On a yellow shield arced and edged with a 1/8 inch (.32 cm) maroon border, a gold brown eagle, head white with a gold brown bill, displayed grasping in its right talon a black laurel branch and in its left talon a sheaf of black arrows, surmounted on its breast by a rectangular maroon edged white scroll inscribed "1819" in maroon numerals, 5/16 inch (.79 cm) high; below the eagle a black edged white scroll doubled back on each side with an inscription "I WILL TRY" in maroon letters, 3/16 inch (.48 cm) in height. Above the eagle is another inscription "NORWICH" in 3/8 inch (.95 cm) maroon letters. The overall dimensions are 3 1/2 inches (8.89 cm) in height and 2 1/2 inches (6.35 cm) in width.
The eagle, the crest of the Norwich University coat of arms, grasps a laurel branch, a symbol of achievement, and a sheaf of arrows reflecting the ROTC training. Maroon and yellow are the colors of the school. The date "1819" reflects the long and proud tradition of military instruction at the University. The motto "I WILL TRY" comes from the school flag.
The shoulder loop insignia was approved on 12 January 1989. (TIOH Drawing Number A-10S-41)