The 33rd Military Police Battalion Distinctive Unit Insignia (DUI), or unit crest, was approved on 13 September 1969, a little over a year-and-a-half after the unit had been designated as the 633rd Military Police Company. Prior to that time, it had been exclusively designated as a Corp of Engineers unit, beginning with its original formation in the Illinois National Guard as Company C, 1st Engineer Regiment.
It was as an Engineer unit that it earned three campaign streamers during World War I and seven World War II battle honors, two in the Pacific (New Guinea and Luzon) and five in the European Theater (Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe). It was also awarded two Meritorious Unit Commendations and a Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for its service in the Pacific. As of Summer 2023, it is a component of the 33rd Military Police Command, 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade in the Illinois Army National Guard.
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The focal point of the Distinctive Unit Insignia is a white fort with blue horizontal bands inside it. It correlates to Fort Dearborn, a U.S. military garrison responsible for protecting the settlements that eventually formed the basis for Chicago, the unit's headquarters. Blue bands and the six-pointed star are taken from the flag of Chicago, and the six arrows emanating from the fort denote military protection. They are divided into two groups of three to signify the numerical designation of the unit; the arrows are also a reference to the six tribes of the Illinois Indians. A green background alludes to the state of Illinois, nicknamed the "Prairie State." "We Serve, We Protect" has served as the unit motto ever since the insignia was approved in 1969.Distinctive Unit Insignias are 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.