While the Shoulder Sleeve Insignia worn by South Carolina Army National Guard (ARNG) personnel serving at the Joint Force HQ of the South Carolina National Guard (SCNG) is adapted from the that organization’s crest, it actually resembles the state flag much more closely. It uses the same colors as seen on the state flag, as opposed to the green palm leaves of the state crest, and it also has a crescent moon in its left corner, just as the state flag does.
The image of a crescent moon in the upper corner of an insignia was first used at Fort Johnson on James Island in South Carolina after it was taken by two South Carolina Regiments at the start of the American Revolution in September 1775. Colonel William Moultrie, commander of the troops that garrisoned the fort, came up with the design by drawing upon the his troop’s blue uniforms and the silver crescent cap badges they were wearing and made it into the Fort’s flag.
In January 1861, the Moultrie flag was modified with the addition of a palmetto, the state tree of South Carolina, and the design has been the official flag of South Carolina ever since that time.
This Shoulder Sleeve Insignia was first approved for HQ and HQ Detachment, South Carolina National Guard on 19 March 1952 and was redesignated for the HQ, State Area Command, South Carolina Arm National Guard on 30 December 1983. It was given its current designation for South Carolina ARNG Element, Joint Force HQ on 1 October 2003, at which time it was also amended to update the description and add a symbolism.
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