The III Corps Artillery Distinctive Unit Insignia (DUI), or unit crest, features the image of a bell tower from a California mission, a reference to its activation at Camp Haan in California; the camp was in Riverside near the famous Missions Trail, which was replete with similarly designed structures. It was first constituted at Headquarters, 14th Field Artillery Brigade in July 1918 and then organized 4 August 1918 at Camp Custer, Michigan. Following activation at Camp Haan, the Brigade was reorganized and redesignated as HQ and HQ Battery, III Corps Artillery; it would go on to earn credit for three WWII campaigns under this designation, as well as a Meritorious Unit Commendation.
After World War II, III Corps was inactivated several times before finally being activated on more or less a permanent basis in 1987, with the Army soon declaring it the “most massive and diverse unit of its kind in the world.” Stationed at Fort Sill, III Corps provided training for Artillery Officers and Enlisted Artillerists in a wide variety of weaponry, including 155mm howitzers, 105mm howtizers (M102 towed), 8-inch howitzers (self-propelled), Multiple Launch Rocket Systems, and Lance Missile Battalions.
The III Corps was inactivated in 2006 concurrent with the creation of the Fires Center of Excellence and the expansion of Field Artillery and Air Defense Artillery Schools.
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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.
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.