Posted on Aug 31, 2014
Can you wear a combat patch for a unit you supported?
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I have a question about combat patches.
I was in Iraq on day 11 of the invasion. OIF 1 & 2. Being in transportation, we served the whole theater. The Air Force, 1st MEF, and the whole advancing force was supplied by our fuel.
When we came back, some people wore different combat patches in my unit. I was told that we were authorized the 49th QM groups patch, which I wore and still have to this day.
How in the world would I find out which combat patch I am authorized to have? If any other one at all?
It may seem like a trivial question, but, if I am authorized another combat patch it would sure be nice to know.
Thanks....
I was in Iraq on day 11 of the invasion. OIF 1 & 2. Being in transportation, we served the whole theater. The Air Force, 1st MEF, and the whole advancing force was supplied by our fuel.
When we came back, some people wore different combat patches in my unit. I was told that we were authorized the 49th QM groups patch, which I wore and still have to this day.
How in the world would I find out which combat patch I am authorized to have? If any other one at all?
It may seem like a trivial question, but, if I am authorized another combat patch it would sure be nice to know.
Thanks....
Posted in these groups: 
Combat Patch (SSI-FWTS)
Combat Patch (SSI-FWTS)
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 84
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The question is who were you told by to wear the 49th QM patch? If a unit is in combat there should be orders listed for everyone under that unit. If it was told by command then you wear that patch.
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Craig, I'm not an expert -- that would be your senior NCOs
But I think you should be wearing the patch that you wore during your deployment.
But I think you should be wearing the patch that you wore during your deployment.
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COL Andrew Burns
Doug, did we cross paths either at Seoul American,Basic, OCS, Syracuse, ACS - Greece, Illesheim, Korea,Iraq, Afghanistan??? Your name sounds so very familiar?
Andy or Drew Burns
Andy or Drew Burns
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Hello SPC Smith.
In regards to your question concerning the different combat patches please refer to AR-670-1, chapter 4. There you should be able to gain some clarity.
Thanks for your service.
In regards to your question concerning the different combat patches please refer to AR-670-1, chapter 4. There you should be able to gain some clarity.
Thanks for your service.
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There is a posting on this on MilBook https://www.milsuite.mil/book/docs/DOC-55794 for anyone with a CAC. It is reference ALARACT 055/2007 AR 670-1, 3 FEB 05, WEAR AND APPEARANCE OF ARMY UNIFORMS AND INSIGNIA, DTG 281253Z MAR 07 (SSI-FWTS Policy Change).
It is not that hard to follow this. Yet I've seen units bending and twisting the message to justify a cool combat patch. Really!
4. THIS GUIDANCE APPLIES TO SOLDIERS OF ALL COMPONENTS (ACTIVE, ARNG, AND USAR) THAT DEPLOY DURING PERIODS OF SERVICE DESIGNATED FOR WEAR OF THE SSI-FWTS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH AR 670-1, PARAGRAPH 28-17.
5. THERE IS NO TIME-IN-THEATER REQUIREMENT TO BE AUTHORIZED TO WEAR THE SSI-FWTS.
6. A DEPLOYED UNIT (COMPANY OR HIGHER) WILL WEAR THEIR UNIT S SSI AS THE SSI-FWTS. THIS IS TRUE REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE HEADQUARTERS ELEMENT DEPLOYS, AND REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF CHANGES TO THE UNIT S ALIGNMENT OR OPERATIONAL CONTROL (OPCON) DURING THE PERIOD OF DEPLOYMENT.
7. WHEN ECHELONS BELOW COMPANY LEVEL DEPLOY, MEMBERS OF THESE UNITS WILL WEAR THE SSI OF THE LOWEST ECHELON DEPLOYED UNIT (COMPANY OR HIGHER) IN THEIR NEW DEPLOYED CHAINS OF COMMAND AS THEIR SSI-FWTS.
8. WHEN THERE IS NO INTERMEDIATE UNIT (COMPANY OR HIGHER) IN THE DEPLOYED CHAIN OF COMMAND, DEPLOYED SOLDIERS WILL WEAR THE SSI OF THE SENIOR ARMY COMMAND IN THE THEATER AS THEIR SSI-FWTS.
