Posted on Dec 15, 2015
What's your opinion when a National Guard soldier or reservist wears an active duty unit patch because they were attached ?
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Combat Patch (SSI-FWTS)
Army National Guard
Combat Patch (SSI-FWTS) Army National Guard
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 48
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Hmmm...the Navy simplifies it by not having Velcro (sorry, that was low...real low)
Seriously though...I've no idea what Army regs state. When I was playing "Dirt Sailor", RUMINT suggested that we rated (depending on where you were) the 1st ID patch, the 278th, etc...Personally, I knew that was bogus because there are huge differences between being TAD to someone's outfit, and actually being in that outfit...let alone service. We did skirt the regs a bit in the field (and looking back, I wish we hadn't), and came up with our own unit insignia-that's proudly on my bike jacket now.
I did come home with a rather nice and emotionally valuable collection of unit patches from the Soldiers I worked with...but they stay in the "I Love me Box".
Seriously though...I've no idea what Army regs state. When I was playing "Dirt Sailor", RUMINT suggested that we rated (depending on where you were) the 1st ID patch, the 278th, etc...Personally, I knew that was bogus because there are huge differences between being TAD to someone's outfit, and actually being in that outfit...let alone service. We did skirt the regs a bit in the field (and looking back, I wish we hadn't), and came up with our own unit insignia-that's proudly on my bike jacket now.
I did come home with a rather nice and emotionally valuable collection of unit patches from the Soldiers I worked with...but they stay in the "I Love me Box".
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SMSgt Thor Merich
Back in the early days of OIF/OEF, there were Air National Guard folks assigned to Army units. They came home wearing Army patches on their sleeves. Don't know if it was authorized, but everyone did it. Being former Army, I kind of liked it.
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MAJ Ronnie Reams
Friend of mine was USAFR IMA. His assignment was Weather Officer for Third US Army. In country he wore the 3USA patch on left shoulder of chocolate chips. Came home, no patch as USAF not wear right sleeve patches. Different with each service. Never have seen anyone ask about why patches on right sleeve, just question like Why are you wearing a Bloody Red One instead of a Bloody Black One? MG DePuy reportedly told Westy when he wanted it subdued that it always has been and always will be the Bloody Red One, and so it was to be until the old breed of GOs died off. A friend of mine, a LTC, always told folks if you can take it off me, you can change it. No one ever took him up.
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so they aren't supposed to wear a combat patch because they are NG or Reserves?
What about an active duty Soldier who was assigned to a NG / Reserve unit for a deployment? They didn't earn a patch?
What about an active duty Soldier who was assigned to a NG / Reserve unit for a deployment? They didn't earn a patch?
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I think the question is a moot point because if it is authorized, then it doesn't matter.
However, I would bet that in 99.9% of cases, Soldiers are incorrectly wearing an active duty patch as their SSI-FWTS. Although people seem to believe that the ALARACT which came out a few years back was a new interpretation, it has been the law of the land period. Whatever you wore on your left you should wear on the right with a few exceptions.
That being said, any memo that you have doesn't legitimize or authorize you to wear a patch. It may give you good standing, but a memo that is going against a regulation doesn't make it any better.
However, I would bet that in 99.9% of cases, Soldiers are incorrectly wearing an active duty patch as their SSI-FWTS. Although people seem to believe that the ALARACT which came out a few years back was a new interpretation, it has been the law of the land period. Whatever you wore on your left you should wear on the right with a few exceptions.
That being said, any memo that you have doesn't legitimize or authorize you to wear a patch. It may give you good standing, but a memo that is going against a regulation doesn't make it any better.
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LTC Paul Labrador
Problem is, how are they going to enforce the reg if there is no 'official orders' or other such documentation that authorizes wear. Where the Army screwed up is that they did not require award of a SSI-FWS to need authorization orders just like every other piece of bling that the Army allows you to put on your uniform. SSI-FWS is not tracked on your ORB or DD-214. So if a Solider tells you he earned it his last deployment (and assuming he is not lying about deploying) who are you to tell him he doesn't have a right to wear it. If you require authorization orders for wear and it's tracked on official documents, then it becomes black and white.
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CPT (Join to see)
Most units currently do that, except the BC or whoever is the approval authority gets it wrong, and ends up giving it to more people than should be permitted. If it were done correctly, even without regulatory guidance, the current system would work.
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During my last Deployment, I was attached to the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force for my first 3 months in theater. Because of that time I received orders authorizing me to wear the 2nd MEF patch o my right shoulder. I never put on the patch, the Marines I served with cannot not wear it so why should I have that right. With Army patches, wearing the unit you were attached to patch versus your own units is in a way taking away from your own units roll during that deployment, In many cases you have units that wear the unit attached to patch on the left arm as well, so definitely should get to wear it on the right as well. That is just my opinion
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I say wear your own units patch, show your pride for the ones you served with.
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SGT Mathew Husen
non taken, that is what these boards are for....to get a understanding. The patch thing is a hard subject to discuss in the first place.
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2LT Earl Dean
SPC Mike Craner - While deployed I to was attached to another unit! I wore my unit patch which was from my division, I was attached! My home unit was state side. I was asked a few times about it and would always state I am attached! The unit I am with is not my assigned or parent unit!
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LTC Paul Labrador
Until they start recording authorized SSIFWS on official documents like a DD214 or ERB/ORB, there is always going to be controversy.
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My personal opinion is that whatever patch a solider wore on their left shoulder while deployed should be the only patch they should be authorized to wear on their right. That said, regs are regs.
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1SG (Join to see)
That doesn't always follow the regulation. If you deploy company level or below, you are not authorized to wear your unit patch on your right sleeve. For those Soldiers that have deployed more than once, your premise supposes that they will give up their original combat patch in order to "bookend" their latest deployed unit. While that is generally the preference of the CSM, it is not required by regulation (hence the Congressionals COL Williams mentioned).
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SGT (Join to see)
1SG (Join to see). I think there's been a misunderstanding. You're right about company level deployments. It just happens that my personal opinion differs from regulation in that I don't see why rules should be different for such deployments. Also I have no objections to wearing a different patch on my right shoulder than my left. My first deployment was with 1st ID and I would wear that patch on occasion while deployed with the 101st ABN to Afghanistan. The point is that while deployed the first time 1st ID is the patch I was wearing on my left shoulder, which means that it's a combat patch I've earned to wear for the rest of my time in service.
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1SG (Join to see)
SGT (Join to see) - I see. A valid opinion, slightly better expressed in your explanation. Company level combat patches would make things easier. That being said, how far do we go? The detachment I deployed with in 2012 wore a Troop Command patch that was not deployable (ever). That example, along with the individual augmentees, etc. illustrate the pain associated with this saga.
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depends on how the represent it, such as act like they were part of the unit and went to war with them and what not. A lot of active guys(myself also) have patches from other units but never went to that base.
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