The 290th Military Police Brigade was originally constituted in the U.S. Army Reserve on 1 November 1971 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 290th MP Brigade; it was simultaneously activated at Nashville and assigned to the Third U.S. Army (now designated U.S. Army Central). After being reassigned to the First U.S. Army (1973) and Second U.S. Army (1983), it was inactivated in October 1985. Twenty-five years later, it was reactivated under the 200th Military Police Command in the U.S. Army Reserve. As of Autumn 2023, it has five subordinate Battalions: 160th, 304th, 317th, 535th, and 724th.
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On 14 July 1972, the 290th Military Police Brigade Distinctive Unit Insignia was approved. Encircling a yellow nonagon (nine-sided polygon) is a banner with the unit motto, “Custody With Honor,” which is emphasized by the placement of the oak inside the green embattled area inside the nonagon. Two crossed partizans, spiked Medieval era weapons, reflect the MP Brigade’s responsibility for securing entry and exit to military facilities and related areas. The design is also a symbolic representation of the Brigade’s numeric designation: the round shape of the insignia represents the “0,” preceded by the 9 sides of the polygon and the 2 partizans in the center.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. DUIs are not 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.Related Items
290th Military Police Brigade Patch (SSI)
290th Military Police Brigade Combat Service ID Badge (CSIB)