72nd Field Artillery Brigade (United States)
The 72nd Field Artillery Brigade is an AC/RC unit based at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. The unit is responsible for training selected United States Army Reserve and National Guard units along the East coast. The brigade is a subordinate unit of First Army Division East, First United States Army. History. World War I. under construction World War II. Reactivated in 1940, the brigade was formed with a 155mm gun regiment and two 155mm howitzer regiments. Between June and August 1941, the brigade formed a provisional 72nd Antitank Battalion  using assets from the antitank batteries and platoons of the regiments. Activated 5 August 1941, the battalion participated in the Second Army (United States) Maneuvers along with 2nd Battalion, 119th Field Artillery, as part of VII Army Corps. Cold War. From 1 June 1958 until 15 May 1992, the brigade served as part of VII Corps Artillery in Germany. Global War on Terror. The brigade was reactivated on 1 December 2006 by reflagging the 5th Brigade, 78th Division. As an AC/RC unit subordinate to First Army Division East, the brigade plans, coordinates, and enables post-mobilization, pre-deployment training  in support of specified U.S. Army Reserve, Army National Guard, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard units. On order, 72nd Field Artillery Brigade provides pre-mobilization training assistance within its capabilities for Army Reserve and Army National Guard units. Heraldry. Shoulder Sleeve Insignia. Description/Blazon: Centered on a red rectangular device arched at the top and bottom and edged with a 1/8 inch (.32 cm) yellow border, the overall dimensions 2 inches (5.08 cm) in width and 3 inches (7.62 cm) in height, a black disc within a yellow ring surmounted above and below by two yellow pheons with white  shafts, the topmost pointed to upper right, the lower one pointed to lower left. Symbolism: Scarlet and yellow are the colors associated with Field Artillery. The cannonball or black disc centered on the yellow one connotes accuracy of fire. The pheons (arrowheads) are symbolic of fire power and their configuration with the yellow disc forms an allusion to the unit's numerical designation, 72. Background: The shoulder sleeve insignia was approved effective 16 September 1980. (TIOH Drawing Number A-1-657) Distinctive Unit Insignia. Description/Blazon: A gold color metal and enamel device 1 3/16 inches (3.02 cm) in width overall  consisting of two gold ramrods in saltire between three black gunstones and red flames in front of a vertical gold cannon barrel, all above a gold scroll bearing the inscription "ON TIME ON TARGET" in black letters. Symbolism: Scarlet is the color used for Field Artillery. The cannon and ramrods symbolize the basic mission of Field Artillery. The three gunstones and flames allude to the organization's three battle honors earned during World War I and World War II in Lorraine, Rhineland and Central Europe. Background: The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 72d Artillery Group on 16  August 1968. It was redesignated for the 72d Field Artillery Group on 7 April 1972. The insignia was redesignated effective 16 September 1980 for the 72d Field Artillery Brigade.