A gold color metal and enamel device 1 3/16 inches (3.02 cm) in height overall consisting of a gold disc within an annulet divided horizontally the upper half of white and the lower half of blue and bearing a blue heart (of the same shape as that on the authorized shoulder sleeve insignia of the XXIV Corps). The "Auricles" and the tip touching the inner periphery of the annulet surmounted saltirewise by an unsheathed Crusader's sword point up, blade of white and hilt gold, and a red stylized arrow, point up, within the blue heart, above a concentric gold scroll lined with red and bearing the inscription "Honed in Combat" in red letters.
The design is based on the authorized shoulder sleeve insignia of the XXIV Corps. The gold disc, symbolic of the sun, alludes to the Pacific Islands and areas with which the XXIV Corps is associated. The encircling white and blue annulet refers to the white beaches and the blue water of the Pacific: Hawaii (the annulet also simulating the letter "O" for Oahu where the Corps was initially activated 8 April 1944) and the Philippines and Ryukyus campaigns in which the Corps participated during World War II. The red arrow refers to the assault landing at Leyte and the blue, white and red colors of the insignia refer to the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation awarded the Corps for the period of 17 October 1944 to 4 July 1945. The Crusader's sword is for service in Vietnam where the Corps was activated 15 August 1968 as the successor to the Provisional Corps, Vietnam. In allusion to the motto "Honed in Combat" the red stylized arrow may be likened to the "whetstone of combat" on which the sword has been and is being honed. The heart and the colors blue and white were suggested by the authorized shoulder sleeve insignia of the XXIV and in this instance the heart has been made blue, a color symbolic of loyalty and freedom, and attests to the "true blue" attributes of the Corps. The horizontal division of the annulet into white and blue was suggested by the flag base of all distinguishing flags authorized for Corps.
The distinctive unit insignia was approved on 6 February 1969.