The 182nd Infantry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia, commonly called a DUI or a unit crest, was originally approved for the 182nd Infantry Regiment on 19 November 1926. Following amendments to change the shield and add the motto in 1948 and 1968 respectively, it was redesignated for the 182nd Cavalry Regiment (with an updated description) effective 1 September 2006. It was redesignated a second time for the 182nd Infantry Regiment effective 1 September 2009.
White was the original Infantry color and is used here to denote the organization’s branch affiliation as well as a reference to the state flag of Massachusetts, the Regiment’s home state. The Native American seen here is the same displayed on the first seal of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, ironically made in England and sent to the colony in 1628; a canton (inset) with a Saint George’s cross in the upper left denotes the design’s British origin. The Regiment’s motto, AVITOS JUVAMUS HONORES,” IS Latin for “We Uphold Our Ancient Honors.”
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.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Carrying the official Special Designation “North Regiment,” the 182nd Infantry Regiment is one of just three units in the United States Army authorized to display a Lexington-Concord battle streamer from the Revolutionary War because units from which it is descended fought in those famous battles back on 19 April 1775. Perhaps more remarkable is the fact that, at the time the Regiment’s ancestors fought the British at Lexington, the organization had already been in existence for an amazing 139 years: it was first organized on 13 December 1636 as none other than the North Regiment.
Lexington would mark the first of a half-dozen campaigns in which the Regiment’s forebears would take part. It was the first of seven wars in which the organization would answer its nation’s call to service; besides its almost exclusive claim to the Lexington campaign streamer, it is also one of just two dozen active National Guard units with campaign credit for the War of 1812. During the Civil War, it fought in thirteen campaigns as part of the Union Army, and in 1898 was deployed to Cuba and took part in the Santiago campaign.
A half-dozen campaign streamers from World War I stand as testimony to its service while designated as the 3rd Pioneer Infantry, a number it surpassed with eight battle honors from World War II, one of which included an Arrowhead device for taking part in an assault landing during the Southern Philippines campaign; it was also awarded a Presidential Unit Citation by the Navy for extraordinary heroism displayed at Guadalcanal. Three companies in the Regiment’s 1st Battalion also earned individual military decorations during World War II: Headquarters Company (Presidential Unit Citation for Lorraine), Company B (PUC for Bougainville), and Company C (Meritorious Unit Commendation for European Theater)
The Regiment would not be called into Federal service again until after the launch of the War on Terrorism. Redesignated for three years (2006 to 2009) as a Cavalry unit and assigned the role of Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition, the Regiment served in Kosovo and had elements deployed in Iraq and Afghanisitan. After redesignation as the 1st Battalion, 182nd, it was again ordered into Federal service in March 2011, and subsequently was awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation for its service in Afghanistan from June 2011 to March 2012.
As of Autumn 2023, the 1st Battalion, 182nd Infantry Regiment is still an active unit in the Massachusetts Army National Guard.