In 2013, the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) announced that it was replacing its Distinctive Unit Insignia (DUI), or unit crest, with a new design it felt more accurately reflected the command’s mission. The new unit crest retained the unit motto—“Sine Pari,” Latin for “Without Equal”—but removed the upspread wings, which USASOC Art Director Dan Telles said were often mistaken for flames and overemphasized the command’s aviation component.
Also retained was the old unit crest’s red arrowhead, which pays tribute to the First Special Service Force, forerunner of modern-day special operations units. The dagger in the arrowhead (sometimes referred to as a spearhead) is a Fairbairn-Sykes knife, first used by British commandos and adopted by American Soldiers in the OSS and Ranger units.
The arrowhead is intentionally positioned on the globe to reflect the regions where USASOC conducts the bulk of its operations; it sits over the Middle East with Asia to the right and Europe and Africa to the left.
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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. DUIs are not worn on the Dress variations of either uniform, however.