Can you wear your Marine unit patch as an Army combat patch if you deployed with the Marines? Policy appears to say no.

True- I deployed with several former Marines who wore the 1st MEF patch.

SSG (Join to see) - I pulled the most recent publication of AR 670-1 (10 Apr 15)

I pulled the most recent publication of AR 670-1 (10 Apr 15) and I don't see the changes you referenced. In fact, paragraph 21-17a(2) specifically states, "Personnel who served in a designated area as a civilian or member of another Service, but were not a member of the US Army during one of the specified periods are not authorized to wear the SSI-FWTS. Further, paragraph 21-17b further restricts SSI-FWTS, " . . . only to members of the Army who were assigned to the designated location overseas with US Army organizations during the following periods."

As an enlisted Marine grunt who served with a Marine rifle company during the Gulf War, I've not displayed the 1 MEF SSI-FWTS patch on my Army uniform because I find no authority to do so. I agree with SFC Edward Orsted. Unless there is more recent authority or another source within AR 670-1, a current Army Soldier who served in an authorized wartime area as a Marine, is not authorized to display the former Marine wartime service as a patch on their Army uniform.

well i'm glad i'm military retired. direct deposit does not state what branch of military you served or what mos. Just direct a deposit pension.

You wear the patch of the unit you are assigned to...so if you were in Iraq as a BN having no patch of yor own you would have worn a MEF Patch. Why try and shame a legitimate practice? We have more productive things to discuss than patches.

They did for a brief time during WWII on there dungarees and dress blues...

I was part of a detachment in 2004 attached to the 24th MEU in the Anwar Provence. We were attached to them for 7 months. Our BDE, BN, and CO fought to keep it from happening. But JTF Commander approved the 24th MUE Commander's request for our 2 Gun 120mm Mortar section to be attached to them. Once we became attached to the Marines never once did they ever come to check on us, when we sent word that we needed supplies or replacement uniforms and boots, we were told "tough" ask the Marines. only the BDE ever made one trip and that was to pin our CIBs. We were ostracized. The Marines and the MUE took care of us and we fought like he'll for them... That is why I wear their patch PROUDLY!

LTC (Join to see) - read my post and you will understand why some prefer to wear the marine patch.

If you actually did some research on Marine Corps history you would know that Unit patches did and do exist for the Marine Corps. It was a while ago, but nonetheless they did and do still exist. Marines don't wear excessive items on their Battle Dress uniforms as those times tend to get in the way during battle.

Sounds a little rude, hopefully not intended. I am well aware that Marines wore patches in World Wars One and Two. Indeed my Militaria collection contains numerous USMC patches from pre-1945. My point was that in the recent past, post-Vietnam, despite the numerous approved unit crests, most only seemed to exist on signs and in off-base stores. I personally have patches for MATCS-18, MCAS Iwakuni, MTSG-90, and a number of other units I was assigned to. Nonetheless, I was always of the opinion that nothing went on the uniform that wasn't in your SRB and issued by the Corps. When I was in we didn't even wear name-tapes above the pockets on our cammies (we never called them BDUs but I know that is how soldiers referred to their utility uniforms). So, I don't think my knowledge of Marine Corps history is lacking, although since I have been out since 1985 my knowledge of recent history is probably a bit deficient. My question is, and was, are you permitted to wear on your uniform insignia that was privately made and privately purchased, and does not show up in your SRB. If it is a Marine Corps patch that Marines are not allowed to wear, why would soldiers be allowed to officially wear it? It just seems weird. Not saying it is right or wrong, just strange.

Every Marine unit has a patch, they just don’t wear them in the uniform.

I believe the old Raider patch from WW2 was brought back

When I was in the Advanced Course at Fort Benning in 1970 one of the other students wore the submariner's dolphins below his CIB and above his jump wings.

Is chutzpah something like "balls"?

Yes, but not really in a positive sense. The classic example of this Yiddish term is "someone who kills his parents and then asks the court for mercy because he's an orphan."

LtCol J W I thought it related to: Huevos.

My father served in the USMC at the end of WWII and in the Occupation forces . He left the USMC and joined the then new USAF. I have a picture of him in his AF Dress uniform wearing his FMF Pacific Combat Patch after coming home from the Korean Conflict!!

I was awarded the 1st MEF and 2nd MEF patches well deployed to Iraq in 06 and 07. I was in Camp Fallujah with a national guard unit. We had colonel Bristol as a commander over our CPT. We also had Marines in almost every squad.

This is a confusing topic. Marines can earn Army awards (Chesty Puller had the DSC and 5 Navy Crosses). Some Army units have been given Marine awards. I earned the EIB from the Army and the CIB equivalent, the Marine and Navy Combat Action Ribbon... talk about confusion. As a former S1, I would kick this question up to the big boys... as I vaguely remember the discussion about Marine Patches.... now, this was Kosovo and (possibly) Mogadishu (before the Black Hawk incident). Some Guard and Reserve units were attached to Marine commands and there may be incidents that make this possible. I wouldn’t belittle a soldier wearing a Marine combat patch, I would kick this question up.

Thank you. I was there with the 1-104th Cav and I couldn't agree with you more.

We were also in that area as 2nd. Brigade 2 ID from 2004-2005

As a Marine combat veteran, I'd have been proud to see a soldier proudly wearing a 2nd Marine Div. combat patch, after fighting side by side with my brothers there.

It goes even before your time to 03-04. 1st Battalion 16th Infantry regiment attached to 1st MEF in Al Anbar Province, Ramadi, Fallujah, Habbinyah and khaldyia.

Got the orders in my room.

Prior service?

There aren't any TSGT's in the Marines...

Marines don't need a patch for chest puffing, that body function is issued with the EGA.

Maybe he is a former Marine who joined AirForce but still a Marine because just like being a soldier, your always a Marine.

Think of the patch as a comment in a resume that tells others not that you've served in a combat zone, but with whom you served. Many of us enjoy spotting someone else with a combat patch from our old outfit.

If you earned an Iraq / Afghanistan Campaign Medal, then you should be able to wear a combat patch.

The criteria for the patch should be the same as the criteria for the campaign medal. A war veteran is a war veteran.