Military Patches & Badges...

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 04 May 2014 00:01:00 -0400

unit patches, branch/career field patches, military school patches, division patches... I know we've got them! Perhaps it was something from our nation's fighting past, something classic, or maybe even something altogether new and different; whatever it is, I'm sure there's a great story to tell, and we'd like to hear all about it! Perhaps you have one from a family member, from past engagements, or that special one that reflects your own career history; maybe you even have some that you've traded, given as gifts, or received as a gift. Of course, any cross-service or inter-agency gifts, coalition/foreign military, paramilitary, or law enforcement examples are all welcome; we'd just like to hear a little background and a good "sea story" to accompany them! Please feel free to share any stories, photos, web links, or anything else necessary to help tell your tale(s) of military service. This should be a great time and I'm certain that it'll be a great learning tool as well; so, strap on your seatbelts, it's time to get the conversation rolling. Thank you for all that you do, and... see you all in the discussion threads!

Response by SPC Charles Brown made May 4 at 2014 1:46 AM

SPC Charles Brown — Sun, 04 May 2014 01:46:33 -0400

I have posted on here twice with patches collected through my father and myself. Yet they don't seem to be showing up. Any idea what is going on?

Response by SGT Donald Croswhite made May 4 at 2014 5:42 AM

SGT Donald Croswhite — Sun, 04 May 2014 05:42:56 -0400

Something that I wanted to do is gather all the patches from the ANA unit that we served with (205th Corps.) Looking on the internet at video to refesh myself on how and where they wear them I found a hodgepodge of diffrent looks. But I found a seller on ebay that has most of all them. What's kind of alarming is that I found a guy who sells ANA uniforms. Not sure if that's koser.

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made May 4 at 2014 11:27 AM

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 04 May 2014 11:27:04 -0400

In order to provide additional ideas and to keep the conversation going, here are just a few other threads that you'll find interesting; thank you for all that you do, and... see you all in the discussion threads!

Response by SSG Mark Ives made May 4 at 2014 6:20 PM

SSG Mark Ives — Sun, 04 May 2014 18:20:18 -0400

The Pershing Professional badge was awarded to soldiers in the 56th FA Brigade for proficiency in the Pershing missile system. I received the silver 'pocket rocket' while in C Battery, 1st Bn, 81st FA (Pershing), Neu Ulm, Germany. The QRA is for Quick Reaction Alert that Pershing units were on during the Cold War and "Quick, Reliable, Accurate" motto.

Response by 1SG Frank Rocha made May 4 at 2014 7:05 PM

1SG Frank Rocha — Sun, 04 May 2014 19:05:12 -0400

First combat patch I earned. NSDQ

Response by 1SG Michael Blount made May 5 at 2014 1:07 PM

1SG Michael Blount — Mon, 05 May 2014 13:07:33 -0400

Oh this is just toooo good to pass up.

Response by CH (CPT) Private RallyPoint Member made May 5 at 2014 2:53 PM

CH (CPT) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 May 2014 14:53:29 -0400

not my favorite, per se, but still fun. The one on the left is the original, official patch. The other is the one some members of the unit had made up post-deployment. They gave me one, even though I didn't deploy with them, for their own reasons.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 5 at 2014 2:58 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 May 2014 14:58:54 -0400

My favorite badge to wear, which I have earned and certain others (you know who you are) pretend to have earned, is the missileman badge.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missile_Badge

Missile Badge - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Missile Badge is a military decoration of the United States Air Force which was first created in the 1960s. The badge recognizes those commissioned officers and enlisted personnel of the US Air Force who have qualified as missile personnel (both Tactical and SAC, now AFGSC, ICBM) that have been trained in the launching of landbased nuclear weapons under the direction of the National Command Authority. Originally known as the Missileman...

Response by SSG Matt Murphy made May 5 at 2014 5:36 PM

SSG Matt Murphy — Mon, 05 May 2014 17:36:57 -0400

These are the "patches" and "badges" worn (or UA old school) by myself and my three brothers (collectively)........SF by three of us and 50th by two of us.....

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 5 at 2014 7:42 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 May 2014 19:42:48 -0400

It is now the Air Force Weather Agency.

Response by SFC Stephen Carden made May 6 at 2014 11:28 AM

SFC Stephen Carden — Tue, 06 May 2014 11:28:25 -0400

My MOS works exclusively with Special Operations Forces and we have a history of trying to earn their respect with mixed results. Generally, everyone loves us except Special Forces. During my last Afghanistan deployment, one of my team leaders had problems with the Special Forces ODA that he was supporting. He said that they would constantly remind him that he wasn't a "long-tabber", so his vote didn't count. He got frustrated and went to the tailor shop. He had them make a tab for him with the long name for our MOS: "Military Information Support Operations". It was a "long-er tab". It was so long, in fact, that it almost curved into a full circle. He enjoyed wearing that unauthorized tab around his VSP just to mess with the SF guys. I wish I had a picture of it!

