignia toward the outside shoulder seam. 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.
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Fort Novosel (formerly named Fort Rucker) in Alabama was the site of the activation of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 53rd Aviation Battalion, which was constituted concurrently with its activation on 25 August 1966. It was inactivated on 2 April 1972, but in 1985 the Department of the Army allotted the 53rd designation to the 25th Infantry Division in advance of a second aviation battalion being assigned to it. The activation of that second battalion was placed on hold as final decisions regarding the composition of the Division, which was to become a Light division, were being formulated, but an administrative error led to orders being issued on 16 October 1985 that inactivated the Division’s 25th Aviation Battalion and activated the 53rd Aviation Battalion.
That error was corrected on 15 January 1986, reactivating the 25th and inactivating the 53rd. However, the 53rd Aviation Battalion was activated again at some subsequent point because records show that the Battalion took part in disaster relief efforts on the Samoan islands of Savaii and Upolu in January 1991. Its inactivation date following that mission is not known.