229th Aviation Battalion Unit Crest (Winged Assault)

The 229th Aviation Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia, also called a unit crest or DUI, was originally approved for the 229th Aviation Battalion on 6 April 1966. Its description was revised when it was redesignated for the 299th Aviation Regiment on 21 July 1989. Each of the charges on the shield portion refers to a characteristic of the unit: a wing alludes to flight, the arrowhead besides it denotes accuracy, the flash epitomizes speed and swiftness, and the sword is for combat, reinforcing the unit motto of “Winged Assault.”

Originally constituted in the Regular Army as the 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion and assigned to the 11th Air Assault Division, the 229th Aviation Regiment previously was designated as the 229th Aviation Battalion from July 1965 up until 1989 when it was redesignated as a Regiment, the 229th Aviation; its title (but not organizational status) changed to 229th Aviation Regiment in 2005.

During its service in Vietnam, the Battalion as whole was honored with two Presidential Unit Citations, a Valorous Unit Award, a Meritorious Unit Commendations, four Republic of Vietnam (ROV) Cross of Gallantry with Palm awards, and a ROV Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class; its C and D companies were individually recognized with a Presidential Unit Citation in addition to the aforementioned honors.

Since the launch of the War on Terrorism, the Regiment’s 1st Battalion as a whole has been tapped for an Army Superior Unit Award, while the superior service of the 1st Battalion’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company in support of Operation New Dawn has been recognized with two Meritorious Unit Commendations; the first was for service between April and December 2011 (that award also went to the Battalion Companies A-G) and a second for service between March and November 2014 in support of Combined Joint Task Force-4 and the International Security Assistance Forces (also awarded to and Companies A-D and a Detachment from Company E). And 8th Battalion, 229th Aviation Regiment was also chosen for a Meritorious Unit Commendation for its outstanding support of Operation New Dawn (January-September 2011).

As of December 2020, the Regiment’s 1st Battalion is assigned to the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade and the 8th Battalion to the Combat Aviation Brigade, 29th Infantry Division.