Posted on May 7, 2016
Should the Army do away with Patches and go to one universal Symbol like the Marines EGA?
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As a Recruiter I have had insight on the Army Branding, and marketing Team for USAREC. We are getting beat by the Marines when it comes to image. The patches make civilians ask what do you do in the Army, on the flip side when a civilian sees a Marine no questions needed to be asked, whats your thoughts
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Combat Patch (SSI-FWTS)
Combat Patch (SSI-FWTS)
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 530
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No. The Army needs to keep the patches. What gets me is: Why did the Army delete the patch from the new dress uniform?
The combat patch was reduced to a small (1.5 inch) pin below the right breast pocket of the dress uniform jacket, but the current brigade/division/corps/army patch.... Gone.
The combat patch was reduced to a small (1.5 inch) pin below the right breast pocket of the dress uniform jacket, but the current brigade/division/corps/army patch.... Gone.
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LCDR (Join to see)
True. Hopefully with the move back to pink and tans they’ll bring back the color shoulder patches.
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No. Unit Identity is a big part of the esprit de corps that soldiers identify with. How many times have you seen a unit patch - combat or current unit - and talked to somebody because YOU were in that unit at some point.
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You are not getting beat by the Marines because of image, you are getting beat by the Marines because they out recruit you. They are on the phones and knocking on doors after 5pm every day and on weekends while the Army recruiters are at home. If they own your market and your high schools, its because you let them. Think about that the next time you drive past the station at 9pm and the lights are still on in the Marines office.
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SSG (Join to see)
First off like your last name thats my home town lol, secondly they dont in Brooklyn NY, Flushing has surpassed mission by 500%, so its alot more complicated than that SFC
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SFC J Fullerton
Sounds like NYC Bn has little to worry about with the Marines in that market. There is nothing complicated about telling the Army story, and the unit patches are one of the things that make us unique. We make our own image, its how the recruiters present it in their communities. Getting some recruiters motivated to do it is the only thing complicated.
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CPT Kurk Harris
SFC J. Fullerton I tend to agree with you. Recruiting is usually about hard work. I recruited in an affluent area in Maryland, and then in a working class area in Texas. Maryland was utter h***. The Marines owned our area, and while I was successful, it was rough, and we never broke the lock the Marines had. In Texas I walked in with the work ethic beat into me in Maryland, and was able to be quite successful with nowhere near the previous effort. So hard work is part of it, but not all of it. Where do patches play into recruiting? They are a conversation starter, and not much else. I think you are completely right about recruiters having to sell the right image to their communities, but then again, isn't that what recruiting is all about?
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Who Cares About Civilian. Buy a teddy bear a give it to them and tell them to Goggle it...
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Never ! The Army is rich in history. Each unit, flag or designation is a reflection of the Honor's and history of said unit.. This should never go away.. History is very rich as well with standards when it come to Heraldry. http://military.wikia.com/wiki/United_States_Army_Institute_of_Heraldry http://www.qmfound.com/army_heraldry.htm
United States Army Institute of Heraldry
The United States Army Institute of Heraldry (TIOH) furnishes heraldic services to the U.S. Armed Forces and other U.S. government organizations, including the Executive Office of the President. The activities of the Institute encompass research, design, development, standardization, quality control, and other services relating to official symbolic items—seals, decorations, medals, insignia, badges, flags, and other items awarded to or...
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I wouldn't change anything. The Army needs to keep its identity and wearing the unit patch is part of that. Comparing the Army to the Marines is more apples to oranges than apples to apples. Their identity is wrapped up in being a "Marine" regardless of everything else. The Army could not and should not duplicate the Marine mentality.
On another note, if recruiting is an issue, I would argue that different types of folks seek out the different services that meet their needs or personality. Changing a uniform wont effect that.
On another note, if recruiting is an issue, I would argue that different types of folks seek out the different services that meet their needs or personality. Changing a uniform wont effect that.
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Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Army Scouts what would the world be without patches???
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No, let them keep their patches. They earned them just as much as I earned my EGA. The patches connect them to their respective units and helps build unit morale when they know the history behind them.
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