Commonly called a unit crest or a DUI for short, the 980th Engineer Battalion Distinctive Unit Insignia was approved on 6 February 1958. Its scarlet and white color tones point to the unit’s status as part of the Army Corps of Engineers, and its two gunstones (black discs) are an allusion to the two World War II campaigns the Battalion’s forebear (2nd Battalion, 334th Engineer Special Service Regiment) fought in during World War II.
The chevron is a longtime symbol of support in heraldry inspired by the shape of a rafter and the support it provides a roof; here, it also is a reference to construction, the Battalion’s most recent duty. "Engineers Par Excellence," the unit motto, reflcts the pride the Battalion takes in achieving its mission goals as efficiently as possible.
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.
More 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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The 980th Engineer Battalion was originally constituted on 23 March 1942 as the 2nd Battalion, 334th Engineers in the Regular Army and activated 20 May 1942 at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana. Deployed to Europe where it served in the Rhineland and Central Europe campaigns, the Battalion was inactivated in August 1946 in Belgium.
When it was redesignated as the 980th Engineer Construction Battalion in October 1948, it was concurrently withdraw from the Regular Army and allotted to the Organized Reserve Corps, later designated as the Army Reserve. Activated on 3 January 1949 with its HQ at Austin, Texas, it was given its current designation of 980th Engineer Battalion on 1 August 1953. In 1959, the Battalion was relocated to Wichita Falls, Texas, but was relocated back to Austin in 1990.
The Battalion has been called into active military service at least twice since the launch of the War On Terrorism, first from 2004 – 2005 and then from 2011 – 2012, and was tapped for a Meritorious Unit Commendation for its outstanding service during both tours. As of Winter 2024, the unit remains allotted to the U.S. Army Reserve and is assigned to the 420th Engineer Brigade, 416th Theater Engineer Command. It is headquartered in Austin, Texas.