The 185th Aviation Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia, commonly called a “unit crest” or a DUI, was approved on 10 May 1989. Its ultramarine blue and golden orange tones are the official branch colors of Army Aviation, with blue also denoting loyalty and truth as well as the sky, the unit’s theater of operations. The shield is bifurcated equally into the two colors with the image of a griffin countercharged upon it, i.e., the griffin is golden orange on the blue portion of the shield and ultramarine blue on the orange section. A griffin has the strength and fearlessness of a lion combined with the awareness and vigilance of an eagle—all qualities inextricably linked to the organization’s basic mission.
In one paw, the griffin clutches a sword; in the other, a lightning flash. The sword symbolizes the combat-oriented aspects of the unit, while the lightning flash is an allusion to the speed at which the mission is carried out. “Fighting For The Force” is the Regimental motto.
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.
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The 185th Aviation Regiment was originally organized as the 323rd Aviation Battalion in the Mississippi Army National Guard from existing units on 2 October 1986. It was expanded, reorganized, and redesignated as the 185th Aviation, a parent regiment in the Combat Arms Regimental System consisting of the 1st Battalion and Company E, on 1 October 1987. Between 1992 and 2007 the Regiment was reorganized seven times, typically changing the number and designations of the companies that make up the 1st Battalion and specifying to which National Guards the units are allotted. Its official title changed to the 185th Aviation Regiment in 2005.
Because individual companies have been called into Federal service much more frequently than all the Regiment’s component units, the Regiment as a whole has no official campaign credits and just a single military decoration, a Meritorious Unit Commendation for service in Iraq from November 2010 to November 2011. However, the HQ Company, 1st Battalion is credited with two World War II campaigns (New Guinea and Southern Philippines) and a Philippine Presidential Unit Commendation, and Companies B and I, 1st Battalion fought in the National Resolution and Iraqi Surge campaigns.