The Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 501st Military Intelligence Brigade traces its origins to the constitution in the Regular Army of the 501st Communication Reconnaissance Group on 13 October 1950. Activated on 13 October 1950, the unit served in Korea and was credited with participation in seven campaigns, earning a Meritorious Unit Commendation and a Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation for it outstanding service.
Inactivated in October 1957 while designated as the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 501st Army Security Agency Group, the Brigade would remain inactive until its elevation to Brigade status on 16 October 1986 when it became Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 501st Military Intelligence Brigade and was reactivated in Korea. The Brigade is still in Korea as of Autumn 2023, based at Camp Humphreys and exercising command of five Military Intelligence Battalions capable of employing a complete array of Intelligence disciplines. Its motto is the Latin phrase IN UNITATE ET VIGILIA ("In Unity And Vigilance").
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Often called a unit crest, the Distinctive Unit Insignia (DUI) of the 501
st Military Intelligence Battalion was first approved for the 501st Military Intelligence Group on 6 June 1978. It was redesignated for the 501st Military Intelligence Brigade on 8 October 1986.
A red dragon is the focal point of the insignia and represents the Orient, home of the unit its deployment to Korea during the Korean War. Oriental blue and gray (silver), branch colors for Military Intelligence, are used for the shield’s background and the crossed key and lightning bolt respectively; their configuration in saltire (“x” shape) represents strength and symbolizes the Army Security Agency and Military Intelligence, the two organizations that merged to create the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM). The swords that bookend that shield are adapted from the branch insignia of Military Intelligence, with their black and white colors denoting the continuous, day-and-night nature of the mission.
More 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.
Related Items
501st Military Intelligence Brigade Patch (SSI)
501st Military Intelligence Brigade Combat Service ID Badge (CSIB)