Constituted in 1974, the 5th Signal Command has been headquartered in Germany ever since, despite the end of the Cold War tensions which led to the rationale for its placement in Europe. Though its primary focus is to support U.S. Army units and affiliated organizations based in Europe, it mission—“build, operate, defend, and extend network capabilities to enable mission command and create tactical, operational, and strategic flexibility for Army, Joint, and Multi-national forces”—extends to support of units in the AFRICOM area of responsibility.
Originally based in Worms, the closure of the military community there forced the Command to relocate to Mannheim in 1996. The introduction of Global Rebasing and Restructuring led the Command to move from Mannheim to its current location of Wiesbaden. It also has battalions based in Chievres, Belgium and Vicenza, Italy.
The unit’s nickname of “Dragon Warriors” is visually echoed in its CSIB (Combat Service Identification Badge). The dragon, which is breathing lightning flashes recalling communications rather than flames, is associated with the city of Worms, home of the unit’s headquarters for the first twenty-plus years of its existence. The white border of the shield and the orange background are the two colors traditionally associated with Signal Corps units and are used in the design of the Command’s Unit Crest, which features the unit motto "Professional Communications."
Related Items5th Signal Command Patch (SSI)
5th Signal Command Distinctive Unit Insignia (DUI)