The 12th Cavalry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia (DUI), or unit crest, was approved on 14 August 1923. Its yellow shield denotes the organization’s status as a Cavalry regiment, while the single cactus plant recalls the Regiment’s first assignment of patrolling the Mexican border from its inception in 1901 through the end of World War I. “SEMPER PARATUS,” the Regimental motto, is Latin for “Always Ready.”
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.
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The 12th Cavalry Regiment was created through an authorization of Congress on 2 February 1901. For its first two decades, the Regiment’s primary mission was patrolling the southern border of the United States. Assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division in 1933, the Brigade was “dismounted” in February 1943 and served in an Infantry role through World War II and was even reorganized entirely as Infantry in July 1945 (while retaining Cavalry designations). The Regiment earned credit for participating in four campaigns in the Pacific Theater, two of them with Arrowhead designations indicating it took part in assault landings in the Bismarck Archipelago and Leyte campaigns. Its WWII service was also recognized with two Presidential Unit Citations and a Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.
During the Vietnam War, both the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 12th Cavalry Regiment were assigned to the 1st Cavalry War and took part in an astonishing 16 of the 17 named campaigns of the conflict. For its service between 1965 and 1972, the Regiment was honored with two Presidential Unit Citations, two Valorous Unit Awards, five Republic of Vietnam Crosses of Gallantry with Palm, and a Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class.
This record of outstanding service continued with the onset of the War on Terrorism, with both the 1st and 2nd Battalions being deployed numerous times in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Awards attributed to the Regiment as a whole include two Valorous Unit Awards and two Meritorious Unit Commendations, but this fails to take into account the many decorations awarded to individual companies of the Regiment.
As if Summer 2023, the Regiment's two Battalion, the 1st and 2nd, are assigned to Brigade Combat Teams of the 1st Cavalry Division and are stationed at Fort Cavazos (formerly Fort Hood), Texas.