A gold color metal and enamel device 1 3/16 inches (3.02 cm) in height consisting of a gold demi-sun with small pointed rays and issuant therefrom upwards, fanwise, seventeen scarlet rays their ends squared off and the one at center charged with a gold five-pointed star within an annulet just above the head of a brown beaver seated erect in front of the sun and rays, holding between his forepaws a gold semicircular scroll curving across his shoulder and inscribed in blue letters "EMPIRE BUILDERS," the scroll ends crossing in base beneath the sun and beaver, his tail slightly overlapping. The insignia will be manufactured in pairs.
The beaver, a native animal depicted on the State's flag as well as on the Oregon Army National Guard crest, alludes to Oregon's nickname of "The Beaver State." The demi-sun refers to Oregon's location on the nation's western horizon, and the extended scarlet rays denote courage and hardiness as well as the ideals and ambitions of the pioneers who struggled to settle there. The encircled star above the beaver refers to the city of Salem, which is the State's capital. The words of the motto, "Empire Builders," are taken from the first phrase of the State song.
A distinctive unit insignia was approved for the noncolor and nonstandard bearing units of the Oregon National Guard on 15 March 1929. That insignia was cancelled and a new design approved for the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment and noncolor bearing units of the Oregon Army National Guard on 19 November 1970. The insignia was redesignated effective 1 October 1982, for Headquarters, State Area Command, Oregon Army National Guard. It was redesignated effective 1 October 2003, for the Oregon Army National Guard Element, Joint Force Headquarters and amended to update the description.