U.S. ARMY 7TH INFANTRY REGIMENT UNIT CREST (DUI)

The 7th Infantry Regiment was originally constituted as the 8th Infantry in January 1812, but less than four years later it was given its current numerical designation when it was consolidated with the 24th Infantry and 39th Infantry to form the 7th Infantry. Since that time, it has had units participate in almost every military campaign in which the Army has been engaged, with the only exceptions being the China Relief Expedition, Mexican Expedition, Armed Forces Expeditions (Dominican Republic, Grenada, Panama, Somalia), and Kosovo.

It was during one of the Regiment’s earliest battles that it acquired its nickname of “Cottonbalers,” when its soldiers held a line behind a breastwork made of cotton bales as the British attacked during the Battle of New Orleans. That imagery is found in the 7th Infantry’s Regimental Distinctive Insignia, or unit crest, which features bales of cotton placed atop a pair of crossed bayonets. Inscribed above those elements is the unit motto, “VOLENS ET POTENS,” a Latin phrase that translates as “Willing and Able”—qualities that the Regiment has displayed time after time over the many decades it has answered its country’s call.

Also known as a unit crest or DUI, a 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.

Enlisted personnel wear the insignia 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.