Posted on Mar 22, 2018
MAJ University Recruiting Liaison
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I see "MEDIC" patches (for both ACUs and OCPs) listed for sale as being Army-approved for uniform wear, but I can't find the white Red Cross armbands anywhere except historical and collector sites.
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SFC Blc Senior Small Group Leader (Ssgl)
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Ma'am, the "MEDIC" patches you are referring to constitute a "subdued brassard" according to DA PAM 670-1. This one is not authorized on the uniform. The only brassard that could be authorized for medical personnel to wear is the "non-subdued brassard" which is the white armband with the red Geneva Cross. I have not seen them used in garrison or field training at any point in my career, nor can I find a reference as to whether or not they should be used in that scenario. I do know that if there were ever a need (i.e. conventional warfare with an adversary adhering to the Geneva Conventions), those non-subdued Geneva Cross brassards would appear by the thousands. In the meantime, there are plenty of other ways to identify medics in garrison or a field environment. Here are some of the ways I and other medics I have worked with ensured people knew who we were (I apologize if they sound sarcastic, because they aren't):

1. We told them. (Line Medics are rarely shy and timid after they've learned their craft)
2. Usually found near a vehicle or building identified by a Geneva Cross.
3. Carried an Aid Bag with all manner of patches and medical equipment clearly visible.
4. Answered to a loud cry of "DOC!"
5. Usually wearing a field uniform that is stained pink from fake blood.

Long story short, Ma'am, I have yet to encounter a scenario when lack of identification has carried dire consequences.

Also, most young medics have a sort of "Hero Complex" that will likely give them the mindset that someone shouting "Doc" or "Medic" is some sort of "Bat Signal" and they'll rush in to save the day. We may be arrogant, overly confident, sarcastic, and think too highly of ourselves, but I can honestly say that all of us mean well.
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CPT Board Member
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All truth SFC (Join to see). Everyone gave me crazy looks when I showed up to my first FTX as a LT with fake blood stains on my ACUs
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2LT Infantry Officer
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No Ma'am, which in a way defines that they are not considered authorized uniform items. With the same set of updates that disallowed flight patches, anything not approved in AR-670-1/PAM 670-1 and authorized by the Institute of Heraldry is not authorized.
I would develop a local SOP if you're concerned, such as "Aid bags visible with road guard vest attached" or "Aid Bag worn, marked by white engineer tape" if people don't know who their medic is.

Vehicle marking is a different matter altogether, but there is a LOT that goes into proper use of a badged aircraft or vehicle marked as a MEDEVAC asset, air or ground.
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SSG Aircraft Mechanic
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Disallowing flight patches is a bunch of bunk!
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2LT Infantry Officer
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I agree 100%
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CPT Board Member
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Also, (smart ass answer) correct any NCO who didn’t make damn sure that all soldiers knew the medic...
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MAJ University Recruiting Liaison
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That's what I suspected, but so many sites are listing them as "approved" that I was wondering whether there was an update of some sort that I had missed.
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SPC Medic
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This is a good question I’d like an answer to as well. I would suspect that with the nature of the conflicts we fight against opponents who don’t recognize the Geneva convention, we wouldn’t want to identify ourselves as medical personnel. However, if something happened with a near peer force like everyone is saying it will, then I would expect that there would be some thought as to whether we would be identified as medics on the battlefield. I also believe that they would be the white sleeve bands with a Red Cross as those would be more visible and universally known as opposed to a camouflaged patch with an English word on it.
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MAJ University Recruiting Liaison
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I'm also thinking of training scenarios and FTXs in which there are no actual enemies, but there is a need to be able to identify the medics.
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CPT Board Member
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Not authorized, ma’am. Every time I got new medics as a section NCO, I heard the sob stories about how other units did it. Commanders can modify regs for their own AO and I can see the value, but the medic brassard is not authorized.
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