The U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence Distinctive Unit Insignia—commonly called a “unit crest” or DUI for short—was first approved on 19 May 1977 for the U.S Army Training Center Engineer and Fort Leonard Wood. It remained in effective it was cancelled on 21 December 1994, followed by a nearly five-year period where the Center had no insignia. On 1 October 1999, the insignia was reinstated and redesignated (with revised symbolism) for the Maneuver Support Center. Precisely a decade later, it was redesignated for the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence on 1 October 2009.
Fort Leonard Wood itself is represented by the four-bastioned fort upon which contains two chevrons—one pointing up, one down. Red recalls the blood spilled by Soldiers at Fort Leonard Wood, with the sword inside the chevrons representing combat training. In the base is a black scroll with gold script that reads “Victory Through Skill,” the Center’s motto that curves around the sides and across the symbol of the fort to suggest the continuous and unifying effort of Combat Support Units.
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. 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.
Originally built in 1940 as a site for infantry training, it was switched to an engineer training facility in 1941; in 1984, most of the U.S. Army Engineer School’s operations were brought to Fort Leonard Wood. More change came in 1999 with the arrival of Chemical Corps and Military Police Schools and the redesignation of the Fort to the U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center, and ten years later the installation was given its current title of Maneuver Support Center of Excellence. As of Winter 2024, the Center comprises the U.S. Army Engineer School, CRBN School, Military Police School, and the Fort Leonard Wood Missouri Garrison Command.
Related Items
U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence Patch (SSI)