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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I feel like we get beat by marine recruiting because their slogan is good and hasnt changed 10 times in the last 20 years. And they have a better add campaign than the army does. Hell everytime i see a Marine Corps comercial I want to join the Marines.
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Army patches date back to our Civil War and are a symbol and means of maintaining lineage. I've met members of "my" division from WWI through Vietnam and we all identified each other by that patch and quickly rallied together. I've also watched people turn and point when I had my 82d combat patch on my greens around Normandy. It has benefits for us and has been used as a psychological tool against our enemies. I would not recommend getting rid of it.
One of the reasons I think Marines are perceived as well as they are is that they have maintained their traditions and uniforms far better than the Army. Examine the dress uniforms. The Army really comes up short even after multiple changes to the current ASU or "bus driver" uniform which I still can't defend logically. We could have had our old kakis back but..sigh...not meant to be. No, the Army blew millions during a war on uniform studies while the Marines stuck with a classic and saved a ton of money.
Another factor could be the size and mentality of the Army. If you're in (forgive the outdated term here) a light or airborne infantry unit, you're going to be physically fit. The Army is big and it takes a lot to support the rifleman. Many have good standards but there are some in other organizations who have a more lax attitude towards personal appearance, discipline, and physical fitness. People watch us and they can identify a fit soldier from stay puff. Meanwhile in the Marines, "everyone is a rifleman." I think they enforce their standards better and more uniformly. The Army is large, has greater depth in capabilities and as a result there can be noticeable differences from one post/unit/MOS to another.
One of the reasons I think Marines are perceived as well as they are is that they have maintained their traditions and uniforms far better than the Army. Examine the dress uniforms. The Army really comes up short even after multiple changes to the current ASU or "bus driver" uniform which I still can't defend logically. We could have had our old kakis back but..sigh...not meant to be. No, the Army blew millions during a war on uniform studies while the Marines stuck with a classic and saved a ton of money.
Another factor could be the size and mentality of the Army. If you're in (forgive the outdated term here) a light or airborne infantry unit, you're going to be physically fit. The Army is big and it takes a lot to support the rifleman. Many have good standards but there are some in other organizations who have a more lax attitude towards personal appearance, discipline, and physical fitness. People watch us and they can identify a fit soldier from stay puff. Meanwhile in the Marines, "everyone is a rifleman." I think they enforce their standards better and more uniformly. The Army is large, has greater depth in capabilities and as a result there can be noticeable differences from one post/unit/MOS to another.
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Yes, end the madness. I have served in both branches and still think that this "branding" thing is out of control. There are certain things I like about the patches, but there's more that I do not.
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No, but they should reduce the number of authorized patches. National Guard BCTs should align with Active Duty divisions and wear their patch. All other NG units should wear one NG patch. Same with Reserve, wear one patch unless aligned with a AD division. TASS units should have one patch for all the units.
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As 1 who has served in both branches from 1981- 2015. I can see good in both. The 1st and most important is pride. Pride in your unit, those Marines and Soldiers you served and fought with. When you see a patch that you wore you stand a little taller. As someone said below, If a civilian wants to know more they should join and find out what all those traditions are about.
To this day when I see a 3rd or 4th ID patch or someone from the 5th Marines I know I have found another brother or sister. I wouldn't change a thing. Pride and tradition are powerful things I hope they don't mess it up by trying to make the military more civilian.
To this day when I see a 3rd or 4th ID patch or someone from the 5th Marines I know I have found another brother or sister. I wouldn't change a thing. Pride and tradition are powerful things I hope they don't mess it up by trying to make the military more civilian.
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Being beaten by image? If you describe the facts of legendary effectiveness and esprit de corps as image, then that is why the USMC has few issues recruiting even in time of war. The Marine Corps is viewed as "THE" military service to belong to for reasons little to do with branding. Semper Fidelis.
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SFC James Printy
Sergeant, you are obviously proud to be a Marine and for good reason. The Marines have an illustrious history but it is a short page compared to the history of the United States Army! If the Marine Corps had to recruit upwards of 60 thousand recruits per year as the Army does, they would have the same challenges in recruiting that the Army does. What makes our military great is that all the branches have their specific missions and all are great services that work as team dedicated to victory!
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I fail to understand why all of these "SOCIAL EXPERIMENTS" are being "promoted" by this "administration" or why anyone in Army "Leadership" would CONSIDER such a thing - much less go to the extent of questioning others their opinion of it!
In truth - this looks EXACTLY like what mr obama has been doing in the private sector - sending out media bytes QUESTIONING civilians if they THOUGHT they should obey A LAW......
Folks - Our Army wasn't created yesterday - there are a few years behind it.....
In those years there has NEVER been such an ASSAULT on discipline, logic and history as now.
The real question is this: Will you support Army regulations, the truth and history of our service - or will you serve a corrupt and lawless political agenda that believes social experiments on the armed forces acceptable?
SFC (USA Retired) Aubrey Mason
San Antonio, Texas
In truth - this looks EXACTLY like what mr obama has been doing in the private sector - sending out media bytes QUESTIONING civilians if they THOUGHT they should obey A LAW......
Folks - Our Army wasn't created yesterday - there are a few years behind it.....
In those years there has NEVER been such an ASSAULT on discipline, logic and history as now.
The real question is this: Will you support Army regulations, the truth and history of our service - or will you serve a corrupt and lawless political agenda that believes social experiments on the armed forces acceptable?
SFC (USA Retired) Aubrey Mason
San Antonio, Texas
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Sgt Charles Welling
Then you fail to understand the toxic and destructive nature of liberalism and you know little of the personality of the supposed CIC, pathological narcissism is not what/who you want in a leader, it is the furthest thing from a desirable trait and it produces just exactly what you see, destruction in MANY forms.
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SFC Aubrey Mason
I fully understand it SGT.
The point was to cause others to think, consider the consequences of their "suggested" actions.
Army leadership has a responsibility to the Nation and the Troops it commands.
If Army leadership chooses to consider Army Regulations as an issue of personal discretion - we no longer have Discipline nor do we have "an army"....
And BTW - if you are unaware - our Army, indeed all federal forces "regulations" have their basis in federal Statutes.... to wit; for every regulation - there is a federal Statute.
The point was to cause others to think, consider the consequences of their "suggested" actions.
Army leadership has a responsibility to the Nation and the Troops it commands.
If Army leadership chooses to consider Army Regulations as an issue of personal discretion - we no longer have Discipline nor do we have "an army"....
And BTW - if you are unaware - our Army, indeed all federal forces "regulations" have their basis in federal Statutes.... to wit; for every regulation - there is a federal Statute.
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The Marine Corps was, is and always will be built on the tradition and history of those who were there before. Every Marine knows that whatever is accomplished as a unit, will be remembered as part of the Marine Corps history as a whole !!! Our history is more known by the battle, with the units being an after-thought to the outcome. It builds pride in the Corps first and foremost....which leads to individual and unit pride. So in the Corps, patches aren't needed !!!
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