A Gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Per pale erminois and Azure a pallet per pale Sable and Or, in sinister chief the four mullets in the Southern Cross constellation Argent, issuing from base a Spanish castle Gules charged with a sheaf of three arrows points up of the third, in base a demi-sunburst of the last bearing three mullets chevronwise Vert. Attached around the bottom of the shield is a Black scroll inscribed "DEFENDING FREEDOM" in Gold letters.
The shape of the shield is from the 164th Infantry Regiment's distinctive unit insignia and pays tribute to the Infantry origins of the unit. The Southern Cross constellation on the blue field indicates the 164th Infantry Regiment's service in the Americal Division during World War II. The Spanish castle represents service in the Spanish American War and the three stars are from the Philippine flag where the 1st North Dakota Infantry served during the Philippine Insurrection. They are green to emphasize the tropic nature of the Philippine Islands. The arrows are from the North Dakota National Guard's shoulder sleeve insignia and the ermine spots are from the 142d Engineer insignia. The sunburst is adapted from the 41st Division's shoulder sleeve insignia and highlight World War I service. The black and gold pallets separate the blue and gold fields representing the North Dakota service in the European and Pacific Theaters of Operations. Gold is emblematic of excellence and the contrast of the black and gold pallets highlight the night and day, around the clock mission of the Brigade. The green stars, black, red, and white colors on the device allude to the colors of the Iraq national flag and underscore the Brigade and the 142d Engineer Battalion's service in the Global War on Terror.
The distinctive unit insignia was approved on 20 November 2008.