A gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height and 1 1/16 inches (2.70 cm) in width overall consisting of a raised gold modified front view depiction, on an oblong gold recessed base, of the State Arsenal (St. Francis Barracks) between at top seven alternating rays of yellow, red, white, blue, white, red, and yellow forming an arc and in base a blue oblong-shaped area bearing an undulating gold scroll inscribed "WE ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE" in blue letters.
The history of St. Francis Barracks, St. Augustine, is also the history of Florida. The property on which the Barracks stand was originally the site of a Franciscan Monastery and Convent, constructed initially of logs in 1588 by the Spanish who founded St. Augustine, the oldest city in the United States. The existing walls of coquina rock of the Monastery were built during the 1750's. Florida was ceded by treaty to England in 1763 and the Monastery was converted by the British to a military reservation. Again by treaty, Florida was returned to Spain in 1783 and the Monastery served as Spanish headquarters until 1821 when the United States gained control of Florida and the Monastery as St. Francis Barracks served as a United States Army military post until 1900. From 1907, it has been the Headquarters of the Florida National Guard. The yellow and red rays refer to the Spanish settlement of St. Augustine and subsequent rule of Florida; the white and red rays refer to the twenty years of English occupation, and with the blue ray allude to final control by the United States. The Barracks are situated on Marine Street and face Matazas Bay alluded to by the blue area in base, the undulating motto scroll simulating waves.
The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment and noncolor bearing units of the Florida Army National Guard on 3 May 1971. It was amended to reduce the size of the badge on 13 April 1977. The insignia was redesignated effective 30 December 1983, for Headquarters, State Area Command, Florida Army National Guard. It was redesignated for the Florida Army National Guard Element, Joint Force Headquarters and amended to update the description effective 1 October 2003.