Posted on Mar 1, 2016
MSG Wally Carmichael
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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."
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CPT Infantry Officer
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2% of respondents are newly arrived E1s.
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PV2 Jodi Martinez
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They earned them....
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SPC Amanda Prentiss
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So I'm supposed to take off something that I have earned because some newbie is butthurt? Really? That's like saying you can't wear your Airborne badge, or rank because not everyone has it. If you earned it, you should be able to wear it, regardless of other people's insecurities.
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Sgt Dennis Addesso
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Not only NO but F NO!
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SSG Lon Watson
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Don't buy into this guys! This is a former Ranger battalion colonel getting his guys to go sterile like the regt does. I've talked to people in the know and this is NOT what it appears. It's not PC crap, it's a commander getting his guys to work together and let their actions speak louder than badges. This is only in the field not garrison.
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MSG Wally Carmichael
MSG Wally Carmichael
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SSG Lon Watson, Thanks for your comments. What do you know about this one at 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th ID?
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/more-combat-patches-and-badges-removed-what-message-is-this-sending
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SSG Platoon Sergeant
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1e4ea00d
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SCPO Charles Thomas "Tom" Canterbury
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Why penalize the warrior morale? Just because the newby Soldier can't deploy doesn't mean he or she won't in the near future. If it upsets them - let them cry. They'll need a lot more toughening up if that is causing them so much pain...
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SSG Lon Watson
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Don't buy into this guys! This is a former Ranger battalion colonel getting his guys to go sterile like the regt does. I've talked to people in the know and this is NOT what it appears. It's not PC crap, it's a commander getting his guys to work together and let their actions speak louder than badges. This is only in the field not garrison.
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MSG Wally Carmichael
MSG Wally Carmichael
>1 y
Again, SSG Lon Watson, thanks for your comments. What do you know about this one at 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th ID?
http://www.rallypoint.com/answers/more-combat-patches-and-badges-removed-what-message-is-this-sending
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SSG Lon Watson
SSG Lon Watson
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MSG Wally Carmichael - I know people who served with this particular commander and I know another writer who recently spoke to him. His motive is to get people's mind off self while operating in the field. Nobody wears rank or patches at ranger school for that reason. This is a field policy that was born out of his time in 75th Ranger Regt.
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MSG Wally Carmichael
MSG Wally Carmichael
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It is very interesting. It does not seem to be coming off to well. Certainly not the way he's wanting it to.
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SPC Armor Crew Member
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I would say this will do the opposite of what they expect. Soldiers will lose morale and faith in their leadership. It'll also turn the younger soldiers into targets for those who get mad about this. Another question I've been asking but yet to get a serious answer to, what's next blank dress uniforms? The uniform does not make the soldier but if you earned it you should be allowed to wear it.
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SSgt Jamie Ritter LeBlanc
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Omg little whiny babies. It's the participation ribbons all over again!
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SP5 Hank Vandenburgh PhD
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Aw. I didn't get a GCM. There was a reason. Take yours off! Wah!
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SSG Scott Warthan
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Why is this even a question. Now I remember why i'm glad I got out when I did.
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SSG Stephan Pendarvis
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No...absolutely not!!! This is not the little league team and every one does not get a trophy. Everyone is NOT entitled to get something they have not worked for. They (new PVTs) should be embarrassed to even think like this. PERIOD!
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CPT Health Services Systems Management
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Not everyone gets a trophy in the Army.
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CPL Bryan Claeys
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Should I remove my Combat Action Badge, or my Purple Heart because they don't have those either? That way they won't feel insecure about not being wounded or seeing combat. How about everyone takes the rank off of their uniforms too that way those without Chevron's won't feel so lowly on the totem pole. During Sargent's training time we should also set aside a few minutes to hug the junior enlisted and tell them they are doing a great job and we love them, in case they were corrected throughout the week and had an @$$ chewing or did some extra PT. Every night squad leaders should also go around and tuck in the Joe's, read them a bedside story and give them a warm glass of milk.

In all seriousness Whiskey Tango Foxtrot!? This is like those frickin 'stress cards' that some IET soldiers had. This is the Army not the boy/girl scouts. Not everything is rainbows and sunshine. What ever unit this is better give a drug test to the commander because I'm pretty sure they are some kind of hippy tree hugger that's smoking weed, probably doesn't uphold standards set forth by the Army, and probably doesn't have their soldiers combat ready. I don't care if it was issued by a 4 star General I'd slap them and tell them to un-**** themselves....
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SGT Scott Janko
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no you earned that right to wear or not wear the combat patch.
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SPC James Burkett II
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If that's true then anyone with a CIB, CAB, or another award or decoration worn on the combat uniform should also have to remove them. While we are at it lets remove rank so the PVT's don't get hurt feeling because a SPC walks by. Don't be upset because some of us have earned the combat patch right, we have all been slick sleeved at some point your time will come padawans.
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SFC Benjamin Varlese
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This is unfortunately indicative of the current societal norms and political climate in this country; strip away the accomplishments of one group to satisfy those who have yet to earn their place in the pack and spineless or complicit leadership that allows it to go on.
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SPC Terry Castro
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That's ridiculous. Those patches are earned and should be proudly worn. How about looking up to the person wearing the patch?
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SSG Kenneth Westermeyer
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What in the hell is going on with the Army? Why in the crap is a privates opinion even being considered with his whole 6 months in the military. It's stories like this that make me glad I'm out.
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