With a history that stretches back to the end of the 19th century and an organizational record that includes three major consolidations and myriad redesignations, it should come as no surprise that the 106th Cavalry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia has been authorized for several different units over the decades. Fittingly, it was originally approved for the 106th Cavalry Regiment, Illinois and Michigan National Guard on 17 December 1930; it was amended to omit the motto (“UTCUMQUE UBIQUE,” Latin for “Anywhere At Any Time”) in July 1931. Other units that wore the insignia include the 106th Heavy Tank Battalion (1953) and the 106th Armor Regiment (1960); it was last redesignated for the 106th Cavalry Regiment, Illinois Army National Guard on 7 January 1965.
The 106th Cavalry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia features an uncluttered design, with a shield divided by a dovetailed partition into yellow and red areas, denoting the unit’s history in both the Artillery and Cavalry branches; these colors are also Spanish colors and reflect service in the War with Spain. Four fleurs-de-lis are symbolic of service in Europe during World War I and World War II.
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 (ASU, 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.
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Originally formed as an unnumbered squadron of Cavalry in the Illinois Army National Guard on 1 July 1987, the 106th Cavalry Regiment has a history in which it logged many more years serving in the Artillery branch. That first Cavalry squadron was reorganized, expanded, and redesignated as the 1st Cavalry on 22 June 1899, but following the U.S. entry in World War I the unit was reorganized and redesignated as the 122d Field Artillery and assigned to the 33rd Division on 21 September 1917; it would go on to fight in three campaigns before the signing of the Armistice in November 1918, and was demobilized in June 1919.
Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the unit—still in the Artillery branch—was redesignated from 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery to 210th Field Artillery Battalion, an element of the 33rd Division. The newly formed Battalion earned a total of eight campaign streamers that represented all three theaters of operation in World War II. Its units also earned two French Croix de Guerre, a French World War II Fourragere, and a Philippine Presidential Unit Citation that counted toward the Regiment as a whole.
Following World War II, the battalion was redesignated several times within the Artillery branch (Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion, Missile Battalion, Air Defense Artillery Regiment). It was finally redesignated as Cavalry on Converted, reorganized, and redesignated 1 September 2006 as the 106th Cavalry Regiment, a parent regiment under the United States Army Regimental System, to consist of the 2d Squadron, an element of the 33d Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
Since that time, the Regiment is credited with participation in one campaign, Consolidation II in Afghanistan, in the War on Terrorism. (Note that two of the Troops in the Regiment’s lineage, A (Pontiac) and C (Aurora) are entitled to additional battle honors and decorations). As of Summer 2023, the only active unit of the 106th Cavalry Regiment is 1st Squadron, assigned to the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team Illinois Army National Guard.