U.S. ARMY 158TH INFANTRY REGIMENT UNIT CREST (DUI)

US Army 158th Field Artillery Brigade Unit Crest

The 158th Infantry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia (commonly called a unit crest or DUI) utilizes a gold Gila monster to represent the unit’s home location—the creatures are indigenous to Arizona—and the characteristics of security and tenacity: Someone bitten by a Gila monster may have to resort to submerging it in water to force the venomous animal to release its bite. “CUIDADO” is Spanish for “Take Care” or “Be Careful,” an admonition to potential adversaries of the unit’s commitment to mission and fighting spirit. This insignia was first approved for the 158th Infantry Regiment, Arizona National Guard on 22 July 1924 and was most recently approved for the 158th Infantry Regiment, Arizona Army National Guard (AZ ARNG) on 22 November 2005. Between those dates, the unit has taken a multitude of roles across several branches of the Army, and consequently the insignia has been redesignated an astonishing number of times in a relatively brief period of time.

14 August 1969 marked the insignia’s first redesignation, when the unit was redesignated as the 1581st Military Police Battalion AZ ARNG. Less than a month-and-a-half later, on 26 September 1969, it was redesignated for the 158th Military Police Battalion, AZ ARNG. Seven years would pass before the insignia was redesignated for the 153rd Field Artillery Group, AZ ARNG on 4 August 1976; the unit’s reorganization and redesignation as a brigade led to the insignia being approved for the 153rd Field Artillery Brigade, AZ ANG in January 1979.

Nearly a decade would go by before the insignia’s status changed with its cancellation on 30 March 1998, but in under two months’ time it was redesignated—this time with revised symbolism and description—for the 158th Regiment, AZ ARNG. On 22 November 2005, the insignia was redesignated for (hopefully) the final time as it was approved for the 158th Infantry Regiment, Arizona Army National Guard.

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It is only fitting that this circuitous journey of an insignia emblazoned with a poisonous lizard should start and end with the 158th Infantry Regiment, Arizona Army National Guard: the Regiment’s official Special Designation, “Bushmasters,” was inspired by the presence of deadly pit vipers dubbed bushmasters in the jungles of Panama where the unit conducted jungle-warfare training.

The Regiment’s battle honors include campaign streamers from the Indian War (Arizona 1866), World War I (uninscribed), World War II (seven campaigns, two with Arrowhead devices), and its military decorations include a Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, and two Meritorious Unit Commendations from the War on Terrorism (HQ Company, 1st Battalion and Company D, 1st Battalion).

The 1st Battalion, 158th Infantry Regiment falls under the operational control of the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Hawaii Army National Guard but is headquartered in Mesa, Arizona.

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U.S. ARMY 158TH INFANTRY REGIMENT UNIT CREST (DUI)