The 204th Theater Airfield Operations Group Dis-tinctive Unit Insignia, also known as a unit crest or a DUI, was originally authorized on 21 August 2001 for the 204th Aviation Group. Its focal point is an image of a radarscope with a fleur-de-lis in ultramarine blue—one of the colors of Army Aviation—superimposed over its center. The scope is a symbol representing the Ai Traffic Service community and its mission to ensure safe landing and takeoff operations, a concept reinforced by the Group’s motto of GARDEZ LES SEPARES, French for “Keep Them Spaced” (as in spacing between arriving and departing planes).
Looking down on the radarscope is a pelican, adapted from the state flag, is the embodiment of loyalty and devotion. On both sides of the pelican’s head are a pair of upward-pointing arrows; these refer to delta flight shapes within the Group’s area of responsibility and the need to “Keep Them Spaced” and their flight paths to guarantee safety. The aforementioned fleur-de-lis is an allusion to the Cajun heritage of the people of Louisiana.
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uidance 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 204th Theater Airfield Operations Group was originally constituted in the Louisiana Army National Guard as HQ and HQ Company, 204th Aviation Group, but it was not organized and Federally recognized until 3 October 2007 at Hammond, Louisiana. Since that time, it has been ordered into active Federal service on several occasions, including in 2009, 2011, and 2012. Following its 2009-2010 deployment for which it was awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Group also received participation credit for the Global War on Terrorism campaign in the War On Terrorism.
In July 2022, the Louisiana National Guard hosted six members of the Belize Defense Force (BDF) for aviation cross-training in Hammond and Belle Chasse, with representatives of the BDF’s aviation assets meeting with the 204th Theater Airfield Operations Group in Hammond to discusss practices in quality control and maintenance with aircraft maintainers.