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

How silly!

I think that would be childish and ridiculous. It never bothered me when I was an E-1 and E-2.

......... ok. well, if your feelings get that hurt over that, you'd never make it through combat to EARN ONE in the first place. SO basically you need to return your gear, and rewind back to whatever lolipop guild you came from, because I don't want to earn mine next to that kind of spinless millennial.

I see some of my RP comrades bent out of shape big time. But, heck no don't remove patches to preserve feelings. Being in the line of fire and coming home alive is a BIG DEAL and an earned honor. Those who don't have them need to be conversing with those who survived to get some much needed battle front Intel. The military continues to be watered down. This is not let me see yours and I will let you see mine. This is survival of the fittest. "I want to go home alive".

No, why because they came in the services later?

I think this RAF skit by Armstrong and Miller pretty much answers that question. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGp4DvFEgh8

You gotta be kidding! This is just another example of "trophy children". I deal with this kind every day in the structural engineering firm I own. They want a medal if they show up to work.

The patches are EARNED. A service member should never have to take off anything that they have earned to make someone else feel better. When those individuals earn their own patches by being deployed. Then they can also wear them with pride. Members ate away from family and friends between 9-12 months , sometimes longer. This causes great hardships with family, marriages, financial and relationships with both spouses and children due to you not being there. If they are really feeling left out then they can always go to command a volunteer to go early. There are plenty of service members who would love to come home early. We give kids today rewards for everything and participation awards. They can receive this participation patch when they aren it. Live it, earn it then you will RESPECT it.

I know this is not the U.S. Army I served in (1968-1971) but to order soldiers that have deployed
and earned their combat patch to remove them so they don't hurt another soldier's feelings is nuts.
When did the Army become concerned with a new soldier's feelings ? A soldier earns the right to
wear those combat patches and should not have to remove them because some new PVT that has
never deployed arrives and he/she might feel left out or have hurt feelings. "LET THEM EARN IT".

I knew a guy who received some combat awards years after the combat for the simple reason no one knew we were there. He never cried because he did not get his awards, but then again he already had a combat patch and CIB. This was just some V devise stuff.

quit hiding out and get in the fight. Been at war nearly 2 decades and no patch. go to the PX and stock up on Kleenex. Better yet just get out.

That’s the dumbest damn idea I’ve heard in a long time!

I didn't know local Commanders had the authority to ban combat patches. In my day, AR 670-1 was the authority on what is to be worn on the uniform.

MSG- I have been thinking about getting rid of challanging and hard PT because my new privates are weak and can’t keep up, they feel left out when they can’t keep up. I have also thought about ditching regulations that make soldiers refer to officers as sir or ma’am as well as nco’s by their rank, because the privates don’t have any rank, and it makes them feel left out. Does this sound like a stupid idea? I think so too. Your junior soldiers who feel left out, should accept that they have not earned that distinction yet. I came into the Army in 96, and was comvinced I would never earn a shoulder sleeve insignia for combat. But I did, like 4 of them, and deployed more than that. I am at the point now, that I want to punch anyone who recomends me for an award in the face, because it means one more expensive change to my rack. Your young soldiers will get theirs. Sit down and explain to them the modern world landscape and the challanges this Army will face in the future. They will get theirs if they stay in. If you accommodate their whining, and ‘every should have a trophy culture’, you are not making them better. I suggest you read up you servent leadership, and what it means to give your soldiers what they need, not what they want (Thank you PME). The combat patch serves to distinguish those who have been to combat. Much like an identification badge highlighting a person you can ask about real life experiances vs what the book says. Those soldiers of yours should aspire to get there, not to have everyone else be like them. Given the oppertunity, they would want to wear one. I know this is not you implementing this change, but if it is your leadership, this is the discussion I would have. However, I feel like this is an old story - and has since been rectified. Hopefully this doesn't come back around.

Not every child gets a trophy. If they are in the Army, and are that much of a snowflake, then perhaps the Army is not right for them.

Military should not be a place for this type of sensitivity. Bet morale in this unit really draws air. Do they have to take off their campaign ribbons also?

The newgens are bitch made. They have no heart and want everything without working it. Very happy I came through the Era where we put in work. 88-98 05-2011

The Army is about action not bitchy little punks with no GUTS.

No, do we remove our awards because others don't have them?

That would be the same as removing all your ribbons from your dress uniform, because the Privates don't have any. They have to earn those with TIS and TIR, just like everyone else did.

