Established on December 31, 1981, the Idaho National Guard Governor’s Outstanding Unit Citation was initially called the “State of Idaho Meritorious Award.” It honors Idaho National Guard units for outstanding achievement or service that distinguishes them from other units.
The Idaho National Guard consists of the Idaho Army National Guard and the Idaho Air National Guard. Headquartered in Boise, the Army component is made up of more than 3,500 soldiers and traces back to militia activity in the nineteenth century’s Nez Perce Indian Wars. The Air component, also based in Boise, was officially formed on September 18, 1947 when the United States Air Force became a separate branch of the military.
The ribbon is bisected by a blue vertical stripe flanked on either side by a white stripe and a thicker red stripe proceeding outward. It features a gold frame with a leaf pattern.