A U.S. Army Reserve unit, the 303rd Information Operations Battalion is a component of the 151st Theater Information Operations Group and serves as the Reserve’s Information Operations force provider to AFRICOM, CENTCOM, EUCOMM, and SOUTHCOM. Its Headquarters and Headquarters Company, as well as its two subordinate Companies, are based in California at Parks Reserve Force Training Area, more commonly referred to as Camp Parks.
Its Distinctive Unit Insignia (DUI), or unit crest, was approved on 3 November 2010. Not a part of any existing Army Branch, the Battalion’s insignia uses the colors teal blue and yellow to denote its Branch Immaterial status, while the light blue color stands for the joint operations conducted by the Battalion. An arch in the shield portion of the insignia symbolizes the portal which service members pass through to obtain greater knowledge necessary for our nation’s defense. A yellow star recalls the Army’s official logo, and here it signifies the Army’s support of the rule of law and the protection it offers for nation’s interests.
The five points are an allusion to the five pillars of Information Operations: Psychological Operations, Electronic Warfare, Computer Network Operations, Military Deception, and Operation Security. “Leadership And Influence,” the Battalion motto, is inscribed in silver on a dark-blue tripartite scroll.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
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 (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.
For Enlisted personnel, the insignia is 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.
Full 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.