The U.S. Army National Guard Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Teams patch, officially referred to as a Should Sleeve Insignia, was approved for wear on 4 September 2007. Its modified version of the Coat of Arms of the United States seen on the obverse of Great Seal of the United States is a testament to our nation’s unit and our resolute defense of the freedoms of the Homeland, embodied in the image of the American eagle.
In each state, the WMD Civil Support Teams (CSTs) are under the command and control of the state’s Adjutant General, a command level (O-8) represented by the two stars bookending the eagle’s spread wings. Behind the eagle are ten spears that represent the ten response regions in which WMD CSTs are found; they also represent the increased readiness required by WMD CSTs because of their role as the first units deployed to assess a situation involving WMDs and subsequently provide support and expert advice to civil authorities.
The azure background upon which these images are set on the colored version of the patch alludes to the ability of the organization to conduct continuous day-and-night operations, while the red border emphasizes the organization’s resolve to protect and save lives.