Should we remove combat patches to be sensitive to those who don't have them?

Hell no. You gonna start removing ribbons? "But 1SG...*I* don't have the MoH, so why does HE get it?? All he did was jump on a grenade after singlehandedly taking 3 machine gun nests....he's not any more important than me!!!"

I dislike the Army's removal of unit patches because it created a "better than you" attitude. Guess what...that is called ESPRIT DE CORPS. When you go in combat, do you want your men thinking that they are just as good as others? NEVER!! I want my Soldiers thinking that they are 10 feet tall, bullet proof, and that they can move mountains. Average men will stop and think "These are pieces of metal flying by at 2700+ FPS and can kill me." A confident Soldier will think, "These guys are trying to kill me!! HAHAHA...not today!!" and emerge victorious.

Left out? Guess what....you'll get a shot. Stay in and learn from the patched Soldiers. I'm not a combat veteran, but I would be angrier than hell to know that someone was shamed into taking off a combat patch that they'd rightfully earned. That being said, I DID shame a CPT into taking off a "combat patch" that she *DIDN'T* earn, but that's a TOTALLY different situation.

I'm all about reasonable standards when it comes to sensitivity, but seriously....this crap is ridiculous.

For those that don't have a right sleeve patch and whine about it, I have found....for you.....your patch. Now you no longer have to feel bad about being left out.

Absolutely not! I don't have one. But I do not think that making others not wear theirs will make me feel better. I think knowing they had to take it off to spare my feelings, would make it worse.

Well, certainly. We must keep each fresh batch of FNGs insulated from reality. While you're at it, remove CIB's, CMB's, CAB's, all wings and skill badges, and personal decorations and service ribbons. Nothing including the CMH (imagine how intimidating that would be). Only allow the NDSM & 'I went to basic' ribbons. That way everyone can feel valued or devalued the same.
Oh yeah, make sure these boots know that when they are combat vets, they'll be penalized by the same idiotic policy. No sense in having today's warriors experiencing the awe of seeing their leaders service history displayed on their uniforms like we got to do.
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I was once a young enlisted PV2 with the 4-31IN Polarbears at Fort Drum. Back in those days, not many people had the combat patch - a few, but not many. I remember looking at the patch as a symbol of someone who has been there and done that. They were someone to respect and look to for guidance. On one hand, I wanted one, but I also didn't. Now, I have more than one. When I see those without them, I have to wonder - where were they for the last 15 years? How did they slip through the deployment cracks? Or they are just new to the Army and may some day get their turn in the barrel - so to speak. I like the patch and how it provides a visual identification of people who DO know more than garrison life.

Now, I also read up on the 4ID situation someone mentioned and I understand where the Commander was coming from - but that was just for a training exercise, not for everyday activities.

I wonder how many Ranger/Sapper tabs, Airborne/Air Assault/EMFB/EIB badges are in that organization. Can you imagine asking them to remove theirs, for the same reason?

Baaaaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahaha!!!! Hurt Feelings? If a patch makes them feel better give them one with a pacifier on it. When you return from a combat zone you have an expectation that you are authorized to wear what Momma DoD gave you. To me, it would be like telling me to not wear my OIF Ribbon because some baby back B**** (that did not deploy) would be offended for not having the same ribbon.

MSG Wally Carmichael It never bothered me when I was stationed in Europe for three years from 1977 to 1980 and all of my unit members had combat patches from Vietnam. They earned them and I was proud to serve with them. It is what it is!

101st has made dick moves like this all the time. They have stated while under their command that if you earned a 101st combat patch you MUST wear the Screaming Eagle no matter if you had other patches. They did it in Iraq when we were under them. I challenged anybody that thought there were man enough to try and remove my 2ACR combat patch. Nobody accepted.

Try and wear your Jump Wings over your Air Assault at Campbell and see who looses their mind.

Though I understand and agree with those that have earned their "combat patch" since this is a unique part of the Army culture. As Marines we have no such identifier outside of our dress uniform which I think contributes to our unique long term culture of esprit de corps and unity we hold. That said, I have seen both sides of the coin and can appreciate both schools of thought. In my first enlistment (just after Desert Storm) there were many "combat veterans" but in the field individual leadership (from the lessons learned and application of) is what mattered, which encouraged me a young Marine to be the best I could for the goals of the team. On the other hand, in my second enlistment (after two deployments under my belt), I reported to an airborne unit. As a "nasty leg" I stood out and anyone who was a Navy/Marine Corps parachutist could "encourage" extra PT on anyone who was not (leg or lead sled same-same). This was discouraging at first, but through the tradition it made me work hard to achieve/exceed expectations, which allow me to not only attain my "gold wings" but also earn my pathfinder qualification as well.
In the end, both schools of thought achieved the desired outcome because of the commitment of the leadership at every level, and the overall commitment to "One Team, One Fight" through group and individual oriented goals and outcomes.