Should the Army uniform only show name and US Army? (Getting rid of patches and badges)?

Let's put everything on our cars, instead.<br><br><br>

<p>Unit patches are part of our history and I was somewhat disappointed that we no longer wear full color SSIs and combat patches on the our service uniform.&nbsp; I was also disappointed when the Army went to the ACU and got rid of branch insignia for Officers.&nbsp; Again, that was a tradition that went back decades.&nbsp; Each branch has its own traditions and uniform wear that somewhat tie the new service members to their past while trying to modernize wear.&nbsp; Sometimes it works and sometimes we wonder why.</p><p><br></p>

Bring back the BDU and shiney black boots, it worked for decades, it looked professional.

Some Soldiers never bother to wear their accomplishments, thereby saving THEMSELVES money, some prefer to tale pride in their accomplishments and do not mind the extra cost associated with displaying them. I can count on&nbsp;both hands, the number of times over the last 7 years of my career that I HAD to wear my Class A's, and wearing my badges allowed for others to know a bit more about me than they might not had I not worn them.

I'd be willing to stay with the ASUs but I'd petition to bring back the BDUs......the one time I loved putting on that uniform was when it was crisply pressed with a nice pair of shined jump boots.  Shoot, y'all couldn't tell me nothin I looked so fly.

While we are at it lets get a standard rank insignia and cammo pattern across the branches. Seams to me that of all the branches there has to be an inferior uniform and a superior uniform, I sure would like to wear the best and I would wager so would everybody else .

Troops are proud of their accomplishments.&nbsp; They wear their badges with pride.&nbsp; And they should.&nbsp; We don't often wear the ASUs so why not keep what we have on the uniform we wear nearly every day in garrison and every day on deployment?&nbsp; Most of the time, ASUs are worn only for boards, inspections, and payday activities.&nbsp; I have been in units where I never wore them... for years.<br>

Why is wearing badges,patches considered showing off? Did the person not take the time to go to a certain school/course and put in the effort to pass to earn a badge. 
Perhaps it's out of pride that they wear their unit patch and combat patch.
I am proud of my unit and I am honored to wear the patch on both sleeves. I earned my Air Assault badge and my CAB. I wear them with pride and always will as long as its within regulation.

I think the problem is with the individuals that want to judge another based of appearances. It does not lie within the uniform.

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</font><p><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">I have the opposite concern.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Now that
we don’t wear unit patches on the “Class A” any more, we never ware our unit
patches unless they are subdued.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I’m
afraid we will lose our history and unit lineage. </font></p><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">

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I'm not sure about the USMC or USN, but the USAF branch patches are different with skill-level. I like the wear of current unit patches, but you're right about the judgement that comes with deployment patches, or rather, the lack thereof. One universal uniform and format would save a lot of money... instead of spending as much as they do, they could go to one uniform and stop tossing around the idea of messing with our pay and benefits. 

<p>It shows distinction and achievements! Some people are proud of what they have done and like to show it off when they can. Too many times you get Soldiers from other units, and when you tell them they have a dress uniform inspection coming up you see that scared look in their face. Only to find out that the whole 3-4 years they were at their last unit, they never once put the dress uniform on.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>As for saving money, there are far better things we can do as leaders to help our Soldiers save money than by stripping down our uniforms.</p>

We want to inspire our junior Soldiers to achieve and go to schools and they look to the seniors for that.&nbsp; Also, SSG Norville hit it on the head: it let's people know who you are to ask questions about a future school, assignement or unit.&nbsp; But the bottom line is this: we are authorized, not required, to wear tabs and badges.&nbsp; Each Soldier can simply choose not to wear them.

I see the wearing of patches and such in much the same way I do the rack we wear in ASUs. They tell the story of the person wearing them. It is amazing how much you can glean from a glance if you pay attention. Way back in the 80s I had a DS who struck fear into my heart. The guy was all of 5'6" and probably one of the meanest and impressive individuals I had ever had the misfortune of running into. I am relatively sure I still feel the brim of his brown round hitting me in the head as he yelled at me. As I recollect, he had Airborne, Air assault and Parhfinder tabs on his chest at a minimum. Understand, that there was no Google at this point so I was merely aware that he had a bunch of stuff on his chest I did not recognize. The other NCOs only had parts and pieces of what seemed way too many tabs for a small (but unimaginably wide) top. I did not need to be aware of the meaning of each of these tabs to realize this man had more than paid his dues in this life.

Its a pride issue, keep them!

You pin a badge (be it ABN, AA, EOD…whatever) on a soldiers chest, it makes him a little prouder.

I remember as a young soldier seeing NCO's and O's with EIB's, Jump Wings and a Tab….it motivated me. Then to see a E-7 or Major with a CIB and a combat patch…hell it gave me confidence in that leader.

I think officers should display their branch insignia as well.

Combat patches are a big deal to a young soldier. Though we have bastardized it by giving them out willy-nilly. I have seen NG soldiers with two tours and authorized 7 different combat patches. Funny I will see someone with a 101st or 82nd and ask which BN they were in, they sheepishly tell me they were attached. Oh well. They should be proud of the unit they served in, not attached too.

From reading this thread, seems like there are some "sour grapes" from some folks because they don't have some badges. Be proud in your service, but don't knock something just because you don't have one.

I don't wear a Green Beret, HALO wings or EOD crab, but I respect the man who does.

Besides its the soldier that has to live up to the (awards, badges, tabs, patches) which he wears.

I think this is a horrible idea, and in the past I've always heard it called for by guys that have very little "flair" to put on their uniform. To me, soldiers that call for this come off as insecure in their lack of visible achievements. <br><br>SFC P, I'm not saying this necessarily applies to you, but I can't help but notice that you don't have any skill badges or a combat badge. If a soldier is so poor that they can't afford to buy badges to pin on, or have a few sets of ACUs with sewn on badges, then that soldier needs money management counseling.&nbsp; Respectfully, I find the uniformity comment absurd. <br>

Speaking as an Air Force (former Army) guy, a lot of us like the unit patches on the Army uniform. We used to wear unit patches before we lost the BDUs, and most people I know wish we could have them back!

Out of all the services I also like the Marine duty uniform and their dress uniform.

Less is more.....but a Unit patch should be part of the "less"....unit cohesion and esprit de corps....(but not enough room on my shoulder for all of mine...even with none for the Navy - no ship tab :-( )

Yes, I agree with the last statement that CW2 Vann made:
-Yes, it can look silly... I say save it all for the dress uniform.

Why not, my good looks can carry the day.