The 345th Quartermaster Battalion Distinctive Unit Insignia, more commonly referred to as a unit crest or a DUI, was approved on 6 March 2006. Its overall shape forms the head of a cottonmouth snake, a poisonous species native to the unit’s home state of Oklahoma.
Its open mouth reveals a tongue in the form of a red thunderbird, an emblem of the old Oklahoma 45th Division, which served as the roots of the organization that became the Oklahoma Army National Guard. Two drops of venom are rendered in blue to represent the Quartermaster Corps and the water purification process employed by the Battalion.
MACHINAMENTUM DE VITAE, the unit motto, is a Latin phrase that translates into English as “The Machine of Life" and refers to the importance of the Battalion in providing clean drinking water.
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The 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 (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" and 21–3(d) and (e),
"Beret" and
"Garrison Cap," respectively.