Can a Soldier keep an Airborne tab once the unit loses it?

The answer is no. I deployed with a unit and sometime after we came back we found out that our BDE did not have airborne status. So we had to take it off of our patch and everything else that it was displayed on.

The tab stays. You wear the patch as awarded. Now, here's the tricky part. There are units like the 20th Engineer Brigade that have come off status but have subordinates still on it. The HQ/ Staff has come off jump status but the 27th engineer battalion has retained jump status so all of those companies wear the original patch. The others, not jumping do not.

I was in the corps so take what i say with a grain of salt but to me it sounds like you earned that patch at that date in history so it's yours to wear going forward. I'd think think you would keep it but not give it to any btw guys on future deployments

It might be like in the Navy where you can qualify for your Sub warfare pin, and then go to carrier or another surface ship and still have your qualifications. Don't quote me on it because I've only been in for just shy of 3 months, but that's what my assumption would be

I had tbe same situation, Leaning Shit house with an Airborne tab, as a combat patch. Anyways, you are actually required to wear your combat patch as it was awarded when ya got it. Any deviation from the way it was awarded is
"unauthorized" and punishable under U.C.M.J. I know its ignorant at times but the rules are the rules. Im guessing in making this rule they were trying to think ahead, ya cant have Joe's changing tbeir Combat patches to suit their liking, or any othet patch for that matter. So as stated above, leave it as you got it Sarge....

You wear the the way it was awarded, regardless if it lost it afterwards.

First, it is not awarded. It is authorized for wear to denote service with that unit in a combat zone. Units "award" the SSI-FWTS for esprit de corps in a ceremony though it is not required by regulation to have a ceremony. Second, you wear it as it was on your left shoulder when you deployed regardless of the current status of the unit. This will not work with the CSIB as some, as is the case with the 1st TSC, have had the tab removed.

My 1SG in Germany wore a 1st Cav Combat Patch with an Airborne tab. Granted I left Germany in 1983.

You keep the tab. Think about it, the 101st ABN lost their status before you were born. The tab is still there.

You wear the tab as presented. You can be in an airborne unit without being airborne qualified and if you are awarded a combat patch you were it with the airborne tab regardless of your airborne status. In addition you wear the patch as it is awarded to you. If it was an airborne unit with tab you continue to wear it that way.