Are you authorized to wear the 3rd Army patch if you were attached to them for a National Guard deployment (Kuwait, 15-16) in support of OEF?

SGT Lee Jamison — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 19:11:59 -0400

Response by SFC Daniel McIntire made Mar 19 at 2017 7:27 PM

SFC Daniel McIntire — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 19:27:10 -0400

Sgt Jamison,
It is dependent if your unit is a separate battalion, company, or detachment under direct control of 3rd Army. Otherwise, your combat (former wartime service insignia) is the brigade our unit is assigned. A separate order is required to wear 3rd Army patch. Consult your S-1 and AR 670-1.

Response by SGM Billy Herrington made Mar 19 at 2017 7:43 PM

SGM Billy Herrington — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 19:43:36 -0400

I could be wrong, but I thought around 2012 that Kuwaitmwas removed from the list of areas you could receive a combat patch.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 19 at 2017 8:04 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 20:04:39 -0400

Even if you are given a memorandum authorizing you to wear the patch, according to ALARACT 055-2007 you aren't authorized to wear any patch other than your own unit patch. See paragraph 6 for details. It's pretty specific. I have argued this many times, and found that most soldiers will simply wear whatever patch they like regardless of any ALARACT. They always say, "But, I have orders in iperms authorizing it.". Okay, there were bigger fish for me to fry, such as training soldiers, so I never flipped out over it. Now of course I don't wear any patch.

Response by LTC John Mohor made Mar 19 at 2017 10:34 PM

LTC John Mohor — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 22:34:00 -0400

This sure still causes issues. Having received my Memorandum prior to 2005 and being retired I'll just stick with my baseball hats!

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2017 8:08 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 08:08:39 -0400

I just read you comments, and I realized I misunderstood your original question. If you were an individual augmentee, and were given orders, you may wear the patch. Reference the ALARACT, as what circumstances what applies is in there.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2017 2:47 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 14:47:24 -0400

I believe receiving a SSI-FWTS (combat patch) for Kuwait was stopped at some point in 2014. I'm pretty sure it coincided with hostile fire pay being cut for Kuwait. SSI-FWTS are authorized for units/Soldiers deployed to Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Jordan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan during the timeframe you're asking about. So if you stayed at Arifjan or Beuhring the whole time, then no SSI-FWTS for your tour. If you were sent into one of these other countries during your tour, then you probably have a case.

Response by SFC Andrew Miller made Mar 20 at 2017 3:00 PM

SFC Andrew Miller — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 15:00:58 -0400

For the SSI-FWTS (Combat Patch) 31 December 2014 is the end date for Soldiers deployed to the CENTCOM area of operations (including Kuwait) in support of OEF who received combat zone tax exclusion and hostile fire/IDP as identified by CENTCOM Command Center–Joint Staff for Personnel and Administration.

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made Mar 20 at 2017 6:19 PM

SSgt Boyd Herrst — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 18:19:53 -0400

The only extra logo patch I had besides the TAC Command Patch and 1st Fighter wing patch was a Rapid deployment logo .
I had my fatigue shirts and field jacket set up with a Velcro backing so I could trade
The 1st fighter wing patch with the RDF patch.. I only got a few of those. I bought
3 an they gave me one.. I put it away for later.. They said I had to turn it back in so I gave them one I had the Velcro backing on.. I was home(it was several years later and I had one on my V.F.W. jacket. With some others. I got told to remove it.. I asked the guy (I had not seen any V.F.W.
name tag on him) under what authority?
He mumbled s'thing about U.S. Code #
---- I asked him if he was with our org. And he said no. I suggested he go find a
U.S. Marshal, he was gone for quite a while and came back with s'body I knew...
"This is as close as I could get.. he's a Master-at-Arms in the Navy!" Retired I added.. . and I dispatched myself.. disappeared for a while..! Went and found some hospitality rooms.. and some flavorful drinks .. I only seen that character 2 more times an' he was busting some other comrade's chops about s'thing... my entire time at convention was fun except for that time. Seems there gots to be s'one Got to throw their weight around...

Response by CPL Sharon Fahey made Mar 23 at 2017 1:37 PM

CPL Sharon Fahey — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 13:37:44 -0400

Yes on the other arm. We received a combat patch while over there during OEF/ OIF.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2017 10:46 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 23 May 2017 22:46:32 -0400

My unit deployed to Kuwait in 10-11. There was discussion as to what patch we should be allowed to wear but in the end, we went home with bookends. I'm good with that. It's the experience and not the patch that matters in my eyes.

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made Jan 3 at 2019 1:44 PM

SSgt Boyd Herrst — Thu, 03 Jan 2019 13:44:29 -0500

Wow... check your regulations.. the only stupid question is the one you don’t ask, Sergeant !