Formed just a few months after the Japanese surrender, the 405th Civil Affairs Battalion was originally designated as the 117th Military Government, a classification it would at least partially through 1957 (when it became the 405th Civil Affairs and Military Government Group) up until 1959, when the “Military Government” was removed from its name. It was redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 405th Civil Affairs Battalion (in 1992 following a nearly 15-year period of inactivation; in 2005, it was expanded to HQ and HQ Company. As of the Spring of 2023, it is allotted to the U.S. Army Reserve, where it is assigned to the 364th Civil Affairs Brigade, 351st Civil Affairs Command.
The 405th Civil Affairs Battalion Distinctive Unit Insignia (DUI), or unit crest, features four primary components, each related to the Battalion’s mission. A sword over a white scroll represents the unit’s role in executing military and civil governmental operations during combat and post-combat conditions. Emanating from the center are rays of light, representing knowledge necessary to effectively administer civil functions over an administrative region; two red flashes are emblems of courage and efficiency in delivering services.
When you add these four main elements to the circular scroll inscribed with the motto “SECURE SERVE STABILIZE and the five parts of the sword (blade, two crossguards or quillons, grip, and pommel), you arrive at the “405” numerical designation.
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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.
For Enlisted personnel, the insignia is 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.