Posted on Mar 27, 2015
CPT Senior Instructor
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On deployments you may see some uniform variations that would not be seen while stateside. One of them is the wearing of patches. Do you or have you seen this while you were deployed. If you were working with another nation's military would you wear their flag on your uniform as a sign of partnership? Can this get carried away or is it a means to show some motivational patch? Should be strictly adhere to our regulation even while deployed?
Posted in these groups: Imgres Deployment4276e14c Uniforms
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MSG First Sergeant
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Shohna ba Shohna. Some of y'all should know that phrase.

So, I can tell y'all when I was out in the COP, JSS, or on mission there was no telling what uniform I might be in. Sleeves rolled, patches on or off, whatever.
But, If I was in an engagement with foreign leadership I would clean up and look professional. If I was on a FOB, I would pull he proper uniform out of my "go" bag in the truck and look the part.

But it is just not deployment. We do this here in the rear too. USARAK wants Soldiers to wear an ARCITC tab for Soldier that have been to Cold weather school. I haven't found that one in 670-1.

I think the bottom line for me is at good order and discipline. Does wearing an Iraqi or Afghani flag on your left sleeve hurt the good order and discipline? Does it support the mission?
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CPT J2 X
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The ones I saw the most were worn on their vest, but they were still unauthorized IAW AR 670-1
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CPT Senior Instructor
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I wouldn't have much of an issue with that.
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CPT J2 X
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Yea but our CoC didn't want to have any of that so the guys what wore it, only wore them once RP'd and took them off once we RTB'd.
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PV2 John Gurney
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Always represent your own flag no matter where you are unless you are special ops and need to blend.
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CAPT Kevin B.
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I remember the "Bronies". Saw a number of "My Little Pony" patches out there. That got to be a bit of a headache.
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CPT Senior Instructor
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It is a Cav thing.
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CAPT Kevin B.
CAPT Kevin B.
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Ah that fits. Saw some AF with them too. Think we Seabees mostly stayed away from patches as we don't use puny-A tools like a needle.
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LTC Field Artillery Officer
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I think if the patch provides a tactical, operational, or strategic value and doesn't discredit the service or the nation, I don't see a problem with it. As an example with the picture you posted, the Afghan flag can serve to show one team and support to the area they are working in. It doesn't take away from the service member or the nation. Wearing the unit patch of a partnered unit also sends a message of support to the mission.

Where I see a problem is when Soldiers start putting unauthorized patches and tabs (powerpoint ranger, ect). These serve no value to the unit or the mission and therefore should not be allowed.

A double standard? Yes, but when we apply a little leadership and common sense, we should be able to make the right decision.
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Lt Col Nurse Anesthetist
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We're operating in countries where people can't read the "unauthorized" patches anyway. If morale is helped by having some fun with "unauthorized" patches, then it's worth it. As someone who's primary job puts him in an aircrew position, I personally have a huge collection of "unauthorized" patches and wear them freely on the aircraft... as does everybody else.
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CPT Senior Instructor
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Pork eating crusader
I still think it can get out of control. If one was to see a patch like this it is something that can be offensive. But when you are dealing with so many soldiers you are going to have to introduce an official standard. If challenged you will have a hard time to defend one unauthorized patch vs another unauthorized patch.
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LTC Special Operations Response Team (Sort)
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It has to be done in good taste and polite humor.  That patch would be offensive to many Muslims with its reference to crusaders.  It also draws analogies that we do not want to make to our current mission and the distant past.
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Lt Col Nurse Anesthetist
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It can get out of control, but that's where it takes being a good leader to gently say "take that bullshit off and put on something else."
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SFC Joseph James
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Call me old fashion but follow the regs. They exist a reason. It also helps to properly id you in a hurry.
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CPT Senior Instructor
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I completely agree.
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SGT Team Leader
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Wear the flag of the country you are representing.
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SSG Transportation Management Coordinator
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I feel that it wouldn't be a problem but i think we should just wear the flag of our nation. We are US soldiers not another nation. Represent
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FN Jayme Blair
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No. I would only the stars and stripes.
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SSG Infantryman
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I am new to this site. But does it really effect the way I fight, or the way my soldiers fight if they have a fun meter on there kit? Or a doorkicker patch on there mag pouch? There is a time and place for everything. So much that American and German soldiers sang Christmas carols across their lines in Bastogne. If it makes a soldier feel good, or feel "cool" then so be it. Take it off when you get back to the states. To me this is no different than someone in a TOC getting on the net and telling me to blouse my trousers, and roll my sleeves down because a raven saw me sweating on a patrol.
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MAJ Brigade S1
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CPT (Join to see) I think the deciding factor is does the patch support the mission and/or the Soldier's well being
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CPT Senior Instructor
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MAJ (Join to see) But then who is the approving authority? If a BDE Commander were to see it would he be understanding of it? What happens when a soldier complains when he can't wear the patch he has and others can were theirs? He may not think it is offensive. It is a can of worms that I don't want to mess with.
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MAJ Brigade S1
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I think it comes down to the common sense line with the mission, which is tough.

