Also known as a unit crest or DUI, a 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 (Enlisted only) with the base of the insignia toward the outside shoulder seam. DUIs are not worn on the Dress variations of either uniform, however.
Enlisted personnel wear the insignia centered on a shoulder loop by placing it an equal distance from the outside shoulder seam to the outside edge of the shoulder-loop button. Officers (except Generals) wearing grade insignia on the shoulder loops center the DUI by placing it an equal distance between the inside edge of the grade insignia and the outside edge of the button.
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 15th Engineer Battalion was originally constituted on 1 July 1916 in the Enlisted Reserve Corps as Engineer Regiment and was not given a numerical designation until it was organized nearly a year later on 5 May 1917 as the 5th Reserve Engineers. Over the coming decades, the unit would be redesignated on several occasions; designations include 5th Regiment of Engineers, 15th Engineers, 15th Engineer Battalion, and then 15th Engineer Combat Battalion.
During World War I, the Battalion was allotted to the National Army and participated in the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne campaigns before the signing of the Armistice. The unit did not earn any military decorations during that time, but that would not be the case during World War II. Serving as the 15th Engineer Combat Battalion, the unit took part in an amazing eight campaigns, beginning with the invasion of North Africa and concluding with the Central Europe Campaign in the spring of 1945. Its exceptional service was recognized with a Presidential Unit Citation (embroidered SIEGFRIED LINE), and Belgian Fourragere 1940 for its two citations in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army, one for action at the Meuse River and another for the Ardennes.
The Battalion was not deployed to Korea, but it did serve in eight of the seventeen named campaigns of the Vietnam War. For its service between 1966 and 1969, the Battalion was recognized with a pair of Republic of Vietnam (ROV) Cross of Gallantry with Palm awards, as well as an ROV Civil Action Honor Medal First Class. The Battalion would not be deployed to a combat zone again until the War on Terrorism; although its campaign participation credits are yet to be determined, the Battalion has already received one Meritorious Unit Commendation for its tour of 2010-2011; it also garnered an Army Superior Unit Award for non-combat excellence in 2016-2017, living up to its motto to “Drive On” regardless of the assignment or the challenge.
As of Summer 2023, the 15th Engineer Battalion is assigned to the 18th Military Police Brigade, 21st Theater Sustainment Command. The Battalion is headquartered in Grafenwoehr, Germany, with units located throughout Europe.