The 14th Psychological Operations Battalion Distinctive Unit Insignia, also called a unit crest or simply a DUI, was authorized for wear on 15 June 1966. It features an image of shining sun with a red border and rays of light superimposed on a red disc with a red border; inside the sun’s red border are two black diamonds with a single white diamond superimposed over them.
Rays of sunlight represent information disseminated by the Battalion, with the fourteen flames indicating the numerical designation of the unit. White and black diamonds symbolize the core of facts the Battalion possesses; together they present as white, gray, and black, thus representing the three types of propaganda utilized in Psychological Operations. The two solid black diamonds denote the participation by the Battalion’s Headquarters and Headquarters in two World War II campaigns, and red used throughout the insignia refers to warfare.
he 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.
The 14th Psychological Operations Battalion was originally created as the 4th Mobile Radio Broadcasting Company on 24 December 1943 and took part in the Rhineland and Ardennes-Alsace campaigns in the European Theater. It was inactivated from 1945 to 1955, when it was activated under the new designation of 14th Radio Broadcasting and Leaflet Battalion. From 1961 to 1965 it was designated as the 14th Psychological Warfare Battalion; it received its current designation on 20 October 1965. It received its second Meritorious Unit Commendation in 2009 for its 2005-2006 deployment in support of the War on Terrorism; its first MUC was for support of the Vietnam War in 1968-1970.
Withdrawn from the Regular Army and allotted to the Army Reserve in 1975, it remains in the Reserve today (Summer 2023) as part of the 7th Psychological Operations Group and is headquartered in Mountain View, California.