Better known as a unit crest, the Distinctive Unit Insignia of the 389th Regiment was originally approved on 26 March 1927 for the 389th Regiment Infantry, Organized Reserves. It was redesignated for the 389th (Brigade Combat Team), Army Reserve on 29 January 1962. It was amended on 16 February to correct the symbolism and change the description. The shield is blue, the color of Infantry, while the image of the rising sun is taken from the Seal of the State of New York, the state to which the Regiment was historically allocated. "We Will Try" is the Regimental 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. 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."
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The 389th Regiment spent almost the entirety of its first nine decades of service assigned to or organized as an element of the 100th Division, starting with its constitution on 23 July 1918 and its immediate assignment to the 100th division. After a brief demobilization between November 1918 and June 1921, the Regiment was reconstituted in the Organized Reserves (later redesignated as the Organized Reserve Corps in 1948 and then the Army Reserve in 1952) and assigned once again to the 100th Division.
The Regiment would fight in three World War II campaigns in Europe as part of the Division, with its 3rd Battalion selected for two Presidential Unit Citations (Bitche and Heilbronn). After being inactivated in January 1946, the Regiment was redesignated as the 389th Parachute Infantry (15 October 1946) and was reactivated in December. From August 1950 until May 1952, the unit was organized and designated as the 398th Airborne Infantry before being redesignated as the 398th Infantry, an element of the 100th Infantry Division, in May 1952.
April 1959 marked a new chapter for the organization when it was reorganized and redesignated under as the 398th Regiment, an element of the 100th Division (Training), and its mission changed to Training (except if called into active duty as was the case from September 1961 to August 1962).
From 1968 until 2008, the Regiment was reorganized several times so that its Battalions were elements of the 100th Division. This came to an end in 2007 – 2008 when the 389th’s Battalions were relieved from assignment to the 100th Division, and now the Regiment’s two active Battalions are assigned to the 98th Training Division, 108th Training Command, United States Army Reserve.