U.S. ARMY ASYMMETRIC WARFARE GROUP UNIT CREST (DUI)

The U.S. Army Asymmetric Warfare Group Distinctive Unit Insignia, more commonly known as a unit crest or DUI, was approved on 16 October 2006, a little over six months after the Group was activated on 8 March 2006 at Fort Meade, Maryland. The Group comprises Senior active-duty Soldiers, DoD contractors with experience in dealing with asymmetric warfare, and Department of the Army civilians.

The Asymmetric Warfare Group DUI features four rectangles in a cross-shaped position, a Native American symbol for a coyote track, in the center of a black disc. The first sentence of The Institute of Heraldry’s description of the insignia’s symbolism—“The black circle represents the unknown future threats of the world”—is perfectly clear. But its explanation of the coyote track is considerably more opaque, involving a story of coyote tricking “the learner” into “the lesson” that the reader presumably knows about.

In April 2014, the AWG was tapped for an Army Superior Unit Award for its service between 1 November 2011 to 22 August 2013 in support of contingency operations, Operation Enduring Freedom, New Dawn and Iraqi Freedom. Permanent Order 92-02, announcing the award, states that “the unit enhanced Soldier survivability, combat effectiveness and enabled the defeat of current and emerging threats in support of Unified Land Operations.”

In a story published by Stars & Stripes in October 2020, a short list of the Group’s achievements included a fast-acting smoke grenade to obscure snipers, a system to remotely shoot dirt off suspicious mounds to check for buried bombs, and a portable tunnel training facility to train soldiers in subterranean warfare. Nonetheless, the need to focus on large-scale combat against near-peer forces led to the Army decision to deactivate the Group, along with the Rapid Equipping Force. Both groups are slated to be deactivated no later than 30 September 2021.

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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. Current regulations do not permit the DUI to be worn on the Dress variations of either uniform, however.

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.y.

Related Items
Asymmetric Warfare Group Patch (SSI)
Asymmetric Warfare Group Combat Service ID Badge (CSIB)

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U.S. ARMY ASYMMETRIC WARFARE GROUP UNIT CREST (DUI)