Posted on Apr 11, 2021
Why don't soldiers stationed on the DMZ receive a combat patch?
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I understand we are not at war and there is a armistice agreement but NK don't really care about that. The DMZ would just be a speed bump for them. Our soldiers there live, sleep, and work roughly 5km from soldiers that are taught to hate and harm us. I have heard of a memo that can be signed and approved for the wear of patches so why couldn't this be a thing?
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Combat Patch (SSI-FWTS)
Combat Patch (SSI-FWTS)
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 18
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This isn't 2007, not everyone does or will get SSI-FWTS. You get the KDSM to distinguish that you served in Korea, and an OSR.
If you want a combat patch that bad, contact your branch manager and look at the patch chart to make your next assignment to a unit who is deploying to an eligible location, or convert to a different MOS, apply for certain positions, etc
If you want a combat patch that bad, contact your branch manager and look at the patch chart to make your next assignment to a unit who is deploying to an eligible location, or convert to a different MOS, apply for certain positions, etc
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SPC (Join to see)
Heads up sir, they updated the SSI-FWTS early this year along with the new pinks and greens. It's now called the SSI-MOHC.
Shoulder Sleeve Insignia Military Operations in Hostile Conditions.
Shoulder Sleeve Insignia Military Operations in Hostile Conditions.
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Sgt Dale Briggs
Go to Drum and the 10th as an 03, those guys are always deploying somewhere. Or the 82nd, same. Be careful what you wish for.
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1SG Fred Hermstein
Once again, the missions were real, the rounds were real, the land mine that damaged my hearing is still real, PTSD is real, the firefights were real, the spy in the BN was real, the infiltration's were real, the alerts were real, the clay-mores we used were real, we carried our weapons with us, we slept with our weapons, and I saw thousands of NK soldiers flood the DMZ during the first fight. I was told several times "boys lock and load you are going into war." In fact, when I arrived at Kempo Airbase, the SFC passing out orders told us 11Bs who were going north to the DMZ, and I quote "Oh, they've been fighting up there." The propaganda from the North stating "we will kill Americans and put your heads on display" was real. And, now DOD/DA/VA are acknowledging the use of Agent Orange with a life span of 100 years and a half/life of 25 years, which means Soldiers serving in the DMZ in late 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s were subject to Agent Orange since we drank the water, took showers with the water, laid in the foliage, and covered in mud and water from Monsoon season. I also recall a few times during training exercises/show of force, we had to stop the training because of landmines (we had an EOD team bow up the mines). Last comment, Congress allowed the VFW to accept Korea DMZ vets, and I appreciate the KDSM for Korea service, but I think the DMZ pin should be allowed on the KDSM.
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In the 1960s I spent 3 years in Korea and 2 in Vietnam all in line Artillery or Infantry units. There were plenty of troops in 2nd, 7th Infantry Divisions and 1st Cav on the DMZ who deserved a combat Patch. They faced more danger that a lot of troops in Vietnam did. There were times when I was miserable in Vietnam that I could be just as miserable in Korea and freezing cold too.
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1SG Fred Hermstein
Once again, the missions were real, the rounds were real, the land mine that damaged my hearing is still real, PTSD is real, the firefights were real, the spy in the BN was real, the infiltration's were real, the alerts were real, the clay-mores we used were real, we carried our weapons with us, we slept with our weapons, and I saw thousands of NK soldiers flood the DMZ during the first fight. I was told several times "boys lock and load you are going into war." In fact, when I arrived at Kempo Airbase, the SFC passing out orders told us 11Bs who were going north to the DMZ, and I quote "Oh, they've been fighting up there." The propaganda from the North stating "we will kill Americans and put your heads on display" was real. And, now DOD/DA/VA are acknowledging the use of Agent Orange with a life span of 100 years and a half/life of 25 years, which means Soldiers serving in the DMZ in late 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s were subject to Agent Orange since we drank the water, took showers with the water, laid in the foliage, and covered in mud and water from Monsoon season. I also recall a few times during training exercises/show of force, we had to stop the training because of landmines (we had an EOD team bow up the mines). Last comment, Congress allowed the VFW to accept Korea DMZ vets, and I appreciate the KDSM for Korea service, but I think the DMZ pin should be allowed on the KDSM.
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If you look at AR600-8-22 for CIBs/Combat decorations and AR670-1 for SSI-FWTS, you will see there are past combat actions for the Korean DMZ. That was also when the US actively manned it, patrolled it, got into fire fights with the NorKs. So if it happens on your watch, you'll likely be recognized. I believe the only US presence on the DMZ is at the JSA and their QRF on another post. When I was there in 1998 they were the only US forces North of the Imjin River.
You may also want to google Korea DMZ Incidents and see what exactly warranted those awards. Soldiers were wounded and killed. The NorKs tried to infiltrate on a daily basis. They shot down US aircraft in international airspace. They tried to snatch prisoners. They captured a US Naval vessel in international waters and held the crew hostage. In 1968 they sent a Brigade across all at the same time and tried to assassinate the ROK President in a failed SOF raid on the Blue House . Now there are dependents there in record numbers. The posture in theater is vastly detached from the DMZ by comparison. There is the occasional Artillery raid on an Island where there are no US forces (perhaps on purpose?) and semi submersible infil of NorK agents to stir up college students and collect Intel. They almost always get hemmed up.
You may also want to google Korea DMZ Incidents and see what exactly warranted those awards. Soldiers were wounded and killed. The NorKs tried to infiltrate on a daily basis. They shot down US aircraft in international airspace. They tried to snatch prisoners. They captured a US Naval vessel in international waters and held the crew hostage. In 1968 they sent a Brigade across all at the same time and tried to assassinate the ROK President in a failed SOF raid on the Blue House . Now there are dependents there in record numbers. The posture in theater is vastly detached from the DMZ by comparison. There is the occasional Artillery raid on an Island where there are no US forces (perhaps on purpose?) and semi submersible infil of NorK agents to stir up college students and collect Intel. They almost always get hemmed up.
