The Special Troops Battalion, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division was organized 16 December 2004 from the Headquarters Company of the Division’s 1st Brigade, with the Headquarters splitting off to begin a new lineage. But the HQ Company’s origins date all the way back to World War I when it was constituted in the Regular Army as HQ Troop, 4th Division.
Redesignated as Headquarters Company, 4th Infantry Division in 1943, the unit took part in all the major campaigns in the European theater (outside Italy) and was awarded an Arrowhead device for an assault landing during the Normandy campaign, as well as a Belgian Fourragere (two citations).
As the Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, the unit was credited with participation in eleven of the seventeen named campaigns of the Vietnam conflict. It was also honored with a pair of Presidential Unit Citations, two Vietnam Crosses of Gallantry with Palm and a Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class.
Before its designation as a Special Troops Battalion, the unit was recognized with a Valorous Unit Award (IRAQ 2003 – 2004). Additional honors for its role in the War on Terrorism include two Meritorious Unit commendations for deployments in 2008 – 2009 and 2010 – 2011, all i keeping with its motto of “AVDERE EST FACERE” ("To Dare Is To Do").
By the end of 2014, the 1st Styker Brigade Combat Team's Special Troops Battalion had been replaced a Brigade Engineer Battalion. It is unclear if the Special Troops Battalion was reorganized and/or redesignated, inactivated, or disestablished. We encourage anyone with information regarding its status post-2015 to
email us so we may share it with our customers and visitors.
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Also known as a unit crest or DUI, 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.