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 10 y ago
Responses: 1628
I wasn't in the Army, so my opinion probably won't be appreciated. I believe the combat patches should be eliminated because they should never have been authorized in the first place. The other services don't use them. One would think the Army's Combat Action Badge, Combat Infantryman (Armor, Cavalry, etc.) Badge, campaign medals, etc., should be sufficient. I've long felt the Army uniform is way too cluttered with patches, badges, etc., etc. To me, organizational pride notwithstanding, combat patches add to the clutter. Having said all that, the feelings of butthurt, never-deployed soldiers should have no bearing on whether or not to remove combat patches from the Army uniform.
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Is not like the unit actually conducts combat operations. You deploy to a hospital in a big, secure base??? You want to earn a combat patch? Transfer over to the infantry. Equating been in country with "Combat " is just sorry as hell.
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Typically the Military says fuck your feelings esp to things that have to be earned.
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I understand that was the thinking behind officers no longer wearing branch insignia on combat uniform—those in the "less prestigious" branches felt they were looked down upon because they were readily identified as being not combat arms. Hey, I know! for those troops who feel left out because they don't have a combat patch and those officers who are not in combat arms, lets issue them all Silver Stars and Combat Action Badges! Boy, that should boost there self-esteem even more than wearing a combat patch or not wearing Medical Service Corps Insignia. I know what you narrow-minded insensitive types are going to say–wearing valor awards that they didn't earn takes away from those who actually did earn theirs. But remember, the Supreme Court has ruled that wearing unearned awards is protected by the 1st Amendment—and if its good enough for civilians it should be good enough for the military.
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You gotta be kidding me. Who would even think of doing that? They deserve to wear their patches, they Earned Them!!!
I'm I supposed to not wear the ribbons and metals I was awarded because it might hurt some snowflakes feelings?
"Hell No"
I'm I supposed to not wear the ribbons and metals I was awarded because it might hurt some snowflakes feelings?
"Hell No"
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This must come from the same sad ass POGs that wanted the CAB because they couldn't get the CIB
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When I served in the early 80s our right patch wearers we're Vietnam vets and we looked to them for their been there done that leadership , these men and women need to be respected and valued for their one of a kind experience. My biggest prayer was that I would never have to earn one but if that was what was necessary I wanted them beside me to guide and lead me through the valley .
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