The 916th Contracting Battalion was activated on 16 September 2010 at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston as part of the 410th Contracting Support Brigade, which in turn was established to more effectively handle the growing number of contingency and mission contracting needs.
In all, the Battalion consisted of five Contingency Contracting Teams, all garrisoned at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Same Houston, and assisted the 410th Contracting Support Brigade in its support of both U.S. Army South as well as other Army and joint operations carried out in the Southern Command area of responsibility. It was inactivated in 2017.
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The Distinctive Unit Insignia worn by the 916th Contracting Support Batalion was originally approved for the 916th Support Battalion with an effective date of 16 July 2010.
Like the insignia of many Contracting Battalions, this DUI incorporates red, dark blue, and white as homage to our national colors and as an allusion to Army Materiel Command, the organization’s major command. A golden eagle with talons extended represents victory and military readiness. In the upper left of the insignia is the Southern Cross Constellation, visible in the Caribbean, highlights the unit’s area of operation in South and Central America. The wavy partition line coupled with the blue chief are emblematic of the oceans, coastlines, and waterways of the Americas, while the Spanish morion helmet with Maltese cross stands for the operation of U.S. Army South, the organization’s primary customer.
The colors red and gold are those of Spain and recall the Spanish heritage found throughout the region. An acute, point-up red angle underscores the words IN CUSPIS in the motto, which translate into “On Point” in English, while its shape and color point to the Battalion’s immediate higher command, the Expeditionary Contracting Command (it too was inactivated in 2017). The entire motto, IN CUSPIS PROVICTORIA, is Latin for "On Point For Victory.”
Full guidance on wear of the DUI is found in DA Pamphlet 670-1,
Section 21-22, "Distinctive unit insignia."