Should the USAF and USMC return to the use of Shoulder Patches?

SSG Matt Murphy — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 08:03:40 -0500

Shoulder Patches - Unit Cohesion and Pride

Response by SFC James Baber made Dec 12 at 2013 9:42 PM

SFC James Baber — Thu, 12 Dec 2013 21:42:52 -0500

I think it would a nice retro tribute to the old school troops who served back in the day.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Dec 12 at 2013 9:44 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Thu, 12 Dec 2013 21:44:34 -0500

I thought the Air Force had them?

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 12 at 2013 10:31 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 Dec 2013 22:31:11 -0500

We had patches for AWS (Air Weather Service) and MAC (Military Airlift Command) but a unit patch would be cool.

Response by Cpl Ray Fernandez made Dec 12 at 2013 11:06 PM

Cpl Ray Fernandez — Thu, 12 Dec 2013 23:06:34 -0500

No thanks, one of the advantages of not having patches is not letting anyone know which unit your with so when you do something stupid you get at least a chance of getting away with it.

Response by Cpl Glynis Sakowicz made Dec 13 at 2013 4:33 PM

Cpl Glynis Sakowicz — Fri, 13 Dec 2013 16:33:30 -0500

As for the USMC, I think it would be a bad idea. From day one, a Marine is told they belong to the MARINES, not a unit. Having notations of what unit you are with, would probably not work well, because it would push Marines to feel they belonged to a unit, when the training is all about being part of the whole, and being taught that no matter what you do as an MOS, you know you are first, last and always, a rifleman. The "Bird, Ball, and Hook" is our unit patch you might say, nothing else is needed.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 16 at 2013 1:18 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 16 Dec 2013 01:18:19 -0500

I knew the marines had patches for their divisions but I have never seen it worn on any uniforms. The only marine with a Unit patch that I have ever seen was MG Lejeune, He commanded the Army's 2ID for a period of time and was given the patch to wear.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2014 12:32 AM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 00:32:00 -0500

The Air Force took our unit patches away when we switched from BDUs to ABUs. I and a lot of other NCOs I know miss our patches and wish they'd come back. If for no other reason than it's a sense of pride, morale, and unit cohesion to display the patch of a unit you're proud of.

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2014 3:06 AM

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 03:06:04 -0400

Negative!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2014 9:58 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 09:58:50 -0400

This is a much better question than asking if the Army should get rid of them.

Response by LtCol Brent Norquist made Apr 2 at 2014 2:07 AM

LtCol Brent Norquist — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 02:07:59 -0400

All I will say is that I did get a bit jealous of my Army brethren who were attached to us in Iraq when they were able to wear the "Blue Diamond" First Marine Division patch as their combat patch on their uniforms.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 17 at 2014 2:14 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 17 May 2014 14:14:44 -0400

The old Air Force BDU. On my left breast pocket is my occupational badge, missileman. On my right above the name tape is the squadron patch, at the time 91 MMXS. On the right breast pocket is the MAJCOM patch, AFSPC at the time, c. 2008.

I miss the patches. Yes! We should bring them back.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made May 17 at 2014 8:15 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Sat, 17 May 2014 20:15:34 -0400

If there's one branch that doesn't need advice on unit cohesion and pride, it's the Marines.. If anything, we need to be following their lead. They're clearly doing something right...

Response by Cpl Matthew Wall made Oct 17 at 2014 12:23 PM

Cpl Matthew Wall — Fri, 17 Oct 2014 12:23:34 -0400

I'm going to say no. I don't feel that we need to have patches all over our uniforms so people know what we do, where we come from, what training I did, etc. If you want to know that then wait until I put on one of my service uniforms or dress uniforms. Cammies are for work not for showing off.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 17 at 2014 1:01 PM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 17 Oct 2014 13:01:53 -0400

I don't think the current service dress will look good with a numbered AF patch. Besides very rarely are we in blues anyway. We have patches on our Bags. I suppose one can argue to bring them back to the ABU as they were once on the BDU.

Response by Cpl Peter Martuneac made Oct 18 at 2014 6:12 PM

Cpl Peter Martuneac — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 18:12:15 -0400

I actually dislike patches. Part of what makes the Marine Corps uniform so sexy is its elegant simplicity. The Army has patches, cords, badges, two sets of ribbons, a nametag, etc. It looks overly cluttered, which detracts from the overall appearance.

Response by SSG Maurice P. made Oct 18 at 2014 6:50 PM

SSG Maurice P. — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 18:50:34 -0400

the only patch that looked good on a marine corps uniform was the raider patch

Response by SSgt Robert Clark made Oct 19 at 2014 11:59 PM

SSgt Robert Clark — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 23:59:49 -0400

I've seen similar posts on other media sources. I, personally, think the AF should bring back Squadron/Group/Wing/Command patches, not necessarily all but some combination. Now, the AF wears some goofy colored t shirt under their ABU's and claim this is supposed to show unit cohesion. When I was in, the patches showed pride and made you feel you belonged. Some try to bring up the argument that every time they pcs's it cost money due to patch changes or having to buy new uniform items. The cost is minimal and a clothing allowance is given every year so that doesn't hold water. Can't speak for the USMC, but I do know I have seen some of their patches from the past and it would be pretty cool to see on their uniforms. Ribbons and medals tell ones story, but so do patches...if not on their dress uniforms at least on their fatigues (sorry, I don't remember what they are called now a days).

Response by Sgt Packy Flickinger made Oct 20 at 2014 4:02 AM

Sgt Packy Flickinger — Mon, 20 Oct 2014 04:02:12 -0400

No. I like the clean and simple uniforms. Marines are Marines and being separated by unit isn't all that important to me.

Response by MAJ Keira Brennan made May 21 at 2015 2:46 PM

MAJ Keira Brennan — Thu, 21 May 2015 14:46:04 -0400

I was in US SOCOM in 2011 and the Marines in the growing MARSOC all talked about it. What do you Gyrenes out there think? My Dad was a former Marine then went to Vietnam with the Army. He always told me that Marines did best without name tapes (I remember those days). Here's the former Commandant after some BALLSY Marine slapped that patch on his sleeve. BALLSY MOVE!!!!!!

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Nov 16 at 2015 7:07 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 19:07:10 -0500

Nah.

Response by Capt Walter Miller made Nov 16 at 2015 8:18 PM

Capt Walter Miller — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 20:18:43 -0500

No.

Response by SSgt Kerry Dillon made Nov 16 at 2015 8:43 PM

SSgt Kerry Dillon — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 20:43:11 -0500

I didn't like the point that Marines had to have name/branch tapes. Our covers and rolled sleeves easily identified us as Marines. As for Division patches I no we only have 4 divisions your either at Camp Pendleton Camp Lejeune or Okinawa. Unlike the other branches that have more divisions and are stationed all over the country.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2016 4:58 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 16:58:44 -0500

No, a Marine is a Marine.