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

While on recruiting, I continued to wear my maroon beret. That’s a piece of flair that civilians knew right off the bat and they wanted to know your Army story. I must agree with one of the posters in saying that, as an Army Recruiter, you should want civilians asking about your badges, patches and tabs. Be kind and courteous, answer their questions and then step through the door they opened and tell them about the Army.

And what exactly do they think Marines do? Just because a civilian “knows” something doesn’t mean they’re right. I prefer the Army’s system, personally. I can look at a soldier and instantly know a lot about their background (current unit, if they deployed, who they deployed with, etc...) that I don’t get with the marines. The Army’s system just seems to be more effective for those actually in the service. The Army’s branding is fine (do you really think someone in this country doesn’t know what the army is?)

No! Those patches tell history. The Marines are a helluva bunch of warriors that have earned the respect given with that blood stripe. I truly love every one of those crayon munchers. But...we are the Army and that patch worn left or right shoulder has a history that WE and our grandfathers or fathers have earned to wear and respect as much as that blood stripe. I can’t tell you how many times an old soldier came and pointed to one of my patches and said “I wore that patch in WWII, Korea or Vietnam. I’m glad to see it’s still around. If you’re a recruiter (salesmen) than you should know your product and it’s historical value. BTW, I enlisted in 1981 and I am currently in the Army Reserve ENGINEERS! If YOU feel the Marines are easier to sell because they don’t have patches...then go be a Marine. Our patches are who we are. I don’t think you have what it takes to be a Marine.

US Army shoulder patches were standardize during WWI for the 2nd Army Division commanded by Maj Gen John A. Lejeune. In a telegram to the commanding general of American Expeditionary Forces dated Oct. 21, 1918, Lejeune wrote, “The white star with Indian head painted in two colors has been used in the division for some time … [T]he plan for procuring designs are already under way, and it is urgently recommended that the design for insignia for the Second Division as submitted be approved and that approval be telegraphed at the earliest possible date.” So you may thank the Marines!

I call BS. The Army has had patches for over 100 years. Although the corps has them they’ve never really used them. If you’re getting beat in recruiting it’s the recruiter not the patch. I spent 7 years in recruiting in some of the toughest markets there are. You want to do away with our history to copy the Marine Corps history. It’s a cop out.

They are a part of history. Leave the patches alone....JMHO

In a word, no. Individual unit identifiers and distinctive unit insignia are a part of the rich history and tradition of the US Army

Maybe if we went back to see on patches and shiny leather boots startched uniforms and took some pride in how we look as soldiers, and wore class A and B uniforms more often we wouldn’t feel like we were up against them

It seems to me the Marines have a better image because it’s consistent. I know marines have more than one dress uniform. But you only ever see them in one and that is their brand. It seems the Army makes a uniform change about once a year. Even though the uniform changes the patches don’t and that’s an important part of the army’s image and should remain so, because it represents the Army’s history.

I'll keep my unit patches thank you. There is a rich history behind everyone. If a civilian asks you what you do, tell them with pride.