The 174th Air Defense Artillery Brigade is an

Air Defense Artillery The Air Defense Artillery Branch is the branch of the United States Army that specializes in anti-aircraft weapons (such as surface to air missiles). In the U.S. Army, these groups are composed of mainly air defense systems such as the Patriot ...

brigade A brigade is a major tactical military formation that typically comprises three to six battalions plus supporting elements. It is roughly equivalent to an enlarged or reinforced regiment. Two or more brigades may constitute a division. Br ...

of the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...

. It is one of six brigade-sized major subordinate commands of the

Ohio Army National Guard The Ohio Army National Guard is a part of the Ohio National Guard and the Army National Guard of the United States Army. It is also a component of the organized militia of the state of Ohio, which also includes the Ohio Naval Militia, the Ohio ...

, activated on 1 September 2008, in

Columbus, Ohio Columbus () is the state capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio. With a 2020 census population of 905,748, it is the 14th-most populous city in the U.S., the second-most populous city in the Midwest, after Chicago, and t ...

. Before, during, and following its activation, the brigade and its subordinate battalions have been very active, deploying individuals and units to support the Iraq War's

Operation Iraqi Freedom {{Infobox military conflict , conflict = Iraq War {{Nobold, {{lang, ar, حرب العراق (Arabic) {{Nobold, {{lang, ku, شەڕی عێراق (Kurdish languages, Kurdish) , partof = the Iraq conflict (2003–present), I ...

, airspace defense of the

National Capital Region A capital region, also called a capital district or capital territory, is a region or district surrounding a capital city. It is not always the official term for the region, but may sometimes be used as an informal synonym. Capital regions can exis ...

, and the combined

Hungary-United States Operational Mentor and Liaison Team {{unreferenced, date=July 2015 The Hungary-United States Operational Mentor and Liaison Team is a military advising unit that was created through partnership between the Hungarian Ground Forces and the Ohio Army National Guard. The partnership was b ...

Current units

::{, class="wikitable" , - ! Unit designation !! Unit headquarters , - , Headquarters and Headquarters Battery , ,

, - , 1st Battalion, 174th Air Defense Artillery , ,

Cincinnati, Ohio Cincinnati ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located at the northern side of the confluence of the Licking and Ohio rivers, the latter of which marks the state line wit ...

, - , 2nd Battalion, 174th Air Defense Artillery , ,

McConnelsville, Ohio McConnelsville is a village in Morgan County, Ohio, United States located 21 miles southeast of Zanesville and 26 miles northwest of Marietta. The population was 1,784 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Morgan County. As of October ...

, - , Administrative command and control part of 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division, , , - , 1st Battalion, 145th Armor , ,

Stow, Ohio Stow is a city in Summit County, Ohio, United States. The population was 34,483 at the 2020 census. It is a suburban community within the Akron metropolitan area. History Stow is named for Joshua Stow, its original proprietor. Joshua Stow was ...

, - , Administrative command and control assignment unknown, , , - , 2nd Squadron, 107th Cavalry, ,

, -

Heraldry

Combat service identification badge and shoulder sleeve insignia

Description

A rectangle arched at the top and bottom with a 1/8 inch (.32 cm) yellow border, 2 inches (5.08 cm) in width and 3 inches (7.62 cm) in height overall divided per pale ultramarine blue and scarlet, between two yellow lightning bolts radiating pilewise in base a stylized missile of the like; in chief a chevron of nine white stars and on either side of the missile head are four white stars in the configuration of a square diamond.

Symbolism

Scarlet and yellow are the colors associated with Air Defense Artillery. The Nike Hercules missile was the weapon last employed in the ground-based air defense of the United States Homeland and represents the Brigade's resumption of this mission. The seventeen stars represent Ohio as the seventeenth state to enter the Union and is home to the unit. The diverging lightning bolts allude to radar acquisition and speed of response. Red is the color of valor and yellow/gold is emblematic of excellence. The blue is symbolic of the clear skies that the Brigade maintains.

Distinctive unit insignia

Description

A Gold color metal and enamel device 1 3/16 inches (3.02 cm) in height overall consisting of a shield per fess wavy, the chief per pale Argent and Sable, the base Gules, a demi-missile in pale of the first (Silver Gray) issuing from a demi-annulet of the first in base, in fess three wavy barrulets Azure; in dexter chief a lightning bolt bendwise of the second and in sinister chief a lightning bolt bend sinisterwise of the first. Around the bottom of the shield is a Black bipartite scroll inscribed with "QUISQUAM" "USQUAM" in Gold letters.

Symbolism

Scarlet and yellow/gold are traditionally associated with Air Defense Artillery. The lightning bolts denote swiftness and power. The white on black and vice versa further emphasizes the unit's motto which translates to "Anytime, Anywhere" and the day and night, around the clock role of the soldier. The three wavy bars refer to the National, State, and Community missions of the National Guard unit. The silver missile cutting through the blue bars is symbolic of the primary mission of the organization to maintain clear skies. The white annulet with the red is adapted from the State flag of Ohio, home of the unit and further highlights the arching line used in the military map symbol for Air Defense units.

Background

The distinctive unit insignia was approved effective 1 September 2008.

External links

U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry page for 174th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, Ohio Army National GuardOhio National Guard press release, "Ohio National Guard Conducts Activation And Patch Ceremony"
Air defense artillery brigades of the United States Army Brigades of the United States Army National Guard Military units and formations in Ohio Ohio Army National Guard Ohio National Guard units Military units and formations of the United States in the Iraq War Military units and formations established in 2008