What would your opinion be on extending morale patches to the OCP Uniform?

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 Feb 2019 13:27:37 -0500

Currently under the AFI USAF members who are authorized to wear morale patches with their flight suits. With the OCP uniform like the flight suits having Velcro, making it extremely easy to change out patches, what would be your thoughts on extending the ability to wear morale patches on the OCP uniform? This is merely a hypothetical question and I know the policy isn't likely to change in the near future. Just doesn't make sense to me on why only the flyers get morale patches.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2019 2:10 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 Feb 2019 14:10:31 -0500

Just accept the fact that not all jobs in the military really warrant morale patches in the first place. Example: cooks wearing "kill 'em all" tabs. Or an S1 clerk with a Punisher skull. Or a finance soldier rocking a claymore patch on an operator ball cap. In the words of Captain America: "Son, just don't"

Response by MSgt Michael Smith made Feb 28 at 2019 2:28 PM

MSgt Michael Smith — Thu, 28 Feb 2019 14:28:41 -0500

Morale patches are not a given for all flight suits. It largely depends on the squadron, wing, etc. Also, when aircrews fly combat missions, flight suits are sanitized (no patches). So here is the thing --what you are dealing with is a cultural issue. Flying squadrons (and many other squadrons) have traditions, customs, cultures that are unique. Remember that the Air Force came from the Army, a special division called the Army Air Corps. Morale patches are are part of that culture. Flying squadrons represent the core of culture and tradition, cause they were the first part of the Air Force. That is just how it is, so they act and get treated a little differently. There is a reason why most Generals in the Air Force are also pilots --tradition. OCPs have nothing to do with tradition, they are all about the mission. the mission does not have to do with tradition.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2019 2:42 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 Feb 2019 14:42:00 -0500

IMO, it should not happen. It would be distasteful and have an extreme unprofessional look.

Response by LCDR Joshua Gillespie made Mar 1 at 2019 9:41 AM

LCDR Joshua Gillespie — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 09:41:15 -0500

Here's my useless $.02-"Morale" patches evolved as a "passive aggressive" hit at the "regular" Military and it's regulations. They were a way for irregular units, doing irregular things to build their own set of individual recognition and esprit de corps-as well as prove that the risks they faced outweighed the ability/desire of "Higher" to hold them to conventional regulations. Maybe aviators feel a part of that tradition... and maybe other units feel they are welcome to it.

Personally, I feel that if I have to ask the question...I probably already know the answer.

Response by SSG Byron Hewett made Mar 1 at 2019 11:27 AM

SSG Byron Hewett — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 11:27:27 -0500

Go and buy a flight jacket you the type that you can turn insideout and it will be a bright orange so your easily seen if you lost and the right side out is usually OD green or black. I know a lot of my battle buddies I was in the army with long before I had retired had bought these flight jackets and had unit patches, moral patches, and veteran patches from the VFW and Legion organizations all sown on the Jack's some guys have bought the POW MIA leather vests and have done the same thing. So your right policy probably won't change but there are ways to improvise and adapt... so go to it and improvise and adapt to the situation do something fun that doesn't break policy or regs.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2019 1:15 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 13:15:05 -0500

Nope.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2019 12:22 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 02 Mar 2019 00:22:19 -0500

Not a good idea. Someone is going to put an offensive patch on their uniform, it's going to get photographed and posted on the web, someone is going to complain, and heads will roll.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2019 12:30 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 20 Apr 2019 00:30:59 -0400

I'm really not a fan of this at all. Some organizations make poor decisions and their patches may not reflect well. I have seen soldiers wear individual morel patches with symbols that would offend the locals or something stupid that sexual. My battalion does have a unofficial patch but it is never worn on a uniform. The symbol of the patch was used in world war II for the Battalion.

Response by CCMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 28 at 2020 10:31 AM

CCMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 10:31:55 -0400

As it stands in the 2903 Commanders approve morale patches...and of course they should be in good taste. Allow the same standards for the OCO given to the FDU. Allow Commanders to lead and make decisions they feel are in good order and discipline with common sense. Morale can exist across all units...not just FDU wearers.