The Combat Service Identification Badges, or CSIBs, of U.S. Army units are almost invariably taken directly from the design of the unit's Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (SSI). In the case of the 18th Aviation Brigade, the design of its Shoulder Sleeve Insignia--and thus its CSIB--was originally approved in October, 1987. As you can see, its two wings with an inset arrow convey the notions of both flight and combat. The imagery is so powerful it was also employed in the Brigade's unit crest (link below).
But in 2003, the design of the shoulder sleeve insignia—and, consequently, the CSIB—was altered to include an "AIRBORNE" tab. In other words, the current authorized version (according to The Institute of Heraldry) features the "AIRBORNE" tab; a CSIB for the 18th Aviation Brigade prior to January, 2003, such as the one seen here, does
not feature the tab. Use the link below to view the CSIB with Airborne tab and add it to your shopping cart. You'll also find a short outline of the unit's combat history on that page.
Related Items
18th Aviation Brigade Unit Patch (SSI)
18th Aviation Brigade Unit Crest (DUI) 18th Aviation Brigade CSIB with AIRBORNE Tab18th Aviation Brigade Flash and Oval