Assigned to the 95th Civil Affairs Brigade and headquartered at Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg), the 97th Civil Affairs Battalion can trace its roots to the constitution and activation of the 97th Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment (HHD), Military Government Group on 25 August 1945 at the Presidio of Monterey, California. Inactivated between January 1949 and November 1961, the unit was redesignated as the 97th Civil Affairs Group and allotted to the Regular Army before being activated on Okinawa. It was inactivated while still on the island on 25 June 1969 and would remain inactive until 16 March 2007, when it was reactivated at Fort Liberty. Since that time, its service has been honored with two Army Superior Unit Awards and a Meritorious Unit Commendation.
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The 97th Civil Affairs Battalion Distinctive Unit Insignia, commonly referred to as a unit crest or a DUI, was approved on 2 October 2006. Its purple and white tones reflect the unit’s status as part of the Civil Affairs branch. A torii gate is an emblem denoting the Battalion’s service while stationed on Okinawa, and bright sun set against a blue sky symbolizes optimism, positive attitude, energy, and the rebirth of a nation through implementation of civil authority.
The globe in the center reflects the Battalion’s worldwide mission, while the wings encircling its base signify the unit’s Airborne status. A point-down sword means the Battalion’s primary mission is to defend the peace while conducting support and stabilization phases that begin before combat phases and continue throughout and after their completion. “Freedom Through Effects” was adopted as the unit motto at the time the insignia was approved.