9. SOLDIERS WHO ARE CROSS-LEVELED, ASSIGNED, ATTACHED, OR AUGMENTING DEPLOYED UNITS, AND SOLDIERS WHO ARE TDY ON ORDERS THROUGH THE USE OF DD FORM 1610 (REQUEST AND AUTHORIZATION FOR TDY TRAVEL OF DOD PERSONNEL) WILL WEAR THE SAME SSI-FWTS WORN BY MEMBERS OF THEIR DEPLOYED UNIT (COMPANY OR HIGHER) TO WHICH ATTACHED OR OPCON. THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO MEMBERS OF TRIAL DEFENSE AND CIDC, WHO WILL WEAR THE SSI OF THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMANDS AS THEIR SSI-FWTS.
10. SOLDIERS AUTHORIZED TO WEAR MORE THAN ONE SSI-FWTS MAY CHOOSE WHICH SSI-FWTS THEY WEAR. SOLDIERS MAY ALSO ELECT NOT TO WEAR THE SSI-FWTS. 11. PRECEDENCE WAS ESTABLISHED IN VIETNAM FOR ELEMENTS ORGANIC TO, OR AN INTEGRAL PART OF AN ORGANIZATION TO WEAR THE ORGANIZATIONAL SSI AS THEIR SSI-FWTS.
12. SOLDIERS ATTACHED OR OPCON TO OTHER SERVICES ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO WEAR OTHER SERVICES PATCHES AS THEIR SSI-FWTS WITHOUT WRITTEN APPROVAL FROM THE DCS, ARMY G-1 OR A DELEGATED REPRESENTATIVE.
13. POC FOR UNIFORM POLICY IS SGM K. EASLEY, DSN 225-5287; COMM. [login to see] . E-MAIL IS [login to see] .MIL.
It is not that hard to follow this. Yet I've seen units bending and twisting the message to justify a cool combat patch. Really!
4. THIS GUIDANCE APPLIES TO SOLDIERS OF ALL COMPONENTS (ACTIVE, ARNG, AND USAR) THAT DEPLOY DURING PERIODS OF SERVICE DESIGNATED FOR WEAR OF THE SSI-FWTS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH AR 670-1, PARAGRAPH 28-17.
5. THERE IS NO TIME-IN-THEATER REQUIREMENT TO BE AUTHORIZED TO WEAR THE SSI-FWTS.
6. A DEPLOYED UNIT (COMPANY OR HIGHER) WILL WEAR THEIR UNIT S SSI AS THE SSI-FWTS. THIS IS TRUE REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE HEADQUARTERS ELEMENT DEPLOYS, AND REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF CHANGES TO THE UNIT S ALIGNMENT OR OPERATIONAL CONTROL (OPCON) DURING THE PERIOD OF DEPLOYMENT.
7. WHEN ECHELONS BELOW COMPANY LEVEL DEPLOY, MEMBERS OF THESE UNITS WILL WEAR THE SSI OF THE LOWEST ECHELON DEPLOYED UNIT (COMPANY OR HIGHER) IN THEIR NEW DEPLOYED CHAINS OF COMMAND AS THEIR SSI-FWTS.
8. WHEN THERE IS NO INTERMEDIATE UNIT (COMPANY OR HIGHER) IN THE DEPLOYED CHAIN OF COMMAND, DEPLOYED SOLDIERS WILL WEAR THE SSI OF THE SENIOR ARMY COMMAND IN THE THEATER AS THEIR SSI-FWTS.
9. SOLDIERS WHO ARE CROSS-LEVELED, ASSIGNED, ATTACHED, OR AUGMENTING DEPLOYED UNITS, AND SOLDIERS WHO ARE TDY ON ORDERS THROUGH THE USE OF DD FORM 1610 (REQUEST AND AUTHORIZATION FOR TDY TRAVEL OF DOD PERSONNEL) WILL WEAR THE SAME SSI-FWTS WORN BY MEMBERS OF THEIR DEPLOYED UNIT (COMPANY OR HIGHER) TO WHICH ATTACHED OR OPCON. THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO MEMBERS OF TRIAL DEFENSE AND CIDC, WHO WILL WEAR THE SSI OF THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMANDS AS THEIR SSI-FWTS.
10. SOLDIERS AUTHORIZED TO WEAR MORE THAN ONE SSI-FWTS MAY CHOOSE WHICH SSI-FWTS THEY WEAR. SOLDIERS MAY ALSO ELECT NOT TO WEAR THE SSI-FWTS. 11. PRECEDENCE WAS ESTABLISHED IN VIETNAM FOR ELEMENTS ORGANIC TO, OR AN INTEGRAL PART OF AN ORGANIZATION TO WEAR THE ORGANIZATIONAL SSI AS THEIR SSI-FWTS.
