“To Deter And Defend” might not sound like the most appropriate motto for an Army Aviation unit with a primary mission of training Army National Guard and Army Reserve units and assisting in the mobilization of active-duty Combat Aviation Brigades. That’s because the motto was created for the 166th Aviation Group back in 1991; it was redesignated for the 166th Aviation Brigade on 7 November 1997, nearly a decade before the Brigade assumed its role as training-only organization (though it did undertake a limited amount of unit training at this time).
The unit motto is just one of several interesting items on the quite busy 166th Aviation Brigade Distinctive Unit Insignia, more commonly referred to as a DUI or a unit crest. Black and silver are used for the majority of the design; black conveys the notion of strength, solidarity, and unity, and when combined with the silver (white) it symbolizes the round-the-clock night-day cycles during which the Brigade is always prepared to serve or fight. A black castle suggests a strong and steadfast defense and is a reference to the 166th Aviation Group’s home base in Germany, while a golden-orange spear symbolizes combat capabilities and readiness; the spear’s wings are an allusion to the unit’s aerial strike capabilities.
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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. DUIs are not worn on the Dress variations of either uniform, however.
Related Items
166th Aviation Brigade Patch (SSI)
166th Aviation Brigade Combat Service ID Badge (CSIB)