Response by PFC Glen King made May 6 at 2014 12:19 PM

PFC Glen King — Tue, 06 May 2014 12:19:36 -0400

Recognizing.....

Response by SGT Aaron Barbee made May 6 at 2014 12:49 PM

SGT Aaron Barbee — Tue, 06 May 2014 12:49:08 -0400

My ultimately favorite patch that I wore was my 1 MEF combat patch earned while my unit worked with the Marines in Ramadiyh.

Response by PO2 Jeffrey S. made May 6 at 2014 4:56 PM

PO2 Jeffrey S. — Tue, 06 May 2014 16:56:02 -0400

My USS Capodanno (FF-1093) patch. Ship was named after Fr. Vincent Capodanno (Lt. USN). He was in the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, Vietnam War. He was giving last rights, while being wounded himself, to a wounded soldier when a Machine gun nest cut him down. He was known as the "Grunt Padre" by his fellow soldiers. He was posthumously awarded the Medal Of Honor. That is what the blue field and stars are in the patch.

Response by SGT Craig Northacker made May 6 at 2014 8:26 PM

SGT Craig Northacker — Tue, 06 May 2014 20:26:06 -0400

How about the Cold War Service Medal-oh wait, isn't that the one they authorized and then redacted?

Response by SN Alan West made May 7 at 2014 11:35 AM

SN Alan West — Wed, 07 May 2014 11:35:10 -0400

Here is my patch from the USS Iowa (BB-61). Our ship's motto is Our Liberties We Prize, Our Rights We Will Maintain. The ship's nickname is The Big Stick.

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made May 7 at 2014 7:55 PM

CMSgt James Nolan — Wed, 07 May 2014 19:55:20 -0400

The 117th Security Forces Patch. Home grown/designed. Defensores Meridionales stands for Southern Defenders. Proud unit, USAF Heraldry approved patch. (pardon the square lines-this is a computer image)

Response by 1SG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made May 8 at 2014 8:02 PM

1SG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 May 2014 20:02:14 -0400

First Special Service Force, aka the Devil's Brigade, "Das dicke Ende kommt noch!"

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2014 7:53 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 10 May 2014 19:53:30 -0400

My current unit.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2014 8:46 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 10 May 2014 20:46:25 -0400

Hopefully no one gets offended, this is the best patch I have ever seen on a bird...

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 23 at 2014 6:04 PM

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 Aug 2014 18:04:26 -0400

In order to promote professional military discussion on this and related topics, here are just a few RP conversations that you'll want to check out; thank you for all that you do, and... see you all in the discussion threads!

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Feb 19 at 2015 8:48 AM

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 08:48:55 -0500

As you know, the Marine Corps doesn't do a lot of patches or badges . . . but I certainly want to be sure it is represented here!

Response by SSgt Thomas L. made Feb 19 at 2015 11:54 AM

SSgt Thomas L. — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 11:54:37 -0500

My first duty station!

Response by SSgt Thomas L. made Feb 19 at 2015 11:56 AM

SSgt Thomas L. — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 11:56:37 -0500

My last duty station.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 22 at 2016 3:14 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 15:14:46 -0500

Response by Sgt Jim Recchia made Aug 14 at 2017 11:23 AM

Sgt Jim Recchia — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 11:23:45 -0400

Good old SAC. Too bad they messed with it.

Response by 1SG Russell S. made Aug 14 at 2017 2:26 PM

1SG Russell S. — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 14:26:40 -0400

Gone now but not forgotten. 3/2SBCT

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2017 3:32 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 15:32:22 -0400

23rd ID Americal Div Chu Lai Vietnam

Response by SPC John Stevens made Aug 14 at 2017 4:52 PM

SPC John Stevens — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 16:52:21 -0400

U.S. Army 38TH ARTILLERY BRIGADE

Response by SCPO William Akin made Aug 14 at 2017 8:07 PM

SCPO William Akin — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 20:07:43 -0400

Anybody can make a rate, only God makes a Boatswains Mate

Response by SSgt Jimmy Jackson made Aug 14 at 2017 8:34 PM

SSgt Jimmy Jackson — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 20:34:26 -0400

Wore this one for three years......The Combat Crew Badge was established by the United States Air Force on September 1, 1964. It was worn by those USAF personnel serving in positions where they were accruing creditable service towards the Combat Readiness Medal as outlined in U.S. Air Force regulation 900-48. It was a qualification badge and not a medal; it was therefore not a permanent award.

Response by SGT Ron Egan made Aug 14 at 2017 9:21 PM

SGT Ron Egan — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 21:21:05 -0400

Response by SPC Todd Rhoades made Aug 14 at 2017 9:30 PM

SPC Todd Rhoades — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 21:30:55 -0400

Vintage 1986, authorized to be worn by B589 Eng BN (cohort) during OSUT on FLW. In April 1987 we became the first soldiers of the 41 Eng BN 10th Mountain Div.

Response by SGT Patrick Hebert made Aug 25 at 2017 4:55 PM

SGT Patrick Hebert — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 16:55:02 -0400

3rd signal brigade fort hood texas,the patch in the photo