Posted on Jun 24, 2014
Can a Soldier keep an Airborne tab once the unit loses it?
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We are having a debate in our shop...
If a Soldier is deployed and awarded a combat patch that has an Airborne Tab above it, and after redeploying the unit losses the tab... does the Soldier keep the tab on the patch that is on his right shoulder?
If anyone can answer this and include where I can find this in writing, I would greatly appreciate it.
If a Soldier is deployed and awarded a combat patch that has an Airborne Tab above it, and after redeploying the unit losses the tab... does the Soldier keep the tab on the patch that is on his right shoulder?
If anyone can answer this and include where I can find this in writing, I would greatly appreciate it.
Posted in these groups: 
Airborne School
Airborne School
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 32
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If the unit patch had a tab when you deployed it stays on the combat patch.
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Units are inactivated but their combat patches remain, therefore a change in status from airborne to non-airborne should not have an effect on the patch. It is worn as awarded.
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SSG Fernando Algarin
Look at the 101st ABN (Air Assault) the division is no longer on jump status (since the 70s) but the patch remained the same.
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SFC Douglas Eshenbaugh understands exactly what I was trying to ask.
I understand that some units were wearing things they were not authorized, and some lost the privileges during the force restructure.
My question is in reference to a COMBAT PATCH that was awarded during a deployment WITH the Airborne tab. Then later on lost the right to wear the tab. Obviously the patch on the left shoulder will lose to tab, but does it stay over the combat patch (because that's how it was awarded)?
I understand that some units were wearing things they were not authorized, and some lost the privileges during the force restructure.
My question is in reference to a COMBAT PATCH that was awarded during a deployment WITH the Airborne tab. Then later on lost the right to wear the tab. Obviously the patch on the left shoulder will lose to tab, but does it stay over the combat patch (because that's how it was awarded)?
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525th BfSB out of Ft. Bragg was one unit that transitioned from Airborne status to no-Airborne. Combat patch from the 2007-2009 Iraq deployment includes the Airborne tab even for Soldiers not airborne qualified because it was a part of the patch.
You need to be airborne qualified and on Airborne status to wear the airborne tab over the unit patch. Last I checked, when the units lost Airborne status, they lost their jump slots as well, with the exception of LRS detachments.
You need to be airborne qualified and on Airborne status to wear the airborne tab over the unit patch. Last I checked, when the units lost Airborne status, they lost their jump slots as well, with the exception of LRS detachments.
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CPL Chris Palmberg
With all due respect to those whose collars are heavier than my own, if the proper name of the combat patch is Former Wartime Service Distinctive Unit Identifier, it would seem self-evident that your wear off this patch reflect the appearance of the patch as it appeared at the time it was worn in combat.
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CPL Chris Palmberg
More specifically, I served early in my tenure with a crusty old MSG who served with the 20th Engineers in Vietnam, when the brigade was still a leg unit. He got out and came back, and wore his patch, sans Airborne tab, even when assigned back to the Brigade on Airborne status
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SSG Dan Hernandez
Not sure this is correct. Spent 4 years at Bragg right out of college and plenty of non airborne and support staff assigned to 82nd. We all wore the tab over the patch.
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MSG Lonnie Averkamp
SPC Scott Hulslander - You have wisdom (as I sit here, taking my second dose of Ibuprofen for the day).
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You wear the patch that you were awarded. There is nothing that I can find that states you have to change the patch awarded if the design changes, losing the tab is just that, at a later time.
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The combat patch can be looked at as a historical document. It is as it was at the time it occurred, not as it has since become.
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20th Engineer Brigade during Desert Storm was an Airborne unit and we were awarded the unit patch as our SSI for combat service. Later the unit was designated. But until I retired I worn the 20th engineer Brigade unit patch with the Airborne tab.
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This exact thing happened with the 20th Eng Bd
Up to about 5 years ago the 20th Eng Bde was a Airborne designated unit, tabbed, maroon beret and all that. Then as part of the force realignment they lost their Airborne designation.
The question is for the peanut gallery, if I was deployed with the 20th back in 2005 when they were still an Airborne unit do I still wear the Airborne tab version of their patch or do I now have to wear the un-tabbed version.
Please note for discussion purposes the assumption is that I do qualify to wear the 20th Eng Bde patch.
Just to clarify, not talking about current SSI patch. That one is real easy. If the unit changes patches then you change patches.
Up to about 5 years ago the 20th Eng Bde was a Airborne designated unit, tabbed, maroon beret and all that. Then as part of the force realignment they lost their Airborne designation.
The question is for the peanut gallery, if I was deployed with the 20th back in 2005 when they were still an Airborne unit do I still wear the Airborne tab version of their patch or do I now have to wear the un-tabbed version.
Please note for discussion purposes the assumption is that I do qualify to wear the 20th Eng Bde patch.
Just to clarify, not talking about current SSI patch. That one is real easy. If the unit changes patches then you change patches.
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SFC Stephen Carden
Concur. There are many guys walking around Bragg that were in 20th ENG or 525 BSB and got their SSI-FWTS when the unit still had its ABN designation. They all still wear their ABN tab over the patch.
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