The 376th Military Intelligence Battalion Distinctive Unit Insignia, more commonly called a unit crest, was approved on 16 September 1997. “Language Is Our Weapon,” the Battalion motto, makes it clear that the unit specializes in linguistics, including translation of information acquired through Signal, Human, or All-Purpose Intelligence. This specialization is further referenced by an image of the Rosetta Stone, an ancient stele discovered in 1799 that has the same imperial decree inscribed upon it in three languages, one written in a known tongue (Ancient Greek) and two in previously undeciphered Egyptian scripts. The stone was invaluable in learning not only how to read Egyptian hieroglyphs, but also in learning of Egyptian culture, and its name became synonymous with language translation and any tool or discovery absolutely essential to exploring a new field of knowledge.
Beside the Rosetta Stone is the Sphinx, a commonly used image in Military Intelligence because it is a traditional of a silent but always watching guardian that also hides secrets. Two joined swords denote teamwork and military readiness, while the demi-globe is a reference to the worldwide aspect of the Battalion’s mission.
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 376th Military Intelligence Battalion was originally constituted in Organized Reserve Corps as HQ, 376th Military Intelligence Group on 19 July 1950 and was activated on 1 August 1950 at Dallas, Texas.
It remained a Reserve unit when the Organized Reserve Corps was redesignated as the Army Reserve on 9 July 1952 but was inactivated seven months later on 23 February 1953. It was redesignated as HQ and Service Company, 376
th Military Battalion on 28 March 1996 and its organic elements constituted at the same time.
As of Autumn 2023, the Battalion is not listed as a unit in the United States Army Reserve. We encourage anyone with information on the history of the Battalion since its 1996 redesignation or on its current status to
email us so we may share it with visitors to the Web site.