<< Combat Index home

Combat Index Military Insignia

US Army Insignia

US Army National Guard



Minnesota Army National Guard

Insignia
Unit Insignia

  • Description: A Gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height consisting of a shield blazoned: Per fess wavy Azure and barry wavy of four Argent and of the first, in chief a mullet Or.
  • Symbolism: The shield is in two colors, blue and white, the colors of the Minnesota State flag. The white appears in two wavy bars across the lower half of the shield, symbolizing water, as the name "Minnesota" is said to be derived from the Sioux Indian language as meaning "water tinted like the sky" or "sky-tinted water." A gold star in the upper half of the shield symbolizes the North Star, as Minnesota is widely known as the North Star State.
  • Background: The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for State Staff and Detachment, Minnesota National Guard on 11 September 1933. It was redesignated for Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment and noncolor bearing units of the Minnesota Army National Guard on 24 February 1969. The insignia was redesignated effective 24 February 1983, for Headquarters, State Area Command, Minnesota Army National Guard.


Shoulder Sleeve
Shoulder Sleeve Insignia

  • Description: A blue shield edged with a 1/8 inch (.32 cm) white border 2 3/4 inches (6.99 cm) in height and 2 1/8 inches (5.40 cm) in width overall, charged at upper center with a white star emitting seven white rays chevronwise to base terminating above a white engrailed horizontal line.
  • Symbolism: The shield is in two colors, blue and white, the colors of the Minnesota State flag. The white appears as a border around a sky-blue shield and a star in the upper half of the shield, rays emanating from the star, with a wavy bar across the lower half of the shield. The star symbolizes the North Star, as Minnesota is widely known as the "North Star State," with the motto "L'Etoile du Nord" incorporated in the State flag and the State seal. The white wavy bar across the lower half of the shield symbolizes water, as Minnesota is known as the "Land of 10,000 Lakes," and the name Minnesota is said to be derived from the Sioux Indian language and to mean "water tinted like the sky," or "sky-tinted water."
  • Background: The shoulder sleeve insignia was originally approved for Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Minnesota Army National Guard on 23 April 1970. It was redesignated with description amended on 30 December 1983, for Headquarters, State Area Command, Minnesota Army National Guard.




Crest
Crest for Coat of Arms

  • Description: That for regiments and separate battalions of the Minnesota Army National Guard: From a wreath of colors, a sheaf of wheat Proper.
  • Symbolism: Wheat is a great element of wealth in the State.
  • Background: The crest for color bearing organizations of the State of Minnesota was approved on 12 May 1924.