What is the regulation for regimental collar (branch) insignia?

2LT Ray Q — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 15:17:29 -0400

I'm commissioning active duty infantry soon and was setting up my AGSU. I was planning on using regimental collar insignia from my national guard unit that I have deployed with. I'm being told that I can't wear it because my affiliation is with a national guard unit and I'm commissioning active duty. Is this correct?

If that's the case do I remove my SSI-MOHC as well?

Response by COL Randall C. made Apr 3 at 2023 4:19 PM

COL Randall C. — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 16:19:13 -0400

Can't speak definitively about that (it's one of those mysterious inner secrets of the Combat Arms cult that the dusty historians discuss), but I've never heard of a reserve unit not being allowed if you're on active duty, as long as you've met the criteria to wear the reserve affiliation. I had it easy my entire career - I was told what my Regimental Affiliation was (the Intel schoolhouse) and that was that.

Taking a quick look on the reg regarding Regimental Affiliations*, there doesn't seem to be any prohibition crossing components of the Army.

The choice of which regiment you want to affiliate with is up to you (again, as long as you meet the criteria for affiliation). I've gone though the reg twice with a detailed look and nothing in there prohibits "cross COMPO" affiliation.

3–1. Concept
a. For the purposes of this regulation, combat arms branches are defined as Air Defense Artillery, Armor, Aviation, Cavalry, Field Artillery, Infantry, and Special Forces. Regiments serve as the basis for branch traditions and heritage. Within the combat arms branches, units consist of numbered regiments with subordinately numbered battalions or squadrons and lettered companies, troops, batteries, or numbered Special Forces groups.
b. Soldiers may affiliate with a numbered regiment after 6 months of continuously honorable service with that regiment, or less than 6 months if classified as a casualty during combat operations with that regiment.

3–2. Combat arms affiliation policy
a. Soldiers assigned a military occupational specialty (MOS) or to a branch normally associated with the combat arms may affiliate with a numbered regiment (see para 3–1a). The choice of regiment is left up to the individual, based on current or previous regiments of assignment. Regimental affiliation may be changed at any time. However, the regimental selection must be in accordance with paragraph 3–1b.
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* AR 870-21 - https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/docs/r870_21.pdf

r870_21.pdf

Response by LTC Trent Klug made Apr 3 at 2023 4:38 PM

LTC Trent Klug — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 16:38:03 -0400

Having had it the other way around, being active duty going to reserves/Guard, I believe you'll find its the Commander's call on this.

On AD, I was assigned to 3/27 IN but the Army gave me the regimental affiliation for the 9th IN. I did a 4187 to change, at our BC's request.

When I went Army Reserve no one in my chain cared about it.

When I went Oregon Army Guard, it was TAG policy to have Oregon unit affiliation.

That became moot once I got commissioned as a MP officer.

Don't change you SSI-MOHC though. That's yours until you go to combat again.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Apr 3 at 2023 5:47 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 17:47:52 -0400

2LT Ray Q Regimental insignia speaks as to what unit you are assigned to. Isn’t that a simple answer?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2023 8:25 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 20:25:27 -0400

Are you talking about the regimental numbers on your branch insignia? Yeah you can't wear those if you're no longer in the unit.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2023 8:43 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 20:43:48 -0400

Your SSI-MOHC is a permanent award.
Your regimental affiliation is your regimental affiliation until you do paperwork for a new regimental affiliation.
You are commissioning IN, which does not come with a de facto regimental affiliation like some branches, so it does not change until you qualify for a new one (six months assigned or a deployment, if memory serves) and submit the 4187.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2023 10:49 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 22:49:44 -0400

You will automatically be affiliated with your first unit after six months of service. When you go to IBOLC you will wear the 2-11TH IN and the Follow Me patch. After that you will wear your Regiment right away really. I still wear my 505TH PIR as my affiliation but I don't wear 505th rifles. In all honestly I have never really see anyone have their affiliation on their ORB. So I wouldn't worry about.

Here is some professional advice. I was in the Guard. I only wear my active duty unit insignia. As soon as I go to a new unit I wear their Regiment, if I can find their RCI. As a commander I would take offense that you wouldn't wear your regiment. I have never seen anyone wear the RCI in a Regiment other then their current one. The BC Senior Rates all PLs. If he were to see that he would most likely take offense to it. Now, you can wear your SSI-MOHC. I have worn my Guard one but I have found that wearing my active duty patch placed me in better light. You should take pride in the unit you are in and represent them when you are there.

Its in AR 670-121–10. Branch insignia-other
a. Regimental collar insignia.
(1) Regimental collar insignia is the Soldier’s branch insignia on which the numerical designation of the regiment is affixed. Regimental collar insignia is worn in lieu of the branch insignia by officers and enlisted Soldiers affiliated with infantry, armor, field artillery, air defense artillery, cavalry, special forces, or aviation regiments. Soldiers affiliated with these regiments will also wear the regimental collar insignia when not assigned to the regiment, except as provided in paragraph 21 – 9A Soldier affiliated with a regiment but having a branch other than the currently assigned branch will wear the assigned branch insignia without a numeral. Soldiers will not wear numerals designating battalions on regimental collar insignia. Regimental collar insignia is provided at no cost to enlisted Soldiers. Commanders will permit enlisted Soldiers who are affiliated with the regiment to retain regimental collar insignia when reassigned from the affiliated regiment.

In AR 870-21 it states,

3–2. Combat arms affiliation policy
a. Soldiers assigned a military occupational specialty (MOS) or to a branch normally associated with the combat arms may affiliate with a numbered regiment (see para 3–1a). The choice of regiment is left up to the individual, based on current or previous regiments of assignment. Regimental affiliation may be changed at any time. However, the regimental selection must be in accordance with paragraph 3–1b.
4 AR 870–21 • 13 April 2017
(1) During their initial assignment, all combat arms Soldiers will affiliate with the regiment of their first unit of assignment. Soldiers whose initial Army assignment is not to a regimental unit may defer affiliation until they are so assigned.
(2) Soldiers may elect to affiliate with any numbered regiment they served honorably in as set forth in paragraph 3–1b regardless of their primary MOS (PMOS).
b. Soldiers will not affiliate with a regiment they have not served in.
c. Any Soldier separated from the Army for reasons of conduct or other than honorable service will have his or her name stricken from the rolls of the regiment and will no longer be considered to be affiliated.
d. No Civilian personnel may affiliate with a combat arms regiment except as provided in paragraph 2–1e.
e. Soldiers attached to or temporarily assigned to a USARS unit may not affiliate with that unit’s regiment.
f. Specific procedures for affiliation are set forth in chapter 5. These procedures permit affiliation and change of affiliation to be administered at the local level and approved by the custodian of the regiment.