The 136th Signal Battalion was organized in the Texas Army National Guard on 1 October 1989 from new and existing units and headquartered at Temple. In December 2005, the Battalion relieved the Army’s 17th Signal Battalion of control of the phone and data network that was providing communication capabilities to U.S. and Coalition forces in north-central Iraq. The network delivered telephony, computer networking, and video teleconferencing services to more 12,000 subscribers, and in addition the Battalion provided maintenance of all services as well as defense of the communications system.
It was a successful operation that embodied the Battalion’s motto of “Command on the Move,” found on the 136th Signal Battalion's Distinctive Unit Insignia. Atop the insignia is a star surrounded by a laurel wreath; the star is of course a symbol for the unit’s home sate of Texas—as of May 2023, it remains the flagship Signal outfit of the Texas Army National Guard—but it also is emblematic of command and control functions and is in fact the crest of the state of Texas.
Below the crest is a shield with an orange field with another silver stars in its middle. Orange is the color of the Signal Corps; five black lightning flashes are streaking from the star, reflecting the Battalion’s to communicate in any direction both day and night. A black scroll with the motto recalls the image of a wheel, which in turn reminds the viewer of the Battalion’s mobility in delivering essential communications functions for any sized unit.
This DUI became obsolete when the a new one was assigned to the Battalion on 23 November 2011.
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Also known as a unit crest or DUI, the 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.
Full guidance on wear of the DUI is found in DA Pamphlet 670-1,
Section 21-22, "Distinctive unit insignia."