Often called a unit crest, the Distinctive Unit Insignia (DUI) of the 77th Combat Aviation Brigade was approved for wear on 27 July 2006. Blue forms the background for both the insignia’s shield and scroll and symbolizes the sky, the Brigade’s area of operations in support of the mission. In heraldry, diagonal stripes are called bends; oriented from top left to lower right is a bend dexter, from top right to lower left are bend sinister. Bends are marks of distinction, the scarlet color here stands for the blood shed in patriotic defense of the nation. An eagle with talons extended is an emblem of the Brigade’s offensive power, and also denotes its Aviation assets as mighty and willing to fight as its delivers “Force From Above.”
Distinctive Unit Insignias are 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. DUIs are not worn on the Dress variations of either uniform, however.
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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Headquartered at Camp Joseph T. Robinson, the 77th Combat Aviation Brigade is an Arkansas Army National Guard equipped with both rotary-wing (UH-60 Black Hawk and UH-72 Lakota) and fixed-wing assets (C-26 Metroliner).
Black Hawks are employed for movement of troops and medical evacuations, carrying out search-and-rescue missions, providing aerial surveillance of natural disaster, and conducting forest fire suppression. Lakotas are suited for both security and survillance sorties as well as performing medical evaluations, and their crews log a considerable number of flight hours in support of the stater’s counterdrug operations; they also are used for missing person/escaped prisoner searchers and natural-disaster surveillance.
Related Items
77th Combat Aviation Brigade Patch (SSI)
77th Combat Aviation Brigade Combat Service ID Badge (CSIB)