A star formed out of lozenges—the heraldic term for diamond shapes—is the focal point of the 275th Support Battalion Distinctive Unit Insignia, also referred to as a “unit crest” or a DUI. The star’s design was inspired by the state flag of Delaware, home region of the unit when it was activated: buff (gold) lozenges are taken directly from the flag’s centerpiece image, and the blue lozenges are from the background color of the flag.
Lozenges are also a symbol of constancy and reliability. The position of the buff lozenges at the four cardinal points of a compass rose stand for the four types of supplies the organization received, stored, issued, and distributed, while the blue lozenges denote the unit’s Reserve status. The blue, wavy scroll at base simulates the symbol used to indicate flowing liquid as an allusion to the unit’s petroleum and decontamination services, and the Battalion’s commitment to superior support services is indicated by its motto of ““The Usual Unusually Well.”
The scroll also references the Nanticoke River at Seaford, the home site of the organization’s predecessor unit, the 275th Supply and Service Battalion, which the insignia was approved for on 30 January 1970. It was redesignated for the 275th Support Battalion on 16 September 2006. Today, it serves as the unit crest for the 275th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, an Army Reserve unit assigned to the 518th Sustainment Brigade, 143rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), 377th Theater Sustainment Command. The Battalion is headquartered at Fort Gregg-Adams (formerly named Fort Lee) in Virginia, with subordinate units stationed in Suffolk, Virginia, North Carolina (Fort Liberty, Knightdale), and Tennessee (Nashville).
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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.
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.