The 404th Civil Affairs Battalion is a unit in the U.S. Army Reserve stationed at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. It is assigned to the 304th Civil Affairs Brigade, 353rd Civil Affairs Command of the Army Reserve’s United States Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command. Its beret flash (more accurately called an organizational flash because it identifies the wearer as member of a specific unit or organization) and Airborne background trimming insignia (oval) were both approved on 23 January 2006.
Worn centered on the stiffener of the maroon beret authorized for members of Airborne-designated units, the flash serves as the background for either rank of insignia (Officers, except Chaplains) or the Battalion’s Distinctive Unit Insignia, also called a unit crest or DUI (see link below). The Battalion’s DUI was approved more than a decade before its beret flash and oval on 2 February 1995.
Wear of the Battalion’s oval is reserved for unit members who have qualified for a Parachutist and/or Air Assault badge, with oval placed beneath the badge to form a border or trim around badge, although the star and wreathed star of Senior and Master Parachutist badges will extend beyond the edge of the oval.
The oval-badge combination is worn on Service Uniform coats (AGSU and ASU), the Class B ASGU shirt, and the Army Maternity Tunic (green or blue). Regulations on the positioning of the badge vary between uniform types. We suggest you consult the January 2021 edition of DA PAM 670-1, Chapter 22-16, subsection (b) for detailed guidance on badge placement and positioning.
Since the launch of the Global War on Terrorism, the 404th Civil Affairs Battalion has made several deployments to the Middle East. Its first was during the opening salvos of Operation Iraqi Freedom, with the Battalion’s outstanding service during the period from 19 March 2003 to 15 January 2004 being recognized with a Meritorious Unit Commendation. Although this was the only military decoration awarded to the Battalion as a whole, its component units (Companies A and D and a Deatchment0 have earned a total of four individual Meritorious Unit Commendations, while B Company’s courage and composure under fire was recognized with two Valorous Unit Awards for the period between October 2006 and October 2007.
Related Items
404th Civil Affairs Battalion Unit Crest (DUI)