The Florida Army National Guard Element, Joint Force Headquarters Distinctive Unit Insignia, colloquially referred to as a unit crest, was first approved for the Florida Army National Guard’s Headquarters (HQ) and HQ Detachment, as well as all its non-color bearing units, on 3 May 1971. A little over a dozen years later, it was redesignated (with an effective date of 30 December 1983) for the HQ, State Area Command, Florida Army National Guard. It was given its current designation on 1 October 2003.
Located in St. Augustine, Florida—the oldest continuously inhabited European-established settlement in the fifty United States—St. Francis Barracks is the focal point of this insignia, due to both its extensive history as part of St. Augustine (some of its existing walls were erected in the mid-18th Century) and its status as home to the Joint Force Headquarters of the Florida National Guard; before JFHQ was created, the Barracks were the site of the HQ of the Florida National Guard as far back as the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt.
The yellow (gold) and red rays emerging from behind the Barracks are the colors of Spain and refer to the Spanish settlement of the city and subsequent rule in the state; white and red rays are an allusion to the two-decade occupation of the state by the English; and the single blue ray in the center represents the United States. In the base of the insignia is the unit motto “We Accept The Challenge” in blue script on a yellow (gold) scroll. The blue area behind the scroll is an allusion to Matazas Bay, which the Barracks face, with the scroll simulating waves.
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Distinctive Unit Insignias are worn by all Soldiers (except General Officers) in units that have been authorized to be issued the device. It is worn centered on the shoulder loops of the Army Green Service Uniform (AGSU) and the blue Army Service Uniform (ASU, Enlisted only) with the base of the insignia toward the outside shoulder seam. Current regulations do not permit the DUI to be worn on the Dress variations of either uniform, however.
Enlisted personnel wear the insignia centered on a shoulder loop by placing it an equal distance from the outside shoulder seam to the outside edge of the shoulder-loop button. Officers (except Generals) wearing grade insignia on the shoulder loops center the DUI by placing it an equal distance between the inside edge of the grade insignia and the outside edge of the button.
More guidance on wear of the DUI is found in DA Pamphlet 670-1, Section 21-22, "Distinctive unit insignia" and 21–3(d) and (e), "Beret" and "Garrison Cap," respectively.Related Items
Florida ARNG Element, Joint Force HQ Patch (SSI)