The Infantry roots of the 309th Regiment are displayed in its Distinctive Unit Insignia (DUI), or unit crest, with blue and white—colors associated with Infantry since the American Revolution—used predominantly in its design. Originally constituted as the 309th Infantry, the unit was assigned to the 78th Division (78th Infantry Division from May 1942 onward) and fought in three World War I campaigns (St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, and Lorraine 1918): these are commemorated by the three crosses pattée on the blue bend (diagonal bar).
It would serve again as part of the 78th Infantry Division in World War II, and from 1959 until 2007 it was organized so that it or its component Battalions were actually elements of the 78th Division. This close association is reflected in the placement of the 78th Division Shoulder Sleeve Insignia in the upper right corner of the shield. Below the bend, a mermaid signifies the location of Southern New Jersey where the unit was organized in 1917. ESSE QUAM VIDERI, a Latin phrase meaning “To Be Rather Than To Seem,” is the unit motto.
The insignia was first approved for the 309th Infantry, Organized Reserves on 11 December 1923. It was redesignated for the 309th Regiment, Army Reserve on 30 January 1962.
As mentioned above, the 309th Regiment has been associated with the 78th Division for the vast majority of its service life, with the two exceptions being from December 1946 until May 1959 when it was allotted to the Organized Reserve/Organized Reserve Corps/Army Reserve and based in Southern New Jersey. From 1959 until 2007, either the Regiment or its component Battalion were organized to be elements of the Division, with the number of Battalions changing to suit the Army’s training needs.
Between 2004 and 2011, both the 1st and 2nd Battalion, 309th regiment earned three Army Superior Unit Awards, with the 3rd Battalion also garnering an ASUA for its service from 2008 to 2011. Since April 2007, the Regiment has been a part of the United States Army Regimental System and its Battalions relieved from assignment to the 78th Division.
As of Spring 2022, the Regiment comprises the 1st and 2nd Battalions. Both the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 309th Regiment are Combat Service Support units assigned to the 174th Infantry Brigade, 85th U.S. Army Reserve Support Command and based at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey.
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Also known as a unit crest or DUI, the 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 (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.
Full guidance on wear of the DUI is found in DA Pamphlet 670-1,
Section 21-22, "Distinctive unit insignia."