a. Authorization. Distinctive unit insignia (DUI) of a design approved by The Institute of Heraldry, U.S. Army, are authorized and prescribed for wear on the service uniforms of personnel in the following echelons.
(1) MACOM: one design for each MACOM.
(2) Field armies: one design for each field Army.
(3) Regional readiness commands.
(4) Corps: one design for each corps.
(5) Division: one design for each division.
(6) Separate brigades: one design for each separate TOE brigade.
(7) Numbered group: one design for each TOE numbered group.
(8) Color-bearing regiments; training support battalions aligned to color-bearing regiments; and separate battalions, fixed type: one design for each regiment and separate TOE battalion.
(9) Battalions, flexible: one design for each TOE battalion.
(10) Hospitals: one design for each TOE hospital.
(11) U.S. Army service schools established by the Department of the Army: one design for each service school. (12) U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command training centers: one design for each training center.
(13) U.S. Army medical centers: one design for each center.
(14) U.S. Army medical department activities: one design for each activity.
(15) U.S. Army hospital centers: one design for each center.
(16) U.S. Army dental activities (DENTAC): one design for each activity.
(17) Army National Guard TASS: one design for all TASS activities identified in paragraph 28.16d(10)(c), above.
(18) U.S. Army Reserve schools: one design for all USAR schools.
(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 22060â5579. 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).
(2) On the beret, enlisted personnel wear the DUI centered on the organizational flash. Soldiers assigned to units not authorized a DUI wear the RDI on the beret in the same manner as the DUI.
(3) Soldiers (except chaplains, general officers, and the SMA) wear the DUI centered above the nameplate on the black pullover sweater, with the top edge of the insignia 1/4 inch below the top edge of the patch on the sweater. Soldiers assigned to units not authorized the DUI wear the RDI on the black pullover sweater in the same manner as the DUI (see fig 28.139). Chaplains wear their branch insignia, general officers wear the RDI, and the SMA wears the SMA insignia in the same manner. All soldiers may adjust the placement of the DUI or RDI, up or down on the patch, to allow for large size DUI or RDI, or to adjust to body configuration.