Since when is "jungle expert" an authorized tab?

I'm a senior instructor at JOTC. The current POI is not graded on a pass/fail basis. We provide one week (6 days) of Jungle skills which include: Jungle medical, patrolling techniques, waterborne operations, ground sign awareness, and rope assisted mobility. We provide the training to the units going through (BN level, with a one week offset between individual rifle companies). The 70% pass rate refers to the amount of injuries sustained. The terrain is very rugged and is something Soldiers are not used to operating in. While Hawaii doesn't represent the heat, flora and fauna as some jungles across the Pacific can provide, it does have a realistic view on the hazards associated with operating in a jungle environment. The training is less like a school and more like a training rotation.

Our cadre have been to many foreign jungle schools across the globe including Malaysia, Australia, Brunei, Thailand, and the Philippines and are continuously going to more.

As far as the Tab goes, it is division authorized much like the "Commando tab" of 10th mountain or the "Arctic Tab" im Alaska and only worn in 25th ID. If any questions about the training feel free to contact me to avoid speculation.

I think it's authorized as local wear while assigned to the 25ID.

Found this on Wiki. The "JUNGLE EXPERT" tab was often worn by graduates of the Jungle Operations Training Center until the school became inactive in 1999. The tab may have been official until 1982. The tab was never recognized army wide, but enjoyed a quasi-official status much like that of the Cavalry Stetson. That is, the tab was often authorized to be worn by graduates of the school by local commanders and by members of the United States Army South specifically.

My guess would be along the lines of the EOD and CBRN patches.  I don't recall seeing those in 670-1 either but I may be mistaken.  But it may be a local Command policy like SSG Cedeno stated.  

As of a few weeks ago, even in HI, it isn't.

When they reconstituted the Jungle School, the CG here authorized it for wear for all SM's who completed the course as long as they wore it only on the island of Oahu.

When we were finishing the course a few weeks ago we were told they decided to do away with that. So now no one wears it.

While we were at the school, there were a few guys from TRADOC there assessing the school and building their own curriculum based on the current POI. Eventually, TRADOC will take it over and it will be an individual course rather than one attended by whole units. It may get approved to be an official ASI at that point, but like ARC and many other Army courses, it likely will still not have a tab. Just look at the four current authorized tabs- Sapper is the newest, and SLC has been around for ages. It finally became authorized in 2004.

Maybe it's me or my generation, but it's not about the dog and pony show, it's about the training and education received. SF and Ranger were the only tabs authorized in my day. Even though I am one of the original Mountain Sappers and many went through SLC, it wasn't about the tab, it was about being a more effective force. The Army wasn't about individuals, it was about high speed-low drag units. In my day anyway! Maybe that needs to be stressed more these days. An army of one is easily defeated.

Went through JOTC Ft Sherman CZ in '74 with 3/2 Marines.
The USMC doesn't allow ANY patches or tabs or whatever on any uniform,
except para, scuba, and Presidential guard. Maybe the airdales get to wear pilot and crew badges.

It's just a 25th thing. 2nd AD wore their unit patch on their left breast pocket in accordance with Paton's wishes. I think the tab should stay in Hawaii and maybe Hondo where they are needed.

Here's some interesting info.  Of special note is the Calvary Scout Stetson.  I guess it's the same thinking.

Obsolete and Unofficial[edit]

Several tabs are widely worn unofficially by members of the US Army. Often these tabs are worn on the underside of pocket flaps so as not to violate uniform regulations. Such tabs also appear on stickers, shirts, hats, etc. These include tabs containing the words "SNIPER", "AIR ASSAULT", "FISTER", "SCOUT", and "RECON". The "SAPPER" tab was an unofficial tab until 2004 when it became an official army tab.

The "JUNGLE EXPERT" tab was often worn by graduates of the Jungle Operations Training Center until the school became inactive in 1999. The tab may have been official until 1982. The tab was never recognized army wide, but enjoyed a quasi-official status much like that of the Cavalry Stetson. That is, the tab was often authorized to be worn by graduates of the school by local commanders and by members of the United States Army South specifically.

The "RECONDO" tab was often worn by graduates of a reconnaissance and infantry skills school that was terminated in the 1970s.

SFC,

The jungle expert tab was brought back by the 25th ID here in Hawaii within the past 8 months. They have conducted 1 or 2 Jungle Classes since then and I know another SFC that went through it and currently wears the tab.

V/R,
Edwin J. Velazquez
SPC, USA