Can you wear the combat patch of a unit you were attached to?

A soldier wears the patch of the unit most immediate in their unit of assignment's chain authorized a combat patch. My first deployment's unit was a Guard unit not authorized a patch, the next unit up (battalion level, USAR) wasn't authorized a patch, either, so we went with their higher up's patch. Four months before we when home, my battalion was replaced by an Active Duty battalion with a combat patch authorization, so we were allowed to wear their patch also. Technically, attachments don't necessarily mean you're allowed to wear the patch of the unit of attachment. There has to be a specific order or written authorization allowing that.

During Desert Storm we had an Army major serving with us in the 1st Marine Division FSCC. One day I told him "Sir your combat patch will be the 1st MARDIV patch" He then said some Army Regulation prohibit it. I was kind of offended as I am very proud of my unit and his wearing it would of been quite unique.

In a PERFECT WORLD each soldier should have a Statement of Wartime Service in their 201 file. It might be a blanket order that corresponds to their assignment/attachment/departure (wrong term). Back after Desert Storm a lot of soldiers in units I served in tried to pick-a-patch.

Alex, I'd like to pick 'things I never cared about' for $500.

All joking aside, wear what you want. I've never taken the time out to care about who wears what patch and for what reason. Probably because I don't even wear one. :/

Got another "what if" situation that was my first deployment (OEF 2009-2010).

Individual WIAS tasking assigned to a CJTF Paladin which, at first, fell under USFOR-A (wore that patch). Then Paladin transfered to IJC. While in country I wore the IJC patch during that time but should have I continued to wear the USFOR-A patch or could I have just worn my home station unit? I'm not sure if AR670-1 addresses joint assignments or is that covered in a JP?

52nd Ordnance Group took command of Paladin late in 2010 which finally put me directly under an Army unit

"(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 SSIFWTS 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."

Ok, can someone dumb it down for me? From what I understand is prior to 2007 you can basically wear any SSI-FWTS for a unit you supported, were attached to, or were actually assigned to. After ALARACT 055/2007 you wore your units SSI as your SSI-FWTS if you deployed as a company sized element or larger. In other words, whatever you wore on your left shoulder while deployed is what you’ll wear as SSI-FWTS.

I’m only asking out of curiosity. I have bookends with a national guard unit and that’s not going to change.

I was mobilized out of the Individual Ready Reserve and served in Afghanistan (2006-2007). I was originally assigned to I Corps Artillery, attached to TF-Phoenix under the 41st Infantry Brigade then the 218th Infantry Brigade. I was under opcon to TF-31 for half of my tour. The unit I deployed with returned to the states a month before I did. The last 3 months of my tour, I was part of CSTC-A in Kandahar. I never received any orders officially transferring me from one command to the next, beyond my orders to report to I Corps Artillery. The only patch that I was "awarded" was the SF patch by the ODA team I worked with. For simplicity sake, can't I just wear my IRR patch? (this is a sarcastic question. I know the IRR patch is not an authorized ssi-fwts, but you can see how confusing this can be.) I am authorized the following SSI-FWTS: I Corps, 41st SIB, 218th SIB, CSTC-A, and possibly the SF (I don't have the OPCON orders, but have orders from the commander of TF-31 and the MUC they received is on my DD-214). Maybe it would reduce the questions if I could just wear the IRR patch?!?

I can understand your plight. So many soldieres prefer to wear combat patches from more renown units then their own unit. I am technically authorized to wear 2 different combat patches from supporting different units during my deployment; however, I choose to wear my unit's patch because I take pride in my unit and it eliminates confusion. I don't agree with soldiers wearing patches for unit's they weren't assigned to. When I see someone wearing my unit's patch, there is a certain comradarie when conversing with them and finding out who they are, what they did, and who they know that you know. We sweated and suffered in roughly the same ways and the same places, and that creates an invisible bond that needs to be cherished.

Once again, attachment orders (including TDY/TCS, etc ) are the personnel record tht indicate the assignment: FINANCE records indicate whether hostile fire/combat zone pay/tax exemptions took place. Most soldiers don't know that the records are intended to be cross-checked--something that might come in handy for them to know in the future when records may be lost.
Select orders such as TDY/TCS might also have specific notes. DOD or service unique memorandums are usually issued to clarify the situation regarding how many days are needed to qualify for recognition and/or an award of a medal or other device. Regulations are often later updated via interim changes. That said, note that a soldier might qualify for a medal for "being in support of" and operation, yet might not qualify for ''combat patch" or other device due to narrowly defined criteria. On the other hand one might qualify for "tax exemption/combat zone" for being in country for only one single day...thus we used to have unethical people who flew in on the last day of the month, departing on the first day of the new month, resulting in two months of "tax free" pay.

The ALARACT is fairly clear. If you deploy with a unit which has a designated SSI, you wear that one. If you don't, then you will wear the one of the lowest SSI element in your CoC in country. So, if you are a DET from the 95th DIV (IT), deploying to RC-EAST, you would not wear the 95th patch; rather, you would wear the patch of whichever HQ is at RC-EAST.