118th Cavalry Regiment, Arizona Army National Guard

118TH CAVALRY REGIMENT, ARIZONA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD

(Shoulder Sleeve Insignia)

(Distinctive Unit Insignia)

Official blazon

Shield: Gules, a mullet Or bearing a stylized sunset of the first, overall a horseshoe Sable garnished of the second enclosing a silhouetted rider and horse Azure (Dark Blue).
Crest: That for the regiments and separate battalions of the Arizona Army National Guard: From a wreath Or and Gules, a giant cactus Proper.
Motto: ROUGH RIDERS.

Distinctive Unit Insignia: Description: A gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86cm) in height consisting of a black horseshoe garnished gold enclosing a stylized red sunset of seven rays superimposed by a dark blue silhouette of a horse and rider, all centered upon a gold star.

Origin/meaning

Yellow is the color traditionally used by Cavalry units. The star and sunset are adapted from the State flag of Arizona. The horseshoe denotes the unit’s honorable history and cavalry tradition, while the horse and rider suggest Captain William Owen ‘Buckey’ O’Neil, a prominent soldier and citizen from Arizona, killed in action while serving in Cuba.

The Coat of Arms and distinctive Unit Insignia was authorized on 9 January 1998.