A Silver color metal and enamel device 1+1⁄8 inches (2.9 cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Gules, in chief a fleur-de-lis, in base an eagle's head erased Argent, two flaunches of the last, the dexter charged with a castle, the sinister with a prickly pear cactus of the first.

Attached below the shield is a Silver scroll inscribed "NUNC ET SEMPER" in Red.

The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 132d Engineer Regiment on 3 October 1942.

It was redesignated for the 196th Infantry Regiment and amended to delete the Missouri crest on 18 January 1951.

It was reinstated and redesignated for the 196th Regiment with the blazon and symbolism revised on 24 February 1997.