Worn today by the Virginia Army National Guard (ARNG) Element, Joint Force Headquarters (HQ) of the Virginia National Guard, this Shoulder Sleeve Insignia was originally designed and approved for the HQ and HQ Detachment, Virginia National Guard on 23 November 1956. On 30 December 1983, its description was amended as it was concurrently redesignated for HQ, State Area Command, Virginia ARNG. Nearly twenty years later, the process was repeated as the description was amended at the same time the insignia was assigned to the Virginia ARNG Element, Joint Force HQ, Virginia National Guard.
The insignia’s design features a gray saltire inside a pentagon with a scarlet field and gray border. Scarlet is the color of braver and sacrifice, while both the color gray and the saltire are allusions to the Confederacy; the saltire is also an emblem of unity of strength. Inside the bars of making up the saltire are a spear and a link of chain, with the spear severing the chain where they intersect to visualize the breaking of “chains of tyranny.” The white tone of both the spear and the chain refer to the purity of purpose in the Guard’s constant readiness to fight for freedom.
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Virginia ARNG Element, Joint Force HQ Unit Crest (DUI)