The 121st Field Artillery Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia (DUI), commonly called a unit crest by many Soldiers, was approved for the 121st Field Artillery Regiment, Wisconsin National Guard on 10 January 1929. It has been redesignated several times since then: for the 121st Field Artillery Battalion (January 1952), the 121st Artillery (January 1964), and again for the 121st Field Artillery Regiment, Wisconsin Army National Guard on 11 July 1972.
A red shield is used to denote the unit’s status an Artillery organization, with a yellow pale containing a red arrow dividing it into third. The division signifies the organization had been called into Federal service three times and served in the 32nd Division during World War I. Six fleurs-de-lis stand for six World War I streamers (World War I and five campaigns). CARERVAE FERREAE, Latin for “Of the Brigade of Iron,” reflects the fact that the Regiment’s personnel include many who were descendants of personnel who had served in the renowned “Iron Brigade” in the Union Army during the Civil War.
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. 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.
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The 121st Field Artillery Regiment has roots that go back to the constitution and organization of a Light Horse Squadron in the Wisconsin National guard In March 18890. By the time the unit was drafted into Federal Service, it had been consolidated with other squadrons and converted and redesignated as the 120th Field Artillery. Assigned to the 32nd Division, the Regiment fought in five World War I campaigns and was awarded a French Croix de Guerre with Silver, with its streamer embroidered AISNE-MARNE and OISE-AISNE.
Major organizational changes hit the Regiment during World War II, effectively creating three or four distinct battalions whose service counted toward the Regimental battle honors. In all, the units in the 121st Field Artillery lineage compiled credit for eleven World War II campaigns, eight in the European Theater and three in the Asiatic-Pacific (including an Arrowhead device for taking part in an assault landing in the New Guinea campaign.
Many of the units were reunited to form the 121st Artillery, a parent regiment in the Combat Arms Regimental System (CARS), in February 1959; it originally comprised the 1st and 2nd Howitzer Battalions and the 3rd Rocket Howitzer Battalion, all elements of the 32nd Infantry Division. (Interestingly, this was the first time the unit had been given the numerical designation of 121 while designated as a Regiment.) It was relieved from CARS and reorganized as a single Battalion under the U.S. Army Regimental system in 1987. Since the launch of the War on Terror, the 1st Battalion, 121st Field Artillery Regiment has been mobilized and deployed either in its entirety or by individual Battalions or Batteries five times between 2006 and 2018.
As of Summer 2023, the 1st Battalion, 121st Field Artillery Regiment is assigned to the 157th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Wisconsin Army National Guard and is headquartered in Milwaukee.