Much of the symbolism in the 65th Field Artillery Brigade’s Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (unit patch) is related directly to the different designations it has been assigned in the past. Originally known as Headquarters, 16th Field Artillery Brigade when organized in September 1918, the unit was designated as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery (HHB), I Corps Artillery, from 1950 until 1980.
Following a four-year period of inactivation, the unit was redesignated as simply Headquarters of the I Corps Artillery on 14 June 1984, with the HHB, XI Corps Artillery simultaneously redesignated as the Headquarters Battery, I Corps Artillery. On 14 September 2008, the unit was redesignated as the 65th Fires Brigade, a title it carried for seven years until it was given its current designation in April 2015.
Approved on 1 September 2009, the 65th Field Artillery Brigade unit patch includes a lightning flash crossed with a cannon, an arced rectangle diagonally divided into blue and red halves, a pair of dice showing a 6 and a 5, and a small circle with a white disc in the center. The disc is a reference to the I Corps insignia (except it has a black disc in the center of a white circle with black border). A 6 and a 5 add up to 11—a winning number in craps that here reflects the unit’s ability to succeed in combat operations, as well as a nod to its XI Corps heritage (the XI Corps insignia is a 6,5 pair of dice).
The cannon symbolizes the unit’s primary mission, while the lightning bolt is an emblem of speed and power, reflecting the nickname "America's Thunder." The scarlet and yellow seen in the color version of the patch are traditional Field Artillery colors, and the blue area stands for Air Force (air) and Marine Corps (blue for ground troops) serving jointly with the Brigade.
Related Items
65th Field Artillery Brigade Unit Crest (DUI)
65th Field Artillery Brigade Combat Service ID Badge (CSIB)