The 49th Air Defense Artillery Group Distinctive Unit Insignia (DUI), also called a unit crest, was approved on 13 November 1969 at the apex of the Cold War that had helped facilitate the creation of such groups to guard American cities against possible Soviet ICBM attacks. Blue nebuly (protrusions) set against golden rays symbolize the sky and both visual and automated devices used to find the enemy in it. The arrows are a reference to the unit's missile capabilities, and the chevron has the appearance of a gunner's level, an early artillery sighting tool. “Alert And Adroit,” the unit motto, was a pity reminder of the need for constant vigilance on the part of Air Defense Artillery units in the 1960s and 1970s.
The 49th Air Defense Artillery Group was stationed at Fort Lawton in the northwest region of Seattle in Washington, specifically the Air Force Station established there by Air Defense Command on 1 April 1960 to consolidate Army and Air Force radar units (it was also used by the FAA). There were a total of forty-seven such ADA installations employing Nike-Hercules Air Defense systems; two of them were in Fort Lawton, and both were manned with personnel from the 49th Air Defense Artillery Group. It was under U.S. Army Air Defense Command, and was inactivated—thankfully without having had the opportunity to earn any combat-related medals—in 1974.
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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 (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.