12. SOLDIERS ATTACHED OR OPCON TO OTHER SERVICES ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO WEAR OTHER SERVICES PATCHES AS THEIR SSI-FWTS WITHOUT WRITTEN APPROVAL FROM THE DCS, ARMY G-1 OR A DELEGATED REPRESENTATIVE.
13. POC FOR UNIFORM POLICY IS SGM K. EASLEY, DSN 225-5287; COMM. [login to see] . E-MAIL IS [login to see] .MIL.
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You can support all the units in the army, but you were assigned only to one, that units patch is the one youre authorized to wear the patch for, you should have orders depicting all this
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I don't wear any. The name tape on the right chest makes the Soldier - not the patch on the right shoulder.
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No Orders = No Proof = No Combat Patch
I am sure at some point you were authorized, but if you don't have the paperwork to prove it, its as good as it didn't happen.
I am sure at some point you were authorized, but if you don't have the paperwork to prove it, its as good as it didn't happen.
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MSG Douglas Tolliver
There's no requirement for orders for a patch other than a deployment order placing you in the Combat Zone just as the orders PCSing you to a unit authorizes the wear of their patch. There's also not a required ceremony either. Most units just do it for the sake of a ceremony.
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SGT Suraj Dave
I can't give you exact regs, I have been out of the Army for 2 years, but I believe you need orders as proof of your SSIFWTS. While I was in, they also made the rule you can't wear another units patch as your own unless you were attatched in an element smaller than platoon size. If your element is platoon size or bigger than you wear your organic units patch. In addition, you need a memo from the commander of the other unit approving you to wear the patch.
This was done because in the early 2000 there was combat patch anarchy. You had guardsmen and reservists doing a single deployment returning with 3 combat patches. I remember my 1st deployment we replaced the 4th ID, and the 4th ID allowed the forward surgical team (fst) to wear their patch. When we took over, they asked our BC about it, he said no. In his words "The 4th ID is a no name unit, the 101st is famous. When you wear our patch, people expect a certain quality of training which I do not know that your unit possesses, therfore you can not wear our patch" lol. Good old Col. Poppas.
This was done because in the early 2000 there was combat patch anarchy. You had guardsmen and reservists doing a single deployment returning with 3 combat patches. I remember my 1st deployment we replaced the 4th ID, and the 4th ID allowed the forward surgical team (fst) to wear their patch. When we took over, they asked our BC about it, he said no. In his words "The 4th ID is a no name unit, the 101st is famous. When you wear our patch, people expect a certain quality of training which I do not know that your unit possesses, therfore you can not wear our patch" lol. Good old Col. Poppas.
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1SG Tom Ahearn
SGT Suraj Dave - Should orders be required, yes. Are they, no. Also as I stated before to LT Rosa a lot of guard units don't have a patch, back home we wear our states patch which is not authorized as a SSI-FWTS. Here is a normal situation: Unit A deploys with with State patch, is assigned to BN B, BDE C, ESC/DIV D. There are no order assigning them to these units that's just who they fall under so they check AR 670-1 and wear the BN patch. While there 4 people are farmed out to other BDEs as LNO, once again no orders, 7 SMs are put on an MTT, again no orders, also half way through the deployment the BN/BDE/DIV do a RIP, now we have BN E, BDE F, ESC/DIV G. No orders for anything, what patch do you wear. Current reg states the unit will wear the SSI of the lowest echelon Army unit (company or higher) in the deployed chain of command as the SSI-FWTS. Older versions did not.
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SGT (Join to see)
Exactly, once you have your orders as proof of your deployment, you may earn your deployment stripe as well as your combat patch.
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You need an order from the S1 in your records verifying service and authorizing wear of wartime service shoulder sleeve insignia (combat patch).
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I have orders for ALL 7 of my Combat patches, when I was Supporting/Attached to a different unit then my own. If you deployed with a larger Element, BN or higher, that's the patch you wear. You would have orders attaching you to different unit, if you deployed as a smaller unit, COMPANY OR PLATOON level.
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Some patches look cooler for sure but when I tell you any patch and 1.50 will buy you a coke out of the machine when you get out or retire.
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