The 501st Signal Battalion Oval—technically known as Airborne background trimming— was worn by Officers and Enlisted personnel who had qualified for the Parachutist or Air Assault Skill badges. Current regulations (January 2021 edition of DA PAM 670-1) call for the wear of the oval beneath the badge, with its main portion centered on the embroidered oval and the combination worn on the AGSU and ASU Service Uniform coats, the Class B ASU shirt, and the blue or green Army Maternity Tunic. Wear and positioning of the oval-badge combination is delineated in
Chapter 21-32 (b) and
Chapter 22-16 (b) of the 2021 edition of DA PAM 670-1.
At the time of the Battalion’s inactivation in 2004, however, the background trimming and badge was authorized for wear only on the Army Green Coat, the AG 415 shirt, and Maternity Uniform Tunic. Males wore the background trimming and badge on the pocket flap of the Coat so there was 1/8-inch between the seam of the pocket flap and the top of the trimming (or star or wreath in the case of Senior and Master Parachutist badges). Females wore the trimming and badge on the Green Coat and Maternity Uniform Tunic, with the bottom edge of the background trimming 1/4-inch above the ribbons; when worn below the ribbons, the top of the trimming (or wreath or star) is 1/4-inch below the bottom row of ribbons.
When worn on the AG 415 shirt and ribbons were worn, both males and females positioned the trimming so its bottom edge was 1/4-inch above the ribbons. When ribbons were not worn, males and females would wear the trimming 1/4-inch above the pocket seam.
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501st Signal Battalion Unit Crest (DUI)