A silver color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86cm) in height overall consisting of a circle surmounted throughout by a silver five-pointed star bearing a red enamel Greek cross, the two areas above the horizontal arms of the star light blue enamel and the three lower areas of maroon enamel, all enclosed around base by a white enamel crescent and around the top by a maroon enamel scroll bearing the inscription "COMPASSION AND COURAGE" in silver letters.
Maroon and white are the colors for the Army Medical Department. The silver star, suggested by the General Staff Corps Insignia of Branch, and the red cross are used to allude to General Leonard Wood, the only medical officer ever to become Chief of Staff of the Army, and for whom Fort Leonard Wood and General Leonard Wood General Hospital were named. The blue is taken from the color of the ribbon of the Medal of Honor and refers to the award of the Medal of Honor to General Wood during the Apache Indian Campaign. The crescent, borne in dexter chief in the coat of arms of the state of Missouri refers to the location of the U.S. Army Medical Department Activity at Fort Leonard Wood.
The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the General Leonard Wood Army Hospital on 30 Jan 1970. It was redesignated for the U.S. Army Medical Department Activity, Fort Leonard Wood on 4 Sep 1973.