156th Engineer Battalion Texas Army National Guard

156TH ENGINEER BATTALION TEXAS ARMY NATIONAL GUARD

Official blazon

Shield: Argent, on a pale and a chief Teal, a gauntlet of the first grasping a key Celeste and a lightning bolt Tenné in saltire, both fimbriated of the first and a base embattled Gules edged of the first.
Crest: That for the regiments and separate battalions of the Texas Army National Guard: From a wreath Argent and Teal, a mullet of the first encirled by a garlande of live oak and olive Proper.
Motto: Ex magno ad maximus (Great to greatness).

Distinctive Unit insignia, Description: A Silver color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height overall blazoned as follows: Argent, on a pale and a chief Teal, a gauntlet of the first grasping a key Celeste and a lightning bolt Tenné in saltire, both fimbriated of the first and a base embattled Gules. Attached below a Teal scroll inscribed "EX MAGNO AD MAXIMUS" in Silver.

Origin/meaning

The pale and chief form the letter T alluding to Texas and the unit's affiliation in the Texas Army National Guard. Thhe gauntlet symbolises the 56th Brigade Combat Team's being armed and ready to perform the mission, The following indicates the components of the Battalion- the Key denotes safekeeping of Military Intelligence; the ightning bolt suggests the Signal capabilities; and the embattled base signifies the engineer functions.

The arms were orignally approved on 26 June 2007 for the Special Troops Battalion, 56th Brigade Combat Team, 36th Infantry Division.

Literature: Image from Wikimedia Commons and Infromation from the Institute of Heraldry, US Army.