More commonly called a unit crest or DUI, the Distinctive Unit Insignia of the Washington Army National Guard (ARNG) Element, Joint Force Headquarters (HQ), Washington National Guard is taken from the crest of the coat of arms of George Washington. The bird is black raven, issuing from a yellow (gold) ducal coronet, i.e., the crown of a duke. The same image is used for the Washington ARNG Element’s Shoulder Sleeve Insignia, but with the raven rendered entirely in black; the DUI features mirrored versions of the image so that the raven will be facing inward when worn on the shoulder loops of the Service Uniform coat. The white and blue twists of the wreath denote that the land that eventually made up the state of Washington was originally a part of the Oregon Territory and its settlers primarily of American origin.
This Distinctive Unit Insignia was originally approved for HQ and HQ Detachment and non-color bearing units of the Washington ARNG on 8 April 1971. It was subsequently redesignated for HQ, State Area Command, Washington Army National Guard with an effective date of 1 October 1982. When it was given its current designation—Washington ARNG Element, Joint Force HQ—with an effective date of 1 October 2003, it was concurrently amended to update the description.
Joint Force Headquarters, Washington National Guard are based at Camp Murray in Tacoma, Washington.
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Also known as a unit crest or DUI, the Distinctive Unit Insignia (DUI) is worn by all Soldiers (except General Officers) in units that have been authorized to be issued the device. It is worn centered on the shoulder loops of the Army Green Service Uniform (AGSU) and the blue Army Service Uniform (Enlisted only) with the base of the insignia toward the outside shoulder seam.
Full guidance on wear of the DUI is found in DA Pamphlet 670-1,
Section 21-22, "Distinctive unit insignia." Related Items
Washington ARNG Element, Joint Force HQ Patch (SSI)