Is wearing a combat patch required? Did you feel you earned it in a support MOS?

Always a good question. Wish I had a Good Answer. I can only comment on my Awards for Desert Storm and Desert Strike. Yes I was attached to a Unit that did picket duty on the Sea Entrances to Iraq following Desert Storm but Primarily I was there to Spy on Iran. Same with Desert Strike, Our Unit did some OPDEC Operation Deception, Faints at Iraq making them nervous before the actual launch of Missiles but primarily once again most of my shops efforts were directed against Iran. No Rhyme, No Reason. Someone did the Appropriate Paperwork, You are Authorized to wear it. Be Happy.

CIB in Vietnam. 3 months in field combat unit.

If you don't feel something when earning any patch, award, or badge, then you shouldn't be in this profession. Regardless of what others think (i.e. those that say: "you're a badge chaser"). Look, if you went after that badge or award and earned it, fuckin wear it. If your chest is filled with things you earned and others try and talk shit, they are just mad they didn't get those opportunities. And you really know who is to blame? Their prior or current leadership for not explaining the value in what it means to earn something and to be proud of that.

Your rear was still subject getting kicked. If you were there you can wear it with pride. Some never go ever.

Well as a peacetime Infantryman, I never really cared who wore a combat patch. To be absolutely honest and I think I speak for all Infantrymen here when I say this. It's really rarely ever what people wear on their uniform that bothers folks in the Infantry. It is the verbal portrayals and stories that come out of peoples mouths that get under some 11 series skins. Especially in the area where they are comparing themselves to Infantrymen and they never once served in the MOS. That would be hot button number one. Hot button number two is easily the attitude or prejudice that everyone in the Infantry is stupid or slow and has no real future because you have to be dumb to choose that MOS or volunteer for it (the second one I ran into constantly when I was in uniform and sometimes I wanted to punch the jerk in the face). Those two are at the top of the list. If you are not guilty of either one of those I would not worry about what you think bothers people in the Infantry because most of us have a thick skin beyond those two items.

So take the Cav Scout vs rest of world rivalry that appears to be going on among the Combat Arms MOS. It is really not the Stetson hat nor is it the Spurs that bother Infantrymen, Artillerymen, etc. It's usually the public comments that get them into hot water. I used to think it was just Infantry vs Cav Scouts but I saw on Quora there are also some Aviation folks and FISTERS as well as Engineers that are PO'd at some specific Cav Scout examples.........and it's never the uniform that sets them off, though we do sometimes kid them about it. It is always something they said in public. One of the FISTERS on quora was complaining because a Cav Scout told him they didn't need FISTERS because they already knew the FISTERS job.

Oh and I got the whole Marine Corps vs 82nd Airborne fighting rivalry figured out I think. What bothers the folks in the 82nd the most is the Marines that run around and say their Basic Training is just like what an Airborne Ranger goes though. My guess is why that specifically sticks in their craw is because it used to be a good portion of the 82nd was made up of Ranger school or RASP no-go's. I am not sure if that is still the case with the new methods or not but back when I was serving if you wanted a fist fight between a Marine and someone in the 82nd you just had to bring up the topic of initial training. The other part is a Marine and paratrooper both think they are special and if you put them together they try to out special one another....lol. :) Whew, suddenly I feel like Dr. Phil on Oprah....lol. :)

The lingo of "combat patch" really stands for Shoulder Sleeve Insignia - Former War Time Service. (SSI-FWTS), for designated combat zones. It doesn't mean you saw combat that's what CIB, CMB, and CAB are for.
https://www.ar670.com/2018/12/21/shoulder-sleeve-insignia-former-wartime-service-ssi-fwts/

During my first deployment my platoon was pulling outer cordon for a large Cordon and Search. I was salty about being mostly out of the fight. My 1SG at the time was riding in our vehicle and he said something that has stuck with me ever since. He said, “Don’t ever judge your impact on the fight by your proximity to it.” It’s the truth. Wear your patch with pride because the job you did was supporting the guys out front and was desperately needed.

You were still in harm's way.Support units are an important factor in victory.

It is not a “combat patch”. It is a shoulder sleeve insignia - former wartime service. If you went overseas into a war zone you have every right to wear it and should wear it.

SPC Dollins,

I think the point is you were a part of it. I typically explain it like a cog on a wheel. I never be the wheel, I’m just the cog. But the wheel doesn’t turn unless all the cogs do their job. The wheel is Operation and the operation can’t move forward without everyone pulling their weight.