A maroon Maltese cross forms the backdrop for Distinctive Unit Insignia of U.S. Army Dental Activity, Ford Bliss, with the v-shaped tips of the cross’ arms extending just beyond the edge of a yellow circle on which the unit motto “Prevent, Preserve, Protect” is inscribed. Maroon is one of the colors for the Army Dental Corps; while gold and silver (white) are two previous metals that have an important role in dentistry. The Maltese cross is an allusion the Knights of St. John or Hospitallers who provided medical care and treatment for Pilgrims journeying in the Holy Land.
Superimposed over the center of the cross is an yellow (gold) annulets with a circle in its center; the annulet signifies unity the star is a symbol of leadership. The Greek letter Delta (white triangle), the equivalent of English “D,” is the first letter in the word Dentistry. The white star is also a symbol for the State of Texas, the disc inside the Delta represents sunny weather, and the Delta is also a stand-in for a stylized mountain peak to symbolize the area of the Rocky Mountains near Fort Bliss in Texas.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
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 (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.
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.
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.