The 27th Brigade Special Troops Battalion (BSTB) was formed in 2007 when the 27th Infantry Brigade of the New York Army National Guard was redesignated as an Infantry Brigade Combat Team; the Brigade had previously been designated as an Infantry Division (1917 – 1955), an Armored Division ( 1955 – 1968), and had served as a brigade assigned to the 50th Armored Division (1968 – 1975) and the 42nd Infantry Division (1975 – 1986).
Headquartered in Buffalo, New York, the 27th BSTB had the same basic organizational structure as other Special Troop Battalions assigned to Brigade Combat Teams. In addition to its Headquarters and Headquarters Company, which has a Military Police detachment, the Battalion also comprises an Engineer company, a Signals company, and a Military Intelligence company that has a Detachment of Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System personnel.
On 20 October 2018, the 27th Brigade Special Troops Battalion was transformed into the 152nd Brigade Engineer Battalion as part of the Army’s 2020 Force Structure Realignment plan that called for Infantry/Armor Brigade Combat Teams to add a maneuver Battalion and an Engineer Battalion while eliminating the Special Troops Battalion. The history and service of the 27th BTSB and its transition to a Brigade Engineer Battalion were celebrated in a reflagging ceremony held at Fort Drum, New York.
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The 27th Brigade Special Troops Battalion Distinctive Unit Insignia was approved on 24 August 2007. It features the unit motto, “VERSATILE.” The three colors—scarlet, blue, and orange—are the first-named colors of the branches of the three Battalion’s three companies (Engineer, Military Intelligence, and Signals, respectively).
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. Current regulations do not permit the DUI to be worn on the Dress variations of either uniform, however.
More guidance 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.