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SSG Edward Tilton
Just in case you think this is recent. USMC at Kaesong within sight of today’s DMZ.
1871, Kaesong was the Capitol then
1871, Kaesong was the Capitol then
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1SG Fred Hermstein
Once again, the missions were real, the rounds were real, the land mine that damaged my hearing is still real, PTSD is real, the firefights were real, the spy in the BN was real, the infiltration's were real, the alerts were real, the clay-mores we used were real, we carried our weapons with us, we slept with our weapons, and I saw thousands of NK soldiers flood the DMZ during the first fight. I was told several times "boys lock and load you are going into war." In fact, when I arrived at Kempo Airbase, the SFC passing out orders told us 11Bs who were going north to the DMZ, and I quote "Oh, they've been fighting up there." The propaganda from the North stating "we will kill Americans and put your heads on display" was real. And, now DOD/DA/VA are acknowledging the use of Agent Orange with a life span of 100 years and a half/life of 25 years, which means Soldiers serving in the DMZ in late 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s were subject to Agent Orange since we drank the water, took showers with the water, laid in the foliage, and covered in mud and water from Monsoon season. I also recall a few times during training exercises/show of force, we had to stop the training because of landmines (we had an EOD team bow up the mines). Last comment, Congress allowed the VFW to accept Korea DMZ vets, and I appreciate the KDSM for Korea service, but I think the DMZ pin should be allowed on the KDSM.
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You said it yourself... not at war.
Yes, DMZ would just be a speed bump if NK ever goes to war. And *if* that ever happens, likely those folks WOULD be authorized SSI-FWTS.
Yes, DMZ would just be a speed bump if NK ever goes to war. And *if* that ever happens, likely those folks WOULD be authorized SSI-FWTS.
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COL (Join to see)
Depends on how “at war” is defined. Those familiar with UNCMAC and the DMZ know that these exist because there is only an armistice between United Nations Command and NK. An armistice is like a temporary cease fire, not a peace treaty, so technically the war has not ended. NK wants a peace treaty partly because they know the United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission, which monitors compliance with armistice at the DMZ and JSA, will be disbanded once there is no more armistice. NK disavowed the armistice long ago anyway when they kicked out the neutral nations who were supposed to monitor the armistice from their side of the border. So…technically only the UN side is monitoring and abiding by the armistice, and NK feels unbound by it. From this perspective, on paper the war still continues.
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1SG Fred Hermstein
Once again, the missions were real, the rounds were real, the land mine that damaged my hearing is still real, PTSD is real, the firefights were real, the spy in the BN was real, the infiltration's were real, the alerts were real, the clay-mores we used were real, we carried our weapons with us, we slept with our weapons, and I saw thousands of NK soldiers flood the DMZ during the first fight. I was told several times "boys lock and load you are going into war." In fact, when I arrived at Kempo Airbase, the SFC passing out orders told us 11Bs who were going north to the DMZ, and I quote "Oh, they've been fighting up there." The propaganda from the North stating "we will kill Americans and put your heads on display" was real. And, now DOD/DA/VA are acknowledging the use of Agent Orange with a life span of 100 years and a half/life of 25 years, which means Soldiers serving in the DMZ in late 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s were subject to Agent Orange since we drank the water, took showers with the water, laid in the foliage, and covered in mud and water from Monsoon season. I also recall a few times during training exercises/show of force, we had to stop the training because of landmines (we had an EOD team bow up the mines). Last comment, Congress allowed the VFW to accept Korea DMZ vets, and I appreciate the KDSM for Korea service, but I think the DMZ pin should be allowed on the KDSM.
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I was stationed in Korea when the old man died in 94’, I was also there when the helicopter was shot down 94’. I was there when another North Korean tunnel was discovered. There were numerous North Korean spies were captured. Let’s just say it was a busy one year tour. I respect and honor those that have done their mission in combat zones. God Blessings!
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When I returned from Nam in 1972 at Fort Hood, my 1 roommate just returned from Korea. He wore a 2nd Infantry Division combat patch.
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With that criteria all the service members in the National Guard in half the big cities in the US would qualify for a right shoulder patch.
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1SG Fred Hermstein
Once again, the missions were real, the rounds were real, the land mine that damaged my hearing is still real, PTSD is real, the firefights were real, the spy in the BN was real, the infiltration's were real, the alerts were real, the clay-mores we used were real, we carried our weapons with us, we slept with our weapons, and I saw thousands of NK soldiers flood the DMZ during the first fight. I was told several times "boys lock and load you are going into war." In fact, when I arrived at Kempo Airbase, the SFC passing out orders told us 11Bs who were going north to the DMZ, and I quote "Oh, they've been fighting up there." The propaganda from the North stating "we will kill Americans and put your heads on display" was real. And, now DOD/DA/VA are acknowledging the use of Agent Orange with a life span of 100 years and a half/life of 25 years, which means Soldiers serving in the DMZ in late 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s were subject to Agent Orange since we drank the water, took showers with the water, laid in the foliage, and covered in mud and water from Monsoon season. I also recall a few times during training exercises/show of force, we had to stop the training because of landmines (we had an EOD team bow up the mines). Last comment, Congress allowed the VFW to accept Korea DMZ vets, and I appreciate the KDSM for Korea service, but I think the DMZ pin should be allowed on the KDSM.
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Black berets for everyone! I never miss a chance to toss that in. If you stay in long enough it will happen. Just be good at what you do.
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