The distinctive shape of the Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (unit patch) worn by personnel from the Iowa Army National Guard (ARNG) assigned to the Joint Force Headquarters (HQ) of the state’s National Guard is actually inspired by the design of the 34
th “Red Bull” Infantry Division’s patch.
Its shape is actually the outline of an olla, a ceramic jar used for storage and cooking that is found predominantly in the American southwest and Midwest and used by both Native Americans and settlers in the region. It was chosen for the Iowa Army National Guard because members of the Iowa National Guard have made a large swath of that Division’s manpower for roughly fifty years, while the hawk’s head in profile on the gold and blue twisted wreath has been adapted from the crest of the Iowa Army National Guard.
This insignia was first approved fo HQ and HQ Detachment, Iowa ARNG on 5 July 1968, and a little over two years later non-divisional elements were added to the designation. A change in National Guard structure and organization led to another redesignation on 30 December 1983 for the HQ, State Area Command. Iowa ARNG. When the insignia was given its current designation on 1 October 2003, it was also amended to update the description.
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Iowa ARNG Element, Joint Force HQ Unit Crest (DUI)