Blood Type patch? Go ahead. Afghan flag because you're a trainer? Sure. WWJS (What would Jesus Shoot)? Absolutely not.
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CSM Richard Montcalm
CSM Richard Montcalm
10 y
SSG Odom, based on your comment, I guess it's OK for YOUR Soldiers to wear an earring while on patrol too, because, hey, it's cool and nobody can see it, right? Why not bring a long a cooler full of beer in your MRAP and have a few while out on patrol? No one is around and it would be 'cool' and build morale to violate a few orders just to prove how 'cool' you are, thumbing your nose at 'THE MAN'... You are putting yourself on a slippery slope- that is why there are regulations to begin with- so that EVERYONE plays by the same rules.
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SGT Jeremy Skinner
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we should always have our us flag on all the time period. but in certain circumstances wearing that countries with ours is not an issue to me
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SGT Jeremiah B.
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Only wear what you have orders for. I've been out a long time. Has there ever been an instance where American soldiers were told to flag under another country?
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CPT Senior Instructor
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That has never been the case that I have know of. The closest you would get is falling in under the UN and wearing their insignia but then you would still wear the US flag. Some wear a flag as a means to show a commitment to that country. But wearing a flag has a lot implications.
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WO1 Intelligence Officer (S2)
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When in working groups we sometimes swapped patches, but I would switch back once we parted ways. I've seen a lot of Korean, and Japanese military members either in the US uniform, or wearing US flags and patches, I don't have a problem with that, and I don't see a problem with US personnel showing some camaraderie.

I don't like the hooah patches. It was usually the Air Force, but they'd be wearing full color Star Wars patches, superheroes, sports teams, etc. I remember sitting in the dinning facility and seeing a Yoda patch, a bright pink patch, and sports patch on three different Air Force Service Members.
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SGT Jeremiah B.
SGT Jeremiah B.
>1 y
I wore a Japanese uniform one night after trading uniforms with a counterpart. I have no problem with that. I couldn't very well run around naked! (Also, we were pretty drunk. haha) I did switch back into my own uniform once I had access to one.
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CPT Senior Instructor
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That is the AF in all their glory.
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SGT Squad Leader
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If
It's mission essential ...got
It...otherwise our country gets disrespected enough anyways, why cause more harm? No one has respect for anything nowadays...but is always demanding it
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SFC Special Forces Weapons Sergeant
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A conventional mindset is not the right answer in most cases. Foreign unit patches can assist in foreign relations, the same reason why there is relaxed grooming standards in some theaters. If you are training or partnered in that capacity then I believe discretion should be up to the unit.
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CPT Senior Instructor
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In some aspects I would agree with you. ODA and CA often do this. I have even seen them create a new patch and wear it, like the Afghan SF patch. But would the conventional units be subject to this?
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SFC Special Forces Weapons Sergeant
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If attached to these units then yes, but like earlier mentioned, if it does not warrant foreign relation building, then I think conventional units should stick to wearing authorized patches and insignia IAW UCMJ. I know that may seem like a double standard to some, but that's where discretion comes in.
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PO1 John Meyer, CPC
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"I am an American, fighting in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense."

I don't see anywhere in that that says that I serve in the military of another nation. Just sayin...
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COL Charles Williams
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I understand, but the standard. One time (many times) in Iraq, I saw US Soldiers that were wearing tabs and pathes they thought were funny.... Secret Squirrel patch on the rights sleeve... a CPT (yes a captain) wearing a tab over his patch that said "shitbag," and the list is long. Yes, if I saw it. I corrected it fast.
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COL Charles Williams
COL Charles Williams
>1 y
I still say no....
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SPC Angel Guma
SPC Angel Guma
10 y
Sir-

One guy brought a patch that read SPQR with an Eagle.
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COL Charles Williams
COL Charles Williams
10 y
SPC Angel Guma Last I was at the Camp Liberty PX, and Bagram too... then had many funny tabs and patches you could buy... but, they are not for the uniform. Just my conservative perspective.
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
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Marines don't even wear our own Flag (most times), why would we wear someone else's Flag?
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SSG David Shifflett
SSG David Shifflett
10 y
LOL, spoken well. The Marines are one, you start a fight with one and you end up fighting half the Marines and the others looking on....for an opening. Got to love our Marine brothers and sisters.
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SSG Jason Neumann
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We should be able to only wear our US Flag. Why should we wear another countries flag? Is it really to show we are helping that country or to give that country "we are here to help"? Obviously we are there, since they aren't able to handle the situation.
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CPT Senior Instructor
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I totally agree with you. That is my take on it. I don't understand why one would wear another countries flag. When you don a flag it means so much more than just being a patch.
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