The 382nd Military Police Battalion Distinctive Unit Insignia—a device commonly called a unit crest, or a DUI for short—was originally approved on 27 January 1953. Over a half-century later, it was amended to update its description on 16 September 2005.
Comprised of a shield partitioned into green and black by a gold bendlet (diagonal stripe) with a gold scroll attached at the base, the insignia can be immediately identified as belong to a Military Police unit because of its heavy use of green and gold, official Military Police Corps branch colors. The gold bendlet alludes to the unit’s functions on the highways of Germany and Europe at the time the insignia was approved (see below).
On a black field, the gold lion rampant—a heraldic term meaning both forepaws raised and possibly a third paw also raised to strike—is taken from the corporate arms of the city of Heidelberg, Germany where it was tasked with occupation duty after the end of World War II. “Police With Honor” is the Battalion motto.
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. Full guidance on wear of the DUI is found in DA Pamphlet 670-1,
Section 21-22, "Distinctive unit insignia."
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The 382nd Military Police Battalion was constituted under that designation on 28 October 1944 in the Army of the United States and activated in France on 4 November 1944. It would be awarded an uninscribed European-Africa-Middle Eastern Theater Streamer (i.e., without a specific battle or campaign enumerated) for its superior performance and contributions to victory over Germany.
It was reorganized and redesignated on 20 October 1947 as the 382nd Military Police Service Battalion, followed by another reorganization and redesignation on 20 September 1951 as the 382nd Military Police Battalion; it was also allotted to the Regular Army at this time.
Over the next thirteen years, the Battalion’s Law Enforcement mission focused to a good extent on highway safety and traffic enforcement. Inactivated in July 1964, the Battalion was dormant until its Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment was withdrawn from the Regular Army and allotted to the Army Reserve and simultaneously activated at Fort Devens, Massachusetts on 16 September 2005. It was ordered into active military service the following year, and would go on to be selected for a Meritorious Unit Commendation for its noteworthy service in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom during its 2006 – 2007 deployment.
As of Spring 2022, the 382nd Military Police Battalion remains an Army Reserve unit, and is frequently assigned a training role during exercises not only with Army units, but also Joint exercises involving troops from friendly nations.