The four colors dividing the shield on the 55th Sustainment Brigade Distinctive Unit Insignia represent the unit's organizational lineage: Brick red is the branch color for Transportation, crimson refers to Ordnance, buff (gold) is for Support/Sustainment, and dark blue is for the Adjutant General Corps. The shield itself stands for defense, while the wrench stands for the Maintenance support and the key refers to the duties of a Quartermaster. The upright dagger signifies “Soldiers First.” The Latin phrase curved under the shield, “ALO VIS TUTIS VICTORIA”, is the unit’s motto and means “Sustain the Force, Secure the Victory”.
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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Having a motto and living up to it is a different thing, but the 55th Sustainment Brigade has acquitted itself well in its short history. Though the unit’s lineage can be traced to 1954, it didn’t have its present designation until September 2006. In 2008, the unit deployed to Iraq to provide support for Operation Iraqi Freedom, making history by being the first Army Reserve Sustainment unit in Iraq. The unit supported over 3,000 logistic patrols, processed over 7500 transportation requests driving over 6 million miles all by December of the same year when they turned control of their duties over to the 304th Sustainment Brigade.
In May 2013, the 55th Sustainment Brigade deployed to Afghanistan to support Operation Enduring Freedom. Their mission was to assume the role of Deputy Commander - Support Operation for a NATO training mission. The mission’s goal was to transition the sustainment and logistical functions to the Afghan National Security Force. On 14th April 2014, the 55th concluded its tour, leaving the ANSF in control of all combat operations.
Nicknamed "America's Sustainment Brigade," the 55th Sustainment Brigade is a U.S. Army Reserve unit based at Fort Belvoir, Virginia and assigned to the 310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, 377th Theater Sustainment Command.
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55th Sustainment Brigade Patch (SSI)
55th Sustainment Brigade Combat Service ID Badge (CSIB)