Posted on Feb 17, 2014
Can you wear the combat patch of a unit you were attached to?
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Never really seen this till this deployment I am on and I'm around alot of units here.<div>I hear seen a total of 8 Soldiers with 82d ABN combat patches on, and all 8 I asked what unit where they with in the 82d, all of them said "I was attached to the 82d ABN in combat", then of course I knew the answer, but asked anyways "what unit were you assiged to? Or was the 82d just your higher HQ in country", and of course it was the latter.</div><div>My question is why don't Soldiers want to wear their own unit patches? And yes, it does irritate me Soldiers that have never been assigned to the 82d are able to wear it just because the 82d was their higher HQs (even though I'm tracking its authorized). </div><div>I'm not trying to sound like I think my unit is the best conventional unit in the Army (even though it is), I just feel Soldiers are trying to give off an appearance they they served with a certain element when they didn't. </div>
Posted in these groups: 
Combat Patch (SSI-FWTS)
Uniforms
Combat Patch (SSI-FWTS) Uniforms
Posted 12 y ago
Responses: 43
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Deployed as a Civil Affairs reservist twice
First time as a Battalion thus we got the USACAPOC patch. Second time was as a 9 man element for a PRT. We had to wear the next highest US unit, which was RC-East then commanded by the 101st
We were OPCON and ADCON but not assigned. We got the 101st combat patch.
First time as a Battalion thus we got the USACAPOC patch. Second time was as a 9 man element for a PRT. We had to wear the next highest US unit, which was RC-East then commanded by the 101st
We were OPCON and ADCON but not assigned. We got the 101st combat patch.
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Attached soldiers are actually ONLY allowed to wear the patch of the unit they're attached to for that deployment. If they are attached to multiple units (during the same deployment), then only the first unit's SSI-FWTS (combat patch) is authorized per AR670-1:
"21-17 a. (4) (d) Individual Soldiers who are attached (to include OPCON, cross-leveled, assigned, or augmenting deployed units) will wear the same SSI-FWTS worn by members of the deployed Army unit (company or higher) to which attached by written orders. A Soldier who is further attached (to one or more units) during one deployment will only wear the SSI-FWTS for the first Army unit (company or higher) to which attached by written orders. Soldiers who deploy with their unit (company level or higher) will wear the SSI-FWTS as outlined in paragraph 21–17a(7)(a), regardless how many times they are further attached to other units as individuals or teams. Members of trial defense will wear the SSI of their respective commands as their SSI-FWTS."
"21-17 a. (4) (d) Individual Soldiers who are attached (to include OPCON, cross-leveled, assigned, or augmenting deployed units) will wear the same SSI-FWTS worn by members of the deployed Army unit (company or higher) to which attached by written orders. A Soldier who is further attached (to one or more units) during one deployment will only wear the SSI-FWTS for the first Army unit (company or higher) to which attached by written orders. Soldiers who deploy with their unit (company level or higher) will wear the SSI-FWTS as outlined in paragraph 21–17a(7)(a), regardless how many times they are further attached to other units as individuals or teams. Members of trial defense will wear the SSI of their respective commands as their SSI-FWTS."
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Why do you want to wear that American Flag on your shoulder, SSG? Why not wear your individual state flag?
Personally I like that stars and stripes, but I suspect someone will change that too.
Personally I like that stars and stripes, but I suspect someone will change that too.
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CPT Adam W. Dillon
I just saw your comment and my SC Guard unit wears the SC State Flag while CONUS. We know we are Americans, but shows pride in the state we serve.
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Most of the cases described in this thread are covered on pages 34 and 35 of the current AR 670-1.
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When I was in Afghanistan we had to wear the combat patch of the command that was on our orders.
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Good insight dome times soldiers want prestige without guys.
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Old thread, but I'll add my opinion as to why I think they screwed this up. Yes, if you deploy with your unit (Company or lower), you should wear that SSI as your "combat patch". However, if your company is then OPCON to another brigade HQ as part of their task force, you should be able to wear their SSI as a "combat patch" as well, ESPECIALLY if the task force/brigade is awarded a unit award (PUC, VUA, or MUC) for the deployment which would list the units that are assigned/attached. A company that deploys to augment other brigades aren't there as a representation to the battalion/brigade that they belong to back home. They now answer to another command and carry out operations for that command element which belongs to another unit entirely.
I think the best way to lay out the "combat patch" issue would have been to simply state that wear of the "combat patch" should be based on:
1) Written orders assigning/attaching you to the gaining unit as an individual soldier.
or
2) That your company (or lower) while attached to a higher HQ at the battalion or higher level were awarded a unit award for the deployment.
That should have been the criteria to wear multiple "combat patches" and avoid all the grey area nonsense in the regs. Base it solely on direct orders as an individual or that the company or lower that the soldier was assigned to received a unit award while attached to a higher HQ as part of their task force or unit. It would make it pretty clear as to what patches folks would be entitled to wear and easy to figure it out.
I think the best way to lay out the "combat patch" issue would have been to simply state that wear of the "combat patch" should be based on:
1) Written orders assigning/attaching you to the gaining unit as an individual soldier.
or
2) That your company (or lower) while attached to a higher HQ at the battalion or higher level were awarded a unit award for the deployment.
That should have been the criteria to wear multiple "combat patches" and avoid all the grey area nonsense in the regs. Base it solely on direct orders as an individual or that the company or lower that the soldier was assigned to received a unit award while attached to a higher HQ as part of their task force or unit. It would make it pretty clear as to what patches folks would be entitled to wear and easy to figure it out.
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I was under the impression, that you can wear the unit patch of a unit you were attached to on your right sleeve, but only units you’ve actually served in on the left? Am I wrong?
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