Why do units insist that a SM wear the unit patch as the combat patch while deployed with that unit? I resist this.

I will put this way, if you are married why do you force your spouse to wear her/his wedding ring while you are deployed?

Hey, stupid, quasi-related question:

You deploy with Unit A... then you deploy with Unit B. Now you're assigned to Unit C. Which combat patch do you wear, A or B? Is it your choice or are you supposed to wear the most recent?

Thanks!

It's kind of ridiculous how many changes have been made to the AR. When my battalion was deployed in 05-06 we were awarded 4 combat patches. 2 of which are marine corps patches. Now according to the AR we aren't allowed to wear the marine corps patches. But I don't think anyone in the brigade even cares what it says. I've seen full bird Colonels on down the line, and CSM's on down the NCO ranks wearing one or the other or alternating between 3 of the patches including the marine corps patches.

Don't be selfish... Wear your units patch with pride! The argument is not necessary!

I referred my Command to DA PAM 670-1 when I was lectured about wearing my 4ID patch (from OIF 1&2) instead of the patch for this most recent deployment. The BC outright said he tried to find a way to make everyone wear the same combat patch, but later he relented. As for this nonsense about "not offending rookies", I don't need to remind anyone that we were all rookies at some point in time. My leaders before me had earned their combat patches and I knew, even as a PFC, that my time would come to earn mine. For that matter, that's the mentality I expect from my subordinates in this day and age.

We didn't wear our unit's patch as our combat patch when deployed (but we deployed 2002-2003. Different time...blah blah blah). I probably would do the same if I were in your boots. I guess they may have you wear it for esprit de corps during deployment and uniformity. But, you can always chose to wear what is "authorized". It's not mandatory, like nametags, US flag, branch of service. Hell, we had a COL who served in Vietnam during our deployment who had his combat patch + "tower of power" (SF, Airborne, Ranger). And no one questioned why he wore that and not the other badges he earned on his uniform.

However, it became interesting when our deployment was over, as we had 3 patches to choose from:
3rd MEDCOM The unti responsible for us during deployment. (And I say responsible tongue in cheek...)
ARCENT (Over 3rd MEDCOM and a glorious history of being Patton's Army patch, but pretty common)
IMEF (Marine Division we supported when OIF kicked off). We chose IMEF because of the uniqueness of the patch & the honor we had in providing support/assistance for our Marines.

SSG Kristopher Rigdon You're right, technically, but is this really the hill you want to die on? Wear the patch you want to wear when you return from deployment.

I was always led to believe "love the one you're with." Thankfully, I haven't been deployed anywhere with a bad unit or a patch I would want to wear on the right sleeve. I hope the same for you!

The service member is allowed to wear any earned combat zone patch they earned and with velcro it is easy to change.I always liked to pudh the edge carefully staying within bounds (officer in RVN era with 32 months in the country) and elgible for Three. If I hade velcro i would have kept a set of patches and changed them troughout the day for fun. example MACV to work change to 20 ENgr Bde ow way back outside and at lunch maybe wear the ENGR CMD patch simply because I could. But sew on made me fix some one way and others another. It is SM choice what ans wether to wear.

While I was in the 8th ID we were required to wear the 8th ID patch, once we left the 8th, we could change. I chose the 3AD patch and wore it pretty much the rest of my career until authorized the 1st and 2nd MEF FWD patches.
Unique patches for working for the Marines, I'm proud of the opportunity to have worked with them in the Ramadi area.