Distinctive Unit Insignia. Description: A Gold metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Azure (Teal Blue), issuant from base a lightning flash bendwise terminating in a dexter hand fesswise supporting an annulet winged to chief all Or, within the annulet a human eye Proper. Attached below and to the sides of the shield a Gold scroll inscribed "INFORMARE LABORAMUS" in Black letters.

Symbolism: Oriental blue is the color traditionally associated with Military Intelligence units. The annulet, symbolic of a camera lens refers to the Aerial-Photo Interpretation mission in the unit's history. The wings allude to flight, the eye represents observation. The lightning flash alludes to the signal element in the unit's composition and the hand commemorates the unit's mission in support.

Background: The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 1st Air Reconnaissance Support Battalion on 12 December 1961. It was redesignated for the 1st Military Intelligence Battalion on 20 April 1962.

Coat of Arms.

Blazon:

Shield: Azure (Teal Blue), issuant from base a lightning flash bendwise terminating in a dexter hand fesswise supporting an annulet winged to chief all Or, within the annulet a human eye Proper.

Crest: On a wreath of the colors Or and Azure (Teal Blue), a bundle of five arrows crossed with a hook-bladed machete in bend sinister, the arrows point down with shafts of the first barbed and flighted Gules, the machete with handle to base Azure (Teal Blue) all banded in center with a ribbon Gold bearing three narrow stripes fesswise Scarlet all in front of a bank of clouds Proper.

Motto: INFORMARE LABORAMUS (We Labor To Inform).

Symbolism:

Shield: Teal blue and yellow were the colors used for Air Reconnaissance Support Battalions. The annulet, symbolic of a camera lens refers to the Aerial-Photo Interpretation mission in the unit's history. The wings allude to flight, the eye represents observation. The lightning flash alludes to the signal element in the unit's composition and the hand commemorates the unit's mission in support.

Crest: The Battalion's awards for Vietnam service for which they received the Presidential Unit Citation (Air Force) and five Meritorious Unit Commendations are represented in the crest. The Mak, or hook-bladed machete used to clear fields in Vietnam, signifies the Battalion's keen reconnaissance performance, and, together with the clouds alluding to Air Force, refers to the Presidential Unit Citation (Air Force); blue is the color of the award streamer. The five arrows, with points down signifying penetration from the air, represent five Meritorious Commendations, with arrowheads and feathers in scarlet the color of the award streamer. The yellow band with scarlet stripes, suggested by the national flag of the Republic of Vietnam, also alludes to the unit's achievements in collecting aerial reconnaissance information.

Background: The coat of arms was originally approved for the 1st Air Reconnaissance Support battalion on 12 December. It was redesignated for the 1st Military Intelligence Battalion on 20 April 1962. The coat of arms was amended to add a crest on 1 June 1973.

Posted by Terry Wheeler

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