On a black disc, double edged gold, four swords, points up, two crossed, in front of two vertically placed, all with white blades, gold hand guards and pommels, with tan hilts, surmounted by a shield blazoned as follows: Sable, upon a bend sinister Argent, cottised Or, a lightning bolt of the last, all within a bordure Or; all within the arched inscription, from lower left to lower right, JOINT COMMUNICATIONS UNIT, and below, 1980, between two discs all white.
The four swords represent the four branches of service which comprise the Joint Communications Unit--Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force. The black and white colors of the seal denote the diverse nature of JCUs Special Operations support mission. The bend and cottises/diagonal bars and lightning bolt symbolize the speed and accuracy of the units tactical communications. The date, 1980, represents the year the unit activated at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.