Often called a unit crest, the Distinctive Unit Insignia (DUI) of the 700th Support Battalion, now serving as the 700th Brigade Support Battalion, was approved 29 February 1972.
The insignia features three chevrons that are arranged in a zigzag line of partition called a bar dancette in heraldry. Chevrons are a symbol of support (inspired by the shape of rafters supporting a roof) that also suggest the appearance of an arrowhead and the use of three here corresponds to the number of World War II assault landings in which the Battalion’s predecessor took part. The three vertical, counterchanged divisions are an allusion to the three conflicts—both World Wars and the Korean War—in which units in the Battalion’s lineage had fought.
The scarlet-colored chevron in the center is a direct reference to the Meritorious Unit Commendation earned in Korea; the fleur-de-lis commemorates being awarded the French Croix-De-Guerre with Palm; and the Taeguk (similar to a yin-yang symbol) is for the Korean Presidential Unit Citation awarded for service in Korea from 1951-1953. “Tradition Pride Support” is the Battalion motto.
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 (ASU, Enlisted only) with the base of the insignia toward the outside shoulder seam. Current regulations do not permit the DUI to be 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 700th Brigade Support Battalion was originally organized from new and existing units in the Oklahoma National Guard as the 120th Medical Regiment and assigned to the 45th Division on 23 May 1923. Though formed several years after the end of World War I, the WWI campaigns credited to the existing units used to form the Regiment were thereafter credited to the Regiment and all later units that remained in its lineage. It was reorganized and redesignated as the 120th Medical Battalion on 11 February 1942, and it was under this designation that the unit would take part in eight campaigns in Sicily, Italy, France, Germany, and Central Europe, as well as in four Korean War campaigns.
It would retain its assignment as the 120th Medical Battalion until 1996 when its Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment was consolidated 1 October 1996 with the 700th Support Battalion and consolidated unit designated as the 700th Support Battalion, an element of the 45th Infantry Brigade; As of Winter 2024, it is part of the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma Army National Guard.
Headquartered in Norman, Oklahoma, the 700th Brigade Support Battalion Battalion has deployed to the Middle East in support of the War on Terrorism on at least two occasions, first in 2007 and then in 2011. Following the 2011-2012 deployment to Afghanistan, the Battalion’s HHC and A, B, and C Companies were honored with a Meritorious Unit Commendation for their outstanding dedication to duty during combat operations in Laghman Province, Afghanistan between July 2011 and March 2012 in support of Task Force Thunderbird and Combined Joint Task Force-1.
During that same time frame, the Battalion’s Company E was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 179th Infantry Regiment (which was also part of Task Force Thunderbird) and Company F was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment. In 2014, both Companies were tapped for inclusion in the Meritorious Unit Commendations awarded to the 179th Battalion and 279th Battalion.