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When I first joined the Army in 1999, seeing someone with a combat patch was rare. Then following the attacks on 9/11, seeing someone WITHOUT at least one combat patch became rare. Heck some of us have/had enough combat patches to wear a different one each day of the week and not repeat. But now, after 17 years, are we seeing the Army go back to the day where combat patches are a rare thing?
Combat
Combat Patch (SSI-FWTS)
Uniforms
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 22
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It’s a cycle. Look after WWII. We slid into the Korean War. Then Nam and so on. It’s a cycle where you see a ton of em, then dry spells with none being there aren’t any conflicts that allow them. What sucks right now being we’ve been at war for 17yrs with no chance at an end.
When the day comes where the masses are home, another drawdown will happen. Years after that, combat patches will be just how it was when I came in....there, but RARE.
When the day comes where the masses are home, another drawdown will happen. Years after that, combat patches will be just how it was when I came in....there, but RARE.
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While combat is our mission, it is much preferred to be a deterrent. I hope we never see another, but that is unlikely. Thank you for your service.
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Unfortunately, I think we are a long way from having fought "the war to end all wars" and there is a very high likelihood that combat for our troops is in the cards for the future. My wish is that we would get to a point where it has been so long between conflicts that no one on active duty has a combat patch. But I don't put the chances of that happening as very high.
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I hope not either. But I expect they might. I earned 2 patches on my deployment. The last deployment my unit went on earned 4-6 depending on their mission as they rotated working with different units. We got our tour awards and medals in Oct 2010 and left country early December. On our way home we were told NOT to wear combat decorations. A clear reason was not given why.
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MSG Frank Kapaun
When I got back from Iraq in 2003, the powers that be told us to take our combat patches off too. Well, myself and a few others didn’t. We suffered no consequences for actions either. It boiled down to the fact an O5 was jealous because he didn’t have a combat patch. This turd also personally squashed all of our decorations from Iraq too.
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SPC Casey Ashfield
MSG Frank Kapaun - Sounds familiar. I was told not to wear my CIB or overseas patch at demob. My BN was the only one out of our brigade that did real patrol missions. The rest of the brigade was stuck doing force protection with very few combat missions.
100% of my company got CIB/CAB. Pretty much everyone's awards got downgraded to ARCOM or AAM. Sure were a lot of paper pushers walking around with BSM but nothing with a wreath around it.
100% of my company got CIB/CAB. Pretty much everyone's awards got downgraded to ARCOM or AAM. Sure were a lot of paper pushers walking around with BSM but nothing with a wreath around it.
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MSG Frank Kapaun
SPC Casey Ashfield REMFS and Fobbits can be a jealous bunch. I did get a CMB in Iraq also. The O5 in question was jealous of that too. This POS retired then went to work as a contractor in Iraq.
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I also think that we may be in a war sooner than later with all the things going on. China shouldering are ships, Russians provoking conflict in the Ukraine and in the Northwestern flank of NATO's newest members and former Baltic states ripped off and stolen from World War II. Putin wants them back but they were granted their independence in World War 1. Iran is also a problematic so we could have a combat scenario with them.
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People get out, people retire and the new Army Combat physical fitness test is going to weed out even more so you will see even less combat patches in the future in the active Army, Army National Guard and Army Reserve. We still have soldiers in Afghanistan so you will still see some combat patches.
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The trophy generation and attitude is now emerging in the military. That patch was F’n earned!!!! Living in the dirt, rocket attacks, mortars, constant threats, cold showers, MRE’s, friends dieing, IED’s, moving forward!!!! So ... if you want a patch.... earn it!!! Respect those who have one. Believe me.... after multiple tours as an AF medic, treating guys blown to shit, watching them die... if you think a patch seperates you it does. You will never be the same person again. Anger, irritibility, trying to fit in again.... GD I look for those guys with patches so I can have a normal conversation and life. So you that are jealous, that patch comes with a price.
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When I joined the army in 1998 the only people with combat patches we're the ones who had been in Panama, the Gulf War, and Mogadishu. The army has spent very few years not at war and there will always be combat departments for Soldiers in the future.
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I hope that many combat veterans will consider making a career of soldiering so that they can pass on the unwritten "tribal knowledge" to their peers and subordinates.
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Depends on the politicians- It would be niece to have a break in the OPTEMPO and not have to bury an AD member every time we turn around.
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