A United States Army Reserve unit, the 416th Civil Affairs Battalion is assigned to the 358th Civil Affairs Brigade, 351st Civil Affairs Command. The Battalion was originally constituted as the 416th Military Government Company in the Organized Reserve Corps (today’s Army Reserve. Over the next forty-plus years, the unit would be redesignated twice—as the 416th Civil Affairs and Military Government Company in August 1956 and as the 416th Civil Affairs Company in 1959—before being reorganized and redesignated under its current title and organizational status on 16 September 1992.
The Battalion’s Distinctive Unit Insignia was approved a little over eight months later on 28 April 1993. Its predominant use of purple and white reflects the Battalion’s status as a Civil Affairs organization. A gridlined globe at the top of the shield portion of the insignia reflects the Battalion’s worldwide mission field and its ability to carry out operations with global aspects. A pair of crossed quills is an emblem of support and strength, representing the unit’s administrative functions, while the sword surmounted on the quills symbolizes military readiness. ADVOCATUS HUMANITATIS, the unit motto, is Latin for “Advocate Of Humanity.”
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Also known as a unit crest or DUI, a 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.
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.
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416th Civil Affairs Battalion Beret Flash and Oval