Colloquially referred to as a unit crest, the Distinctive Unit Insignia (DUI) of the First United States Army Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) Academy was approved on 16 March 1967. The black pale (vertical bar) in the center simulates the numeral 1, identifying the Academy as being part of First U.S. Army. An upright sword symbolizes the Academy's mission of preparing NCOss to lead their Soldiers both in combat and during peacetime, while the chevrons on either side of the panel allude to the chevrons on the sleeves of an NCO. "Leadership Through Knowledge" is the Academy motto.
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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 (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.