Posted on Feb 22, 2014
SGT Rnosc Ncoic
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The Army is the only service to wear unit and combat patches? Should they simplify the uniform and remove unit patches? "shoulder sleeve insignia".

I understand in some uniforms services may wear a patch. I'm talking about the every day uniform.
Posted in these groups: 4276e14c Uniforms
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SPC James Mcneil
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I'm confused on why they would be eliminated. In fact, I've wondered often why the Army is the only branch that uses them.
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CPT Jacob Swartout
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Keep them on the uniform
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SN Jennifer M.
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No absolutely not. My husband is AD Army. We are currently in KMC and he loves seeing someone with a 1st CAV patch. It is like a conversation starter. I am prior Navy so it is a little bit different. We have a rocker (on our whites) instead of a huge patch. I don't really know what the new Navy uniforms look like so I am not sure if they have unit patches on them or not.
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SSG (ret) William Martin
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The mighty 89th Military Police Brigade patch will never leave my uniform! I am proud to wear my unit patch. Keep the unit patch! Whoa!
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1SG David Spalding
1SG David Spalding
>1 y
They need to let us wear full color unit patches and our combat patches on the ASU!
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MSG Customer Care Representative
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The Navy brought back "ball caps" which pretty much serve the same purpose as unit patches. When Soldiers run into each other in ACUs (and in the past, BDUs/DCUs), usually the first thing looked at after rank is the patch. Soldiers do wear both SSI and SSI-FWTS with pride, and that is something that we want to foster.
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COL Randall C.
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The Army could do away with unit patches on sleeves and go the Air Force route .... Let's all get funky patches and start wearing organizational baseball caps!

Bonus: we can have unit individuality down to the battalion level!
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SFC Senior Drill Sergeant
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There is pride, and a lot of history, associated with unit patches. Being able to wear the patch of a storied unit, like the 101st, 82nd, 1st ID, etc., means a lot to me, and has been a source of pride over the last 18 years. To be able to add to the history of these units and know that I wore the same patch that veterans of previous wars and conflicts wore means a lot to me. So I, for one, do not ever think we should do away with unit patches.
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SGT James McCue
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No.

I strongly believe that our unit patches are a part of our culture. The Army distinguishes themselves by those patches and there unit traditions (like cav units). The Navy does by it the name of there ships.
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CPL Roger Anderson
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All allowing REMF's to wear unit PATCH'S does is allow REMF's to move one step closer to STOLEN VALOR, W/O crossing the line. I didn't wake up one morning and have an I hate REMF's epiphany, It happened because, The best war stories I've ever heard came from people who could produce a patch and nothing more.
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SPC Charles Brown
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10th mountain division
I don't believe that the Army should do away with either the division or combat patches. For me wearing a division patch was a symbol of pride. Not for or in myself but for the divisions history.
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SSG M2 .50 Cal Gunner
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Edited >1 y ago

I am unset that the army decided to not include SSI and FWTS-SSI on the Army service uniform, now new soldiers will never get to wear the full color unit patch, i understand where the army is coming from, eliminating having fade marks on your dress uniform coming from a unit with a bigger patch, but damn it looked Sharpe and vary traditional. I really don’t see eliminating it all together would ever happen.

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MSG Customer Care Representative
MSG (Join to see)
>1 y
While not the same, in size or placement, the full color FWTS-SSI on the ASU is still there in the form of the CSIB. The problem is there is no equivalent for the current unit's patch.
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CW5 Sam R. Baker
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I see everyone says a resounding, NO! Playing devil's advocate, why not? Being in the aviation  and military police branches, so many other things that establish and personify esprit de corps, heritage and lineage have gone by the wayside. Heck we cannot even decide on what uniform we are going to be wearing because DoD wants a multiservice uniform to cut expense and cost. So if the other three services and coast guard do not wear them, then why should the Army? Like I said, I do not disagree with everyone else, but think of the political, social, financial, chain of command reasons so many other pressures have changed some very endearing things about our uniforms, traditions, formats, hails, etc, the list goes on, why stop now, just cookie cutter it all, I am sure the companies that lobby will have a say. 
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SFC Dave Joslin
SFC Dave Joslin
>1 y
Chief - I love the devils advocate approach.... I agree, there have been many, let's say - encroachments - on traditions and our heritage in the military in recent years, but at some point it has to stop. At some point history, tradition and heritage should play a large enough part in the discussion to outweight simple dollars and logic. I found in my last few years that the more we degraded out traditions and our "pride points" as a military, that it just became a job for the newer generation - it was no longer a way of life! I am fifth generation Warrior in my family, for me it was always about traditions and heritage - this is what my dad, his dad, and so on did - now, it's just turned into a paycheck - and that attracts the wrong type of recruit in my opinion. Look at how many discussion threads there are about courtesy and respect (standing at parade rest, etc.)....ALL OF THIS IS TIED TOGETHER! When you chip away at the south side of a foundation of as large of a structure as the military is, the north side will get weaker too!
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SSG Cryptologic Linguist
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We should keep unit our patches. They bring with them a sense of history and esprit de corps that may otherwise not be there. Several long time Battle's first words to me were asking me when I deployed with certain units whose patches I was wearing. Can we please just go back to sewing them on though? Thanks.
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SFC Motor Transport Operator
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absolutely not, that's what the ARMY is all about and that's how we know whom we are dealing with.
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SPC David Wyckoff
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I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the age old Army questions yet. What is the worst unit you were in? The one you are in now. What's the best unit you have ever been in? The one you are going to next.


 


Not that the "used to be's" get a vote, but no I don't think unit patches or unit crests should be eliminated. I wear a small 1st Cav pin on my baseball cap and more than once I have been approached by another vet with a heart "First Team" or "Garry Owen". I also kind of like that my old unit has been reorganized but kept the unit crest. It provides a way for me to connect with newer vets and current soldiers in the 27th.


The great thing for those of us that are out. Whether they do away with unit patches or unit crests or not, we can still wear them any time we want.

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SSG (ret) William Martin
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Edited >1 y ago

Before I start...Yeah!  89th MP BDE!  I am proud to be part of such a great team based in Fort Hood, TX with such rich history and to wear the 89th patch.  Okay.....


How would simplifying the uniform by removing unit patches improve on the soldier as a whole, the unit, and the Army?  Actually, yes by deleting a part you don't have to deal with, it will be much simpler however, please refer to the sentence. 

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SGT Rnosc Ncoic
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I like unit patches, I just thought it was a good questions. I believe they're good conversation starter, when I went to NTC I traded my unit patch with the Japanese soldiers who also Had unit patches. it allowed us to talk and show each other our equipment. Great experience
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SGT Rick Gomm
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I don't understand what's the problem with the division patches
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PO2 Wilson Echevarria
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I believe the unit badges instills a greater sense of pride in the service, unit, and self. They also contribute to unit cohesiveness and camaraderie. I say keep the patches.
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SSG Robin Lawson
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No Unit patches help with unit pride and es pi decor and have been along history in the Army. I wish this younger bunch would quite trying to change our history. Tradition is good and plays a vital roll in organizations.
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