Absolutely not. You earned your combat patch and you should proudly wear it. They know how to get one and if they really want it badly enough, they will find a way. MSG your men must look up to your accomplishments and seek to emulate them. Hopefully in time the patch will not matter, but if nothing else it shows that you made your bones in a less pleasant place. I believe that not wearing it on official photographs might be considered being out of uniform. There is one big exception. When deployed in a combat arms role I wore the absolute minimum of patches, badges, etc. No reason to make yourself a target, or help their intel collectors.

Give them a blankie and nuck!

Who in the hell runs this site????? Stop with this BS!!!!!!!!!!! You have the power to stop this. Do it!!!!! This is going on how many years now?

This was me from 92-2001, I had no combat patch...I was between wars. Still saw some crap, but hey, go earn your patch buddy...quitcherbitchin...

Dumbest shit I've ever seen on Rallypoint!

I was one of the WTH answers. It is necessary to read entire article in Army Times. The standard in certain units is a sterile uniform when deployed. That includes only name and US Army. There is a need for training like you deploy, but since this was only for Cbt Patches - that is horse pucky. That a BCT Commander did it - SMH.

Oh, are we into giving out trophies to everyone now like they do for kids soccer leagues. WTH. The armed services isn't about feelings, it's about doing your job, protecting you buddy's butt while under fire. Being afraid of death, but knowing that what you're doing is far greater. Serving your country, hoping and praying that you make it home, and at the same time accepting the fact that you may not.
Feelings, I'll let you know about them when I find them.

Some of my brother's and sister's bled and worse for the patch u wear on my right shoulder. So no mater the rank or position that tells me to remove it, not happening. Might as start my paperwork for disciplinary actions

Absolutely not. Those patches are earned and should be worn proudly. The younger EMs have role models to aspire to. This is not a summer camp. We don't give prizes. Don't disrespect the service of those who deployed and stood up for what they have by having them hide it. It sends the wrong message and it's dishonest..

Sorry snowflake. You'll get your participation trophy later.

As a junior enlisted infantryman, I look up to the NCOs in my unit who have served in combat. Those men have a plethora of knowledge and insight into what war is actually like. If I am to be proficient at my job, why wouldn't I want to learn from those who have done it already? I respect those men, I don't get upset over their service history. I have never met a soldier who was actually upset that his leadership was allowed to wear certain decorations while he wasn't. Personally, I don't think anyone that feeble belongs in the military.

Oh wait, this is a thing? I mean, for real? Aren't new Soldiers supposed to learn their jobs, hone their craft, and ultimately become a more efficient war fighter as opposed to wondering where they stand amongst their seniors? (Hint: it rhymes with "they are the bottom rung on this particular ladder of Army.")

To the seniors leaders, this shouldn't be a thing. Focusing more on training Soldiers for war and war support is our business.

To the new Soldiers: this isn't high school. Grow up and stop worrying about what other people have on their right sleeve who have earned it that you don't have because you didn't earn it.

Do they feel left out for not having things like ARCOMs, Bronze Stars, etc.? Is that a good reason for Soldiers who, do have them not to wear them on their Class As? Do they feel left out that they don't have as many stripes as others Soldiers.

No way. Some of you guys earned them and I'm no B*^ch because I don't have one..

When I first came in to the Army it was 1987. Many of my drill instructors, and unit members had their combat patch from Vietnam and other places, I certainly wasn't upset, or had hurt feelings because they had something I didn't. I certainly didn't feel left out. I knew these were the guys that had, literally, been there done that. I respected most of them, some I wouldn't trust leading girl scouts, but the majority were great leaders, and shared their experiences as a learning tool. Catering to a group of E1's and E2's because their feelings are hurt only reinforces an unrealistic idea that they are somehow entitled to something they haven't earned. What will be next PVT Snuffy gonna cry because some SPC has a GCM and they don't, so that award can't be worn? The minute you cave in, as with any spoiled, petulant child, you have just lost control of leadership. If you want an example of where this type of unrealistic leadership gets you, look at the stupidity that has permeated so many college campuses.

If you earned it, wear it. This is the most lame idea I have ever heard.

If it takes a little hurt feelings, deal with it.

LMAO, so what about those of us who have been around a little while, been here, there done this and that and have more than just a service medal should we not where then in a dress uniform because some newbie fells bad? LOL better yet not wearing my St Barbara Lol

No f'n way!

No, what is it with this being sensitive crap. Those who deployed earned this combat patches. Is this really a question we have to ask?