Often called a unit crest, the Distinctive Unit Insignia (DUI) of the U.S. Army Public Health Center consists of a green shield with a silver border and green background and a curved, maroon scroll inscribed with the organization’s motto UNA SANITAS, Latin for “One Health.” The shield is chock-a-block with imagery, with a reversed maroon pile that mimics a triangle serving as the foundation for the message. A triangle symbolizes stability and strength, and it also points to three areas covered by the “One Health” concept: People, animals, and environment.
Green is used because the color was associated with the Medical Corps during the waning years of the 19th century, while maroon has been the official primary branch color of Army Medicine since 1916. A cog wheel crossing the pile is surmounted by a flaming torch as a nod to the legacy of the organizations preceding the center, while the flame denotes the light of learning and education.
Placed atop the torch is a spear, symbol of the military nature of the organization, entwined by two green serpents. The Institute of Heraldry says the spear and serpents represent the Rod of Asclepius, which has a single snake and is found on the Army Medical Department Insignia, but in fact it bears a much closer resemblance to the caduceus employed by the Army Medical Corps that has two snakes. At the top of the triangle is the spear tip, representing the organization’s mission since it is carried out in both peace and wartime and frequently before a Soldier even steps inside a combat zone.
The United States Army Public Health Center Distinctive Unit Insignia was originally approved for the United States Army Public Command on 11 March 2013. It was given its current designation on 1 October 2016, the date on which the Center became fully operational following a thirteen-and-a-half-month stint as a provisional organization.
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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. DUIs are not worn on the Dress variations of either uniform, however.
Full guidance on wear of the DUI is found in DA Pamphlet 670-1,
Section 21-22, "Distinctive unit insignia."