More familiarly referred to as a unit crest, the Distinctive Unit Insignia of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT), 25th Infantry was approved for the 25th Infantry Division on 21 April 1865 1972. It was amended on 18 May 1972 to correct the Special Designation (official nickname) of the 25th Infantry Division in the symbolism.
The 25th Infantry Division’s rapid advances in the Asiatic-Pacific campaigns in which it fought during World War II led to its nickname, “Tropic Lightning,” which was soon incorporated into the Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (approved in September 1944) as a gold lightning flash on a red background. That flash was adopted for this insignia, but altered to gold and red from the SSI. Not as easily discernible on this insignia is imagery behind the vertical lightning flash: a black volcano in the lower half spews a black cloud of ash into the upper half of the insignia. Encircling this imagery is a pair of palm branches, an allusion to the “Tropic” aspect of the Division’s Special Designation.
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.
Full guidance on wear of the DUI is found in DA Pamphlet 670-1,
Section 21-22, "Distinctive unit insignia."
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Today, the unit has been designated as HHC, 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division since 1963; its reorganization and redesignation in 2005 was due to the transformation of the Brigade into an Infantry Brigade Combat Team. It was originally constituted in the National Army as Headquarters, 168th Infantry Brigade, and assigned to the 84th Division on 5 August 1917. Its campaign streamer for World War I is uninscribed because the Division and its units were broken up and used as replacement troops for units already in combat.
Serving under various designations while assigned to the 84th Division (later 84th Infantry Division), the unit fought in three World War I campaigns. By the time it was deployed to Vietnam, it had been designated as HHC, 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry, and fighting under that name in a dozen campaigns in Vietnam it earned a Valorous Unit Award, two Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm awards, and a Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal.
Although its campaign participation record in the War on Terrorism is yet to be determined, the unit’s outstanding service and dedication to mission has been recognized with two Meritorious Unit Commendations, one for supporting combat operations in Multi-National Division-Baghdad's area of operation from December 2007 to February 2009, and another for conducting stability operations and security force assistance during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn between June 2010 and June 2011.