Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia

(19) Field operating agencies: one design for each activity based on the following criteria.
(a) An identifiable command structure.
(b) A valid justification in terms of unit mission, enhancement of unit morale, and degree of unit permanency.
(c) At least 250 military personnel assigned to the activity.
(20) Other organizations: one design for each organization, except U.S. Army garrison (active and reserve), meeting
the following criteria.
(a) An identifiable command structure.
(b) A valid justification in terms of unit mission, enhancement of unit morale, and degree of unit permanency.
(c) At least 500 military personnel assigned to the organization.
(21) Other.
(a) Organizations not in the categories listed above, which have a DUI by virtue of previous HQDA authority, are
permitted to retain that DUI if it was manufactured and worn by members of the subject organization. In each case,
such insignia is authorized for wear only after The Institute of Heraldry, U.S. Army, has determined the propriety, and
granted approval of the insignia.
(b) Units not authorized a DUI in their own right will wear the DUI of the command to which assigned. Those units
not authorized a DUI in their own right, and not assigned to a higher echelon that is authorized a DUI, may, with the
approval of the Army commander concerned, wear the DUI of the Army area in which located. Personnel participating
in the AGR and ROTC simultaneous membership programs will wear the DUI of the commands, units, and agencies to
which attached.
(c) Personnel assigned to a joint command, DOD, or Federal agency will wear the DUI designated for joint or DOD
agencies.
b. Approval of design. Units meeting the criteria established above will submit requests for authorization of DUI
through channels, with a copy of permanent orders activating the unit to: Director, The Institute of Heraldry, U.S.
Army, 9325 Gunston Road, Room S112, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060–5579. Requests will include three proposed mottoes,
if the organization requests a motto with the design. Once approved, no changes are made in a design of the insignia.
c. Provisional units. The authorization of a DUI will not be granted for provisional units.
d. By whom worn.
(1) When a DUI is authorized, all personnel assigned to the organization wear the insignia, except general officers
and the Sergeant Major of the Army. General officers wear their regimental distinctive insignia (RDI) on the black
pullover sweater. The Sergeant Major of the Army wears the SMA insignia in lieu of the DUI. Reserve component
units with WARTRACE alignments may wear the DUI of the Active unit to which they are aligned, in lieu of their
peacetime DUI, provided major RSC or state TAG, and MACOM commanders agree on such wear.
(2) A complete set of the distinctive unit insignia consists of three pieces. The procurement of distinctive insignia
not approved by The Institute of Heraldry, U.S. Army, is prohibited. Units may purchase approved DUIs through the
use of appropriated or nonappropriated funds.
e. Where worn. The design of the DUI is metal, or metal and enamel, only. Enlisted personnel wear the insignia on
the Army green uniform coat, the black pullover sweater, and the beret.
f. How worn.
(1) Enlisted personnel wear the DUI on the green service uniform coat, centered on the shoulder loops an equal
distance from the outside shoulder seam to the outside edge of the button, with the base of the insignia toward the
outside shoulder seam. Enlisted personnel are not authorized to wear the DUI on the enlisted green dress uniform
(worn with white shirt and necktie/neck tab). Officers wear the DUI centered on the shoulder loops, an equal distance
from the inside edge of their grade insignia to the outside edge of the button, with the base of the insignia toward the
outside shoulder seam (see fig 28–138).
244 AR 670–1 3 February 2005