Should the Army do away with Patches and go to one universal Symbol like the Marines EGA?

Having been in the Marines and the Army, there are stark differences. Marines get their Esprit De Corps from being a Marine-earning that title, Marine. It is not like that in the Army. In the Army, you get your Esprit De Corps from your Branch/Mos and your unit. I have a lot of pride earning that title Marine. Also have as much pride earning my spurs, serving in Charger Troop as a part of 2/14 CAV-Rattlesnakes! I would never trade one for the other but that is where the differences lay! You will have to just have to come up with a better way with more imagination to compete.

They are two different things. You have a U.S.ARMY over your pocket. Patches were supposed to allow a commander to tell where his troops are. Subdued patches seem to defeat their own purpose.

I understand your point as I was a recruiter in a very rich area known as Fairfield County, CT and has the city of Greenwich. The Army is the largest so we will be mid road on everything. The Marines will get there's because all they want is a challenge (or to piss off their Army Father). Air Force is more business like, and Navy travels. The branding of the patch isn't the issue. Think on this. When folks are killed in Iraq, Afghanistan or anywhere else what does the news say (Unless they are a Seal). They announce x number of Soldiers killed or injured at x location. That's bad PR, and the Marines are good with it. We have also softened up our approach to training and discipline, look at TRADOC 350-6 or AR 600-20 for corrective training. The patch on your right if you have one should be you narrative about what has built you and the experience. See Soldiers joining aren't joining for only college, or Travel or a Job they are buying you, they want to be you (you would hope). I have a friend in Marketing and he will tell you, the Army does struggle, but number and statistics are only as good as you put in and can be twisted to whatever message you are trying to say. Keep the patches, if I were king for a day I would take the Army patch off recruiters and have you wear the last assignment you were at.

Once again, the Marine Corps leads the way.

These ar my thoughts....When a civilian sees a soldier he sees someone that has a job in a large organization, someone that has a trained skill and is a trained fighter and soldier. When a civilian sees a marine he sees someone that hasn't the ability to be anything other than a bullet catcher with a weapon. Marines have a rep as tough but they do not have a rep as being smart. The reason the civilian asks what you do in the Army and not in the USMC is because he sees the Army as having a brain and the USMC as not. Before anyone gets all butt-hurt like marines do I spent 4 years on active duty in the Marines with 1/3, so yeah I can talk about both sides from experience.

Rule #1, civilians are ALWAYS going to ask dumbass questions about the military, such as "Do you know Pvt. Such and such? I think he's in the Army too, or maybe the Navy? Oh I don't know!"

Sonce a recruiter is wearing a Recruiting Command patch on their left sleeve if people don't know what you are doing perhaps you should find another line if work.
And as I recall the Marines also have Unit Patches u less they have recently done away with them.

I served in the 1st, 2nd, 7th, 8th, Berlin Brigade and 101st Infantry. I also served in the Reserves in the 78th Inf and was in the 513th, 524th and 902nd MI. They all have stories. If I find a hat with their patch I buy it and switch now and again. I am proud that I belonged to each and every one of those distinguished units

Why would you take away something that is a good conversation starter? Seems counterintuitive to recruiters looking for leads.

Our political correctness is killing our image, not our patches. And it has been going on since the early 90s.