U.S. ARMY 128TH AVIATION BRIGADE UNIT CREST (DUI)

The 128th Aviation Brigade Distinctive Unit Insignia, known colloquially as a “unit crest” or DUI, was approved 28 August 1990. “Born Under Fire,” the unit motto, is a reference the Brigade’s service as a provisional unit during Operation Just Cause, the Armed Forces Expedition that invaded Panama in order to seize Manuel Noriega and bring him to trial on narcotics trafficking charges in the United states.

The blue in the upper interior of the insignia symbolizes the sky, the unit’s theater of operations; it is also the color of devotion, loyalty, and perseverance. A phoenix bird denotes birth from fire and epitomizes the unit’s motto; as the phoenix rises to be rebirthed, the Brigade was also “rebirthed” when it was reactivated in 2012 and transferred to the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command.
Distinctive Unit Insignias are 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. Current regulations do not permit the DUI to be worn on the Dress variations of either uniform, however.

More 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.