The 316th Military Intelligence Battalion Distinctive Unit Insignia (DUI), or unit crest, was approved on 16 October 1959. Gold is the color that indicates insight and knowledge. The Korean temple in the center of the insignia recalls the Battalion’s service and battle decorations in the Pacific, while the checkered black and white base is taken from the coat of arms of Bad Schwalbach, the German town where the unit was first activated in 1945 as the 319th Headquarters Intelligence Detachment. “HOSTEM COGERE” is Latin for “Confine The Enemy.”
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 (ASU, 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.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Originally created to serve as an interrogation unit for German prisoners of war, the 316th Military Intelligence Battalion (then designated a Military Intelligence Company) was transferred to Japan where it was merged with other interrogation unit. It was redesignated the 319th Military Intelligence Service Company and served in Korea, where it earned a Meritorious Unit Commendation for its work in the final year of the war. It garnered another Meritorious Unit Commendation for its support of U.S. and Coalition forces in the Southwest Asia conflict (First Gulf War), and was credited with participation in two of that war’s campaigns.
Assigned to the 525th Military Intelligence Brigade (Expeditionary), the Battalion was deployed to twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (2007, 2009) and once in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in the first decade of the War on Terrorism and was awarded three more Meritorious Unit Commendations. Most recently, the Battalion deployed as part of the 525th Expeditionary MIB for nine months in Afghanistan, and in the fall of 2018 departed for a deployment to Kuwait.