The Distinctive Unit Insignia of the 163rd Military Intelligence Battalion—officially nicknamed “The Blue Watch”—was approved for the Battalion on 13 August 1970. The unit motto, “Knowledge Is Power,” forms the basis of all military intelligence practices and strategies. Prominently displayed in the center of the insignia is a red-and-blue taeguk, a traditional Korean symbol employed on the South Korean flag that is commonly used on military heraldry as a reference to the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation and ten battle honors from the Korean War. The Taeguk rests atop a pair of crossed anchors, an allusion to two Presidential Unit Citations from the United States Navy. Behind the anchors is a Philippine sun, an allusion to service in the Philippines during World War II and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.
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. Full guidance on wear of the DUI is found in DA Pamphlet 670-1,
Section 21-22, "Distinctive unit insignia."
The 163rd Military Intelligence Battalion was originally constituted in the Army of the United States on 5 April 1945 as the 163rd Language Detachment. Activated on 23 April 1945, the Detachment would take part in the Luzon campaign and earn a Philippine Presidential Unit Citation before the Japanese surrender in September. In September 1949, it was reorganized and redesignated as the 163rd Military Intelligence Service Detachment, and fifteen months later was allotted to the Regular Army on 19 December 1950.
It would take part in all ten of the campaigns of the Korean War, with its exceptional service recognized with two Navy Presidential Unit Citations, a Navy Unit Commendation, and a Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation. It would also undergo two minor reorganizations and redesignations during that time, and was designated as the 163rd Military Intelligence Platoon when it was inactivated 26 December 1955 in Italy. Less than two years later, it was again reorganized and redesignated, this time as the 163rd Military Intelligence Battalion on 20 September 1957.
It would subsequently begin a four-and-a-half year period of inactivation beginning in April 1964 in Italy and ending with its redesignation and activation as HHC, 163rd Military Intelligence Battalion at Fort Hood, Texas in October 1969. It would then enjoy its longest period of active service (nearly twenty years) until inactivated on 15 September 1997. Activated on 16 January 2006, the Battalion would be deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan several times over the next eight years, earning Meritorious Unit Commendations for service during deployments in 2006-2007, 2011-2012 (assigned to the 550th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade), and 2013-2014 (assigned to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment).
As of 2023, the 163rd Military Intelligence Battalion is assigned to the 504th Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade and is located at Fort Cavazos (formerly Fort Hood), Texas.
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