Does my unit patch change if I was mostly discharged when it changed?

PFC Crystal Sprague — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 17:52:53 -0400

I was able to return home 30 days before my official exit date because I had leave days saved up. My unit patch changed before I was officially discharged but after I had been sent home. Since I finished my contract and had a medical but honorable discharge I was allowed to keep my uniform. I'm not sure which patch I am suppose to use though.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2016 5:55 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 17:55:29 -0400

If your unit changed patches before your discharge and you were still on their books, you can wear the new patch.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2016 6:24 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 18:24:36 -0400

yeah wear which ever you want , you're ETSd so who cares

Response by MSG Wade Huffman made Oct 12 at 2016 7:15 PM

MSG Wade Huffman — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 19:15:12 -0400

"Mostly discharged" is sort of like being "a little bit pregnant", either you are, or you're not. If you had not reached your discharge date yet, you were still assigned to your last unit.

Response by SFC George Smith made Oct 12 at 2016 8:58 PM

SFC George Smith — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 20:58:57 -0400

thats a new one... check with the Updated Ar-670-1...

Response by 1stSgt Eugene Harless made Oct 12 at 2016 9:34 PM

1stSgt Eugene Harless — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 21:34:18 -0400

If you are what we refer toi in the USMC as Terminal Leave, any type of awards or Updates would be allowed on your uniform. For instance I went on Terminal leave In June of 2000, but my retirement date was 1 Sept 2000. On August 10 2000 I went over the 20 year mark and rated another service stripe. I actually would put it on if I was to ever wear the uniform,,, which I havent in 16 years....

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Oct 13 at 2016 8:48 AM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 08:48:14 -0400

Well you are discharged, so you really don't need to use either anymore. Personally though, I collect mementos of every unit I was a part of. So if that was your intent, I would grab both the new and the old patches. It allows you to be a part of history even if it's only the history of a single unit.

Response by SPC Joel Butler made Oct 13 at 2016 3:13 PM

SPC Joel Butler — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 15:13:11 -0400

Technically, you should wear the new patch...as you were still in that unit during your ETS leave when the patch changed. If you keep the old patch on there, I'm sure nobody would know or even care. Think about it...if you're at some veteran's function wearing your old uniform, do you think someone there is going to call you out because the patch changed and you left the old one on there? My guess, is probably not.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Sep 1 at 2018 5:18 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sat, 01 Sep 2018 17:18:03 -0400

PFC Crystal Sprague was this connected to the realignment of the Army Sustainment Brigades? If you wear what is on your last (assuming it's correct) ERB, you'd be correct. If you wear the patch from the day you left, you'd be correct. If you wore the "new" patch you'd be ok.

Which uniform are you talking about? AR670-1 Chapter 21 would be your source, unless you were declared retired, then it would be a different paragraph.

21–4. Former members of the Army
a. Unless qualified under another provision of this regulation, or under the provisions of 10 USC 772, former members of the Army may only wear the uniform if they served honorably during a declared or undeclared war, and if their most recent service was terminated under honorable conditions. Personnel who qualify under these conditions will wear the Army uniform in the highest grade they held during such war service, in accordance with 10 USC 772.
b. When authorized, the uniform may be worn only for the following ceremonial occasions and when traveling to and from the event and must follow guidance included in paragraph 3–7c.
(1) When attending military funerals, memorial services, weddings, inaugurals, and other occasions of ceremony.
(2) When attending parades on national or state holidays, or other patriotic parades or ceremonies in which any Ac- tive or Reserve U.S. military unit is taking part. Uniforms for these occasions are restricted to service and dress uni- forms; the combat uniform and physical fitness uniforms will not be worn. Wearing the Army uniform at any other time, or for any other purpose than stated above, is prohibited.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Oct 24 at 2018 7:45 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 19:45:01 -0400

You were discharged. You're a civilian. Not military. You don't have a unit, much less a patch...