Combat patches: Are they for show or do they really mean something??

It definitely means something...

The patch means something to me. My late father wore a 6th Army patch awarded for service in WWII and my son wears a SSI-FWTS for his service in the current unpleasantness.

Lots of good comments on this issue. Personally I am authorized to wear 3 such patches, two of which were earned while I carried a weapon and wore IBA every day. The other one being for a Kuwait deployment where I only did so when we went to the range. Each of them mean something to me, mainly for the people and shared experiences in each instance. I would have those memories even if I were not authorized to wear anything as a result. It seems that, like society in general these days, the Army is looking for ways to divide rather than unite Soldiers. Hence the CAB to distinguish those that traded bullets (or in some cases heard something go bang in the distance) from those that "just" have a "combat patch". Any more I am leaning towards the USMC tradition of not wearing a patch. It makes one create first (and subsequent) impression(s) of fellow sevicemembers on how they perform rather than what they wear. IMHO, the lack of a "combat patch" does not make a Soldier any less capable, nor does the presence make a given Soldier any more capable. That was then, this is now.

The only important thing you should be concerned about is whether you are a good leader. I myself do not have a combat patch but I've been married for 17 years and that should be enough. All joking aside, I do not have one but I have been lucky enough to be a good mentor, role model, and leader for my soldiers; and I do this through the example I set and not how loud I can raise my voice. Yes, a combat patch infers you have done something that perhaps others have not, but at the end of the day, it's not what you can say, or say that you've done, but who you are as a leader and if you can put the troops needs ahead of your own needs.

It does man something and when you ar authorized multiple you can choose which one you want to wear as your Combat Patch

It means you were in a combat zone

I became a police officer after my time in the Army and everyone wanted a letter from The Law Enforcement Hall of Fame. The ones that wanted it the most did the least. If you do a job just for the attaboys you need to find another job

Had an old Army Sgt who had served in 'Nam with the 101st, the 82nd, & the 173rd... he used to alternate... we had a running bet on which he'd wear the next day.

Respect... flaunt it baby!

This thread is definitely one of many opinions on "combat patches." Each opinion makes its own valid point and this is something I personally enjoy being a veteran and discussing things with different people from different paths. The diversity of the military is one of the many qualities that is very much enjoyed if you approach it with a open mind set. Now correct if I'm wrong but it seems that this discussion was based off a question that was trying to be beaten around the bush a bit. Basically what my understanding of what the question is is simply; who qualifies for a combat patch and who doesn't? To be honest, can it really be answered? My first deployment to Iraq, I was assigned to cav unit, earned my first combat patch, CAB, and Purple Heart. after returning state side, I reassigned back to my original unit and changed my MOS back to 15P. Shortly after, I learned that this unit and our higher headquarters were deploying again soon. We didn't know who was being moved where and who was coming and going or where we were going. During this time though, I would listen to guys who had deployed before talking about their past deployments and referring to their patches as "real deployments" as if it were some kind of dick swinging contest. Even had someone try and put me down for my patch because to them, it wasn't "the real deal." This guy only deployed as a Fobbit. What do you expect when you are in an airfield operation group? You are not a Combat Arms unit. This irked me for awhile and I had formed an opinion that if you didn't do the real army shit on deployment, you were a no body. Once we were deployed, my battalion was sent to Afghanistan, and our higher headquarters went to Kuwait and Qatar. The mission we had was simple but it required a lot of work. I was sent to Kuwait for a few days and really saw what those guys were doing. They were in charge of every single airfield owned by Central Command and Army Central Command through the entire theater. Therefore we had CAB (Combat Aviation Brigades) units who supported air assault missions, special forces, Dust Off medevac units, etc. who needed us running those airfields. It completely changed my definition of what it means to earn a combat patch. Because of who our higher ups answered to, we were authorized three different patches for that deployment. CENTCOM, ARCENT, and my battalion also received USFORA. Now I never changed my patches over from my first deployment because of what we went through and what we did and the pride I had from the people I served with but I I did agree at that movement that everyone who deployed to somewhere in the Central Command area had a mission to support the ongoing combat operations in the region. The picture that is painted is much bigger than what we can actually see and I feel that wether if deployed to Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Qatar, etc. You should be authorized a patch for former wartime service because that's what you are providing and supporting in a very chaotic region. Just sharing my experiences and my opinion.

Every one of mine mean something different. My one from Desert Storm was my first so it holds that place in how I feel about it. The one from my first deployment to Iraq means a lot because of the difficulty of the deployment and the friends that were killed and injured. The patch from my second deployment to Iraq has a great history behind it and it is an honor to share it with all those who wore it before me. The one from Afghanistan is special because it was from my third active deployment area. So I guess the answer to your question would be that patch means something or not to the individual who wears it depending upon the significance the wearer puts upon it.