The Distinctive Unit Insignia of the 98th Area Support Group—also called a unit crest or a DUI—was approved on 19 August 1992. Its centerpiece, a castle tower with a black, upright sword as a charge, is superimposed over a blue pentagon that is enwrapped in a reds scroll containing the unit motto, “Supporting Excellence.” Our national colors of red, blue, and white reflect courage and devotion to duty by the Group’s personnel, while the blue pentagon is adapted from the V Corps device; the tower’s three battlements are an allusion to the 3rd Infantry Division and the Group’s theater of operation. Similarly, the castle is a reminder of the unit’s service in Germany and of a strong defense. An upright sword is a emblem of thorough military readiness.
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. Full 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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The 98th Area Support Group was originally activated as a provisional unit on 7 June 1991. Five months later, the unit was officially activated by U.S. Army Europe on 16 October 1991 and assigned to V Corps. It comprised four Base Support battalions: the 235th (Ansbach), 279th (Bamberg), 280th (Schweinfurt), and 417th (Kitzingen).
In 2005, the Installation Management Agency’s Area Support Groups and Base Support Battalions were replaced with a system of Army Garrisons, thus leading to the inactivation of the 98th Area Support Group and its four Base Support Battalions.