The 290th Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia (DUI), also called a "unit crest," was approved on 10 January 1995. It incorporates the national colors (red, white, blue) while pointing to the unit’s history as a frontline Infantry unit; blue is the color of Infantry, red is the color of courage and sacrifice, and three bayonets denote combat readiness and the Regiment’s three battle honors from World War II.
A trio of battlements evokes the image of castles, which are often used to commemorate service in Europe and particularly the Rhineland and Central Europe. The Battlements are also an emblem of stout defense, while the powder horn—longtime symbol of military readiness and rapid response—emphasizes the Regiment’s association with the Army Reserve. “Prepared Professionals,” the unit motto, highlights the Regiment’s role as a source of training units that turn new recruits into skilled and ready combatants.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. 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.
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The 290th Regiment was originally constituted in the Army of the United States as the 290th Infantry on 24 December 1942 and assigned to the 75th Infantry Division. Deployed to Europe during World War II, the Regiment took part in three campaigns—Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe—before it returned home and was inactivated at Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia. It was allotted to the Organized Reserve Corps in February 1952 (which became the Army Reserve later that year) and was activated on 1 March 1952 only to be inactivated 24 June 1954 and relieved from its assignment to the 75th Infantry Division.
Nearly thirty years elapsed before the Regiment’s relationship with the 75th Infantry Division was re-established with the redesignation of the unit as the 290th Regiment and its reorganization into three Battalions on 1 October 1993, all of them elements of the 75th Infantry Division (Exercise). It would undergo several minor reorganizations, either to change its allotment of Battalions or to reflect a change in the designation of the 75th Infantry Division, with the 1st Battalion being allotted to the Regular Army in October 1999.
With the 75th Infantry Division’s transformation into the 75th Innovation Command, its responsibilities for training Army Reserve units was transferred to other organizations, primarily the 84th Training Command and the 85th U.S. Army Reserve Support Command. The 290th Regiment’s two Battalions are still active as of Autumn 2023, with its 1st Battalion (1/290th) providing Support functions to the 157th Infantry Brigade, First Army Division East and its 2nd Battalion (2-120 TSBN) assigned to the 5th Combined Arms Training Brigade, 85th Support Command, U.S. Army Reserve.