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

I also was a recruiter and it’s not the patches that make civilians ask what do you do. Unlike the Marines the Army is known for having multiple MOSs and not known as strictly combat personnel.

Does it make a difference? All they are is unit identifiers or training accomplishments. The Marines have them too. They just display them on certain uniforms. Whatever. It takes every branch and MOS to make our military. One can't do without the others.

Patches help identify which unit a Soldier is assigned or attached to.

What we should take from the USMC is instilling the history and traditions into each and every Soldier from BCT/OSUT to retirement. What I mean is you can ask any Marine what the USMC’s birthday is and they can tell you. How many Soldiers know when the Army’s birthday is? In my opinion all of that starts in BCT/OSUT. I have saw a lot of traditions go to the wayside in my 16 years. I understand we have been at war my entire career but we no longer teach/practice D&C, there is no cadence calling except in schools, inducting new NCO’s is hazing. I feel a lot of our rich history and traditions are being lost. When you become an NCO use to mean something, how about we bring back NCO induction ceremonies/socials. To help build es spirit de corp I think every unit in garrison should host a dining in/out. We definitely need to get make to a training like we fight mentality, i.e. a unit convoying to a FTX treat that convoy like a tactical move not just an admin move. When you get on site pull security until the entire unit is there. If you are on the range do you qualification and then conduct live fire exercises, like close quarters shooting, stress shooting, etc. I think as leaders we get lost in the check the box mentality inside of training like me fight. Sorry but that is my thought, I love my patches and take pride in them. I say keep the patches and change the training mentality.

I spent 8.5 years as a recruiter in NE PA and never lost anyone to the Marines. Yes they have pretty uniform, but they are still looking, after 250 years, a few good men. One would think they would have found them by now.

I say the army keeps their patches they have history too. Nothing is more iconic than airborne or the air cavalry. I dont like that traditions.and uniforms are becoming neutral.

Keep the distinguished unit patches. If you want to be “like” a USMC then join the USMC.

Nous resterons la...suck it up!

Screw the civilians and the marines. No one wants to ask a marine what they do and if they did the answer would be a short, "I kill things".
Our patches are for us, one glance and we know if just what we're dealing with. Our patches are our resume.

I was AD Marines for 8yrs, and now Army. I love the clean look of our Marines, but having the unit and deployment patches are a symbol of honor, of esprit de corps, and for the noobs, it helps them belong to their unit and something to look up to. I remember receiving my first unit patch and feeling like I was a part of that family, and when I got to put in that deployment patch, the perception of those under me changed from team mate to mentor.