The organizational flash is worn by members of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) and Division Band, 101st Airborne Division, centered on the stiffener of the maroon beret that signifies the unit’s Airborne status. Officers place their non-subdued insignia of rank in the center of the flash; NCOs and Junior Enlisted Soldiers wear the 101st Airborne Division Distinctive Unit Insignia, or unit crest, in the same manner.
Also called background trimming, the 101st Airborne Division oval is placed beneath Parachutist and Air Assault badges, with the badge centered on the oval (although the star or wreath-and-star “crest” on Senior and Master Parachutist badges will project slightly above the trimming). The oval-and-badge combination is authorized for wear by all personnel on the coats of the AGSU and ASU (including the Dress variation of the ASU) and on Service Uniform shirts; female personnel may wear the oval and badge on the blue or green Army Maternity Tunic.
Related Items
101st Airborne Division Patch (SSI)
101st Airborne Division Unit Crest (DUI)
101st Airborne Division Combat Service ID Badge (CSIB)
Originally constituted in July 1918, the 101st Airborne Division was not organized in time to see action in World War II, but since that time it fought in nearly every major conflict with the exception of the Korean War. Not including the numerous military decorations awarded to individual elements, the Division's World War II military honors include credit for participation in four campaigns in the European Theater with Arrowhead devices for two of them; two Presidential Unit Citations; both a French and a Belgian Croix de Guerre with Palm awards; a Belgian Fourragere for two citations (France, Belgium) in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army; and the Netherlands Orange Lanyard.
For its service in Vietnam in a dozen campaigns, the Division was tapped for two Republic of Vietnam (ROV) Cross of Gallantry with Palm awards and a Civil Action Honor Medal First Class. And in addition a Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC) for action in the Persian Gulf War, the Division has also earned three additional MUCS over the course of several deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, not counting an MUC awarded to its HQ Battalion for its 2013-2014 Afghanistan.
Part of the United States Army XVIII Corps, the 101st Airborne Division—nicknamed the “Screaming Eagles”—is headquartered at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
