https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/prior-service-wear-of-ssi-fwts-now-apparently-ssi-mohc-in-the-usaf <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I walked away from the Army NG as a CW3 qualified on multiple aircraft at 17.5 years to finish out my 20 enlisted in a local Air NG unit. As I began digging into the regulations, I was surprised to see AF uniform policy in relative shambles and the regulations poorly written and often vague. Especially when it comes to the issue of &#39;combat patches&#39; worn by prior service Airmen.<br /><br />I&#39;ve read through the many topics on RP covering this very same topic, but they&#39;re either out-dated (prior to various re-writes of 36-2903) or missing key information. In the interest of clarification, I wanted to get some (hopefully) expert input on the issue. I realize it&#39;s a relatively trivial thing and will only apply to a minority of Airmen... if the issue is a thorn in your side, move along.<br /><br />Current 36-2903 guidance only states the following:<br /><br />Paragraph 5.2.6.2.5 (which is a sub-paragraph of 5.2.6.2 concerning the OCP coat left-sleeve): <br /><br />Wear of other Services&#39; qualification badges/patches, if earned and awarded, is authorized if allowed by the applicable Services’ guidance. [...] [Note: Sister Service and Joint badges/patches can be worn in their current subdued color configuration and will not be converted to the spice brown color criteria.]<br /><br />As far as official guidance goes, that&#39;s all I&#39;ve been able to find. I know there used to be a FAQ on the AFPC site specifically addressing and authorizing prior service combat patches, but it appears to have been removed relatively recently. If I&#39;m just lost, someone please provide a link to the FAQ.<br /><br />Going out on a limb, since the Army does not refer to its badges, scrolls, tabs, etc. as &#39;patches&#39; I assume the word&#39;s inclusion here is in fact still authorizing the combat patch for wear (in it&#39;s Army subdued coloration) but I am open to other interpretations.<br /><br />Lastly, there is no guidance on how they should be worn. Centered above the mandatory HHQ patch? Below? There is a similar lack/muddying of guidance when it comes to sister service qualification badges (i.e., CAB or aviator wings). Should I follow DA PAM 670-1 guidance for sew-on badges or 36-2903?<br /><br />Thanks in advance for your input. As a side note, it appears the Army has moved away from SSI-FWTS and now uses SSI-MOHC (for military operations in hostile conditions). It&#39;s good to see the Army&#39;s priorities haven&#39;t changed. Mon, 07 Feb 2022 13:14:16 -0500 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/prior-service-wear-of-ssi-fwts-now-apparently-ssi-mohc-in-the-usaf <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I walked away from the Army NG as a CW3 qualified on multiple aircraft at 17.5 years to finish out my 20 enlisted in a local Air NG unit. As I began digging into the regulations, I was surprised to see AF uniform policy in relative shambles and the regulations poorly written and often vague. Especially when it comes to the issue of &#39;combat patches&#39; worn by prior service Airmen.<br /><br />I&#39;ve read through the many topics on RP covering this very same topic, but they&#39;re either out-dated (prior to various re-writes of 36-2903) or missing key information. In the interest of clarification, I wanted to get some (hopefully) expert input on the issue. I realize it&#39;s a relatively trivial thing and will only apply to a minority of Airmen... if the issue is a thorn in your side, move along.<br /><br />Current 36-2903 guidance only states the following:<br /><br />Paragraph 5.2.6.2.5 (which is a sub-paragraph of 5.2.6.2 concerning the OCP coat left-sleeve): <br /><br />Wear of other Services&#39; qualification badges/patches, if earned and awarded, is authorized if allowed by the applicable Services’ guidance. [...] [Note: Sister Service and Joint badges/patches can be worn in their current subdued color configuration and will not be converted to the spice brown color criteria.]<br /><br />As far as official guidance goes, that&#39;s all I&#39;ve been able to find. I know there used to be a FAQ on the AFPC site specifically addressing and authorizing prior service combat patches, but it appears to have been removed relatively recently. If I&#39;m just lost, someone please provide a link to the FAQ.<br /><br />Going out on a limb, since the Army does not refer to its badges, scrolls, tabs, etc. as &#39;patches&#39; I assume the word&#39;s inclusion here is in fact still authorizing the combat patch for wear (in it&#39;s Army subdued coloration) but I am open to other interpretations.<br /><br />Lastly, there is no guidance on how they should be worn. Centered above the mandatory HHQ patch? Below? There is a similar lack/muddying of guidance when it comes to sister service qualification badges (i.e., CAB or aviator wings). Should I follow DA PAM 670-1 guidance for sew-on badges or 36-2903?<br /><br />Thanks in advance for your input. As a side note, it appears the Army has moved away from SSI-FWTS and now uses SSI-MOHC (for military operations in hostile conditions). It&#39;s good to see the Army&#39;s priorities haven&#39;t changed. SSgt Private RallyPoint Member Mon, 07 Feb 2022 13:14:16 -0500 2022-02-07T13:14:16-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/prior-service-wear-of-ssi-fwts-now-apparently-ssi-mohc-in-the-usaf?n=7517389&urlhash=7517389 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>At 17.5 years I would wear mine till told otherwise where and what reg says it is a No-Go. You will be retired before anyone in the AirGuard figures it out. 1SG Russell S. Mon, 07 Feb 2022 18:51:38 -0500 2022-02-07T18:51:38-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/prior-service-wear-of-ssi-fwts-now-apparently-ssi-mohc-in-the-usaf?n=7517464&urlhash=7517464 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>The wear of Army SSI-FWTS or SSI-MOHC has never been authorized in the Air Force. Capt Gregory Prickett Mon, 07 Feb 2022 19:32:08 -0500 2022-02-07T19:32:08-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/prior-service-wear-of-ssi-fwts-now-apparently-ssi-mohc-in-the-usaf?n=7517792&urlhash=7517792 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I did find the previous regulation that authorized it but it looks like the update to it left it out. By leaving it out it is no longer authorized. To me this is like when you see a Marine come into the Army and wear a Marine combat patch. They are not authorized to wear one sense it is an Army award that can only be awarded when you are in the Army. In reality, no one really says anything about it when they see. it. CPT Private RallyPoint Member Tue, 08 Feb 2022 00:41:31 -0500 2022-02-08T00:41:31-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/prior-service-wear-of-ssi-fwts-now-apparently-ssi-mohc-in-the-usaf?n=8155913&urlhash=8155913 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>If I may revive this resting thread. Anyone seen or heard of any further guidance. MSgt Private RallyPoint Member Mon, 27 Feb 2023 18:24:09 -0500 2023-02-27T18:24:09-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/prior-service-wear-of-ssi-fwts-now-apparently-ssi-mohc-in-the-usaf?n=8157950&urlhash=8157950 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I would ask other prior service in the same boat SFC Private RallyPoint Member Tue, 28 Feb 2023 23:06:02 -0500 2023-02-28T23:06:02-05:00 2022-02-07T13:14:16-05:00