Activated in 1976, the 8th Medical Brigade has been the largest of all the medical brigades in the Total Army for most of its existence. Following the terror attacks of September 11, it relocated to Fort Wadsworth, New York in February 2002, and in May 2004 it partnered with the Air Force’s 386h Expeditionary Medical Group to establish stress-control teams to assist forward-deployed Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Currently, it is allotted to the United States Army Reserve under the 3rd Medical Command (Deployment Support) with the 439th Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Multifunctional Medical Battalion and 865th Combat Support Hospital as subordinate units.
The Greek cross employed on the 8th Medical Brigade Shoulder Sleeve insignia, or unit patch, is a traditional symbol of compassionate assistance and aid. Superimposed on it is a crown—an allusion to the Statue of Liberty in the Brigade’s home state of New York. An eight-sided octagon is both a reference to the Brigade’s numerical designation as well as the concepts of regeneration and achievement the number represents in numerology. Maroon and white have been Army Medical Department colors since 1902 and 1903, but the combination wasn’t officially designated as such until the release of uniform specifications in October 1916.
Related Items
8th Medical Brigade Unit Crest (DUI)
8th Medical Brigade Combat Service ID Badge (CSIB)