The Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (unit patch) worn by Kentucky Army National Guard (ARNG) personnel assigned to the state’s Joint Force Headquarters (HQ) is an commingles national pride with national service: Red, white, and blue are our nation’s colors, while yellow, red, and blue are the colors of the three primary combat arms—Armor/Cavalry, Artillery, and Infantry. [Note: though not specified in the blazon, white has also been our Infantry color during two different periods of our history.] The image of the long rifle not only recalls the frontiersman who played such a critical role in the early history of Kentucky, but also the state’s citizen-soldiers who helped preserve the Union during the tumultuous days of the Civil War.
Originally approved for HQ and HQ Detachment, Kentucky ARNG on 7 December 1973, the insignia was redesignated for HQ, State Area Command, Kentucky ARNG on 30 December 1983 with an amended description. The description would be amended one more time when the insignia was given its current designation for the Kentucky ARNG Element, Joint Force HQ ON 1 October 2003.
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Kentucky ARNG Element, Joint Force HQ Unit Crest (DUI)