Posted on Mar 1, 2016
Should we remove combat patches to be sensitive to those who don't have them?
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"(Unit Name withheld) BCT ordered to remove combat patches during training at Fort NoMatter so the ones without them don't get hurt feelings.
Reason? "The unit just returned from Afghanistan and almost everyone has a patch but the large influx of new soldiers are E1 and E2s that have never deployed and they are saying they are left out because they don't have a patch."
Reason? "The unit just returned from Afghanistan and almost everyone has a patch but the large influx of new soldiers are E1 and E2s that have never deployed and they are saying they are left out because they don't have a patch."
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 1628
I don't care either way. I think it's laughable to think some people "earned" a combat patch just because they were in a deployed environment. I know numerous people with multiple deployments that worked less hours in theater than they did in Garrison. To say those people have experience is stupid. On one of my deployments we brought in all these new people because of their "deployment experience" and they were absolutely worthless. My Soldiers who were on their first deployment were running circles around these Officers and NCOs down range. So when I see a combat patch I don't think experience. All I see is someone who has "been" in a "combat theater".
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SFC (Join to see)
You still spent a year away from your family. You still could have gotten blown to bits.
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Sorry, but if you're going to be "sensitive" about something like that...seriously where did we go wrong?
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SSG Melvin Nulph
I think it was to much time around the TV & away from reality, as well as everyone gets a trophy even if their only play time was during team practice?
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It is with great difficulty that I maintain my military bearing answering this question. Simply put, NO. If these new "Soldiers" feel so bad about not having a combat patch, they should volunteer for the next deployment.
Then I step back and look down the road with some of these "Soldiers" leading the Army, and I get truly frightened. If these "Soldiers" get butthurt over not having a combat patch, how are they going to react when Mr. I Hate Americans shoots at them? I see a lot of body bags coming home with these people running things.
Then I step back and look down the road with some of these "Soldiers" leading the Army, and I get truly frightened. If these "Soldiers" get butthurt over not having a combat patch, how are they going to react when Mr. I Hate Americans shoots at them? I see a lot of body bags coming home with these people running things.
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SGT Leon Riege
anger is a pretty universal reaction to being shot at ... for the most part we are in good shape, the young men are not the ones making these sweeping command decisions , I was dismayed to hear boots no longer would be shined , I was taught people who cleaned and shined their shoes daily were more careful of where they stepped but like so many other things newer is better and what do old farts know?
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they need to fill out a DA FORM IMT WF1 (hurt feelings report) and submit it through their S1.
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Should we remove anything that we are eligible/permitted to wear on our uniforms according to 670-1? No - unless it's on the individual to opt not to wear said item (again, if it's permitted in 670-1)....the combat patch or SSI, doesn't have to be worn if the Soldier doesn't want to wear it. That being said - for a BCT commander (and I know the who, where and when this happened) to order the entire BCT not to wear them is a bit much imo.
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I find it hard to believe this really happened. If it did, especially in a combat arms brigade, that brigade commander and brigade CSM need to just retire - they have become too sissified to lead men into battle. (But I reiterate, I don't think it really happened.)
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MSG Wally Carmichael
MAJ Keith FitzPatrick, CPIM, CSCP, a few on this thread have stated they know the details on this even last June. And verify it did in fact happen. I agree with you that the CDR and CSM should just retire.
http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/2015/06/18/unit-promotes-no-patch-badge-rule-in-training/28927601/
http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/2015/06/18/unit-promotes-no-patch-badge-rule-in-training/28927601/
BCT banishes combat patches, badges to boost morale
You earn it, you keep it, you wear it. That's how soldiers epitomize their time in the Army, with the insignia and combat patches and badges that
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So did they complain in high school because they didn't have a varsity letter cuz the seasoned players earned theirs? What's next? Removing airborne or air assault badges? They need to suck it up!!!!
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MSG Wally Carmichael
Everyone at their HS received varsity letters just for being seniors. They all also received B grades across the board.
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When I enlisted, I was surrounded by men with combat patches. It never caused me to look at myself and feel like left out or like I was beneath anyone else (other than being a private of course).
I just looked at them with admiration. It gave me something to admire and something to look forward to.
I just looked at them with admiration. It gave me something to admire and something to look forward to.
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So what they didn't deploy so they don't have one... We earned out deployment patch
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MSG Wally Carmichael
I thought so as well CPL Randy Bautista. Check the links others have shard from back in June.
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It's like asking you not to wear your NAM because the new guy came in a day too late, far as I can tell.
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You earned that combat patch with your blood sweat and tears. So let those newbies suck it up and learn from those vets . It would take 2 Ranger battalions to rip my combat patch off and even then they would have a hard time. You earned them you wear em. Peace. Out.
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Well that's just too fucking bad. When you are in the military you are either a warrior or you are support personnel for the warriors (FYI, I was the latter). The military shouldn't prop up the support people or lower the accomplishments of the soldiers who fought our countries wars by taking away the combat patches THAT THEY EARNED. This goes the same for newbys who just entered the military. When the new peoples units are deployed, they too will get combat patches and they won't want anyone telling them they can't wear patches that they were awarded. I'm so tired of hearing about people with "hurt feelings". It sounds like these people should be in college where they can hide out in one of those "safe spaces" where they can relax and take a "time out" instead of serving in the military!!
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No way...the poor little newbies needn't to earn theirs! This sensitivity crap is just going too far!!
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