What is worn on civilian dress attire to identify your combat service patch?

SSG Raymond Kidd — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 12:20:42 -0500

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Jan 25 at 2018 12:27 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 12:27:04 -0500

A VFW pin, tee-shirt, or baseball cap works well for me. Also, when awarded a decoration you receive three items: A medal, a ribbon, and a lapel pin as well as the order and certificate. I wear the lapel pin for my highest award when dressed formally (which is rare, very rare since I retired). You also can purchase lapel pins for such awards as the CIB

Response by TSgt David L. made Jan 25 at 2018 12:52 PM

TSgt David L. — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 12:52:45 -0500

I don't know that I have ever seen a combat patch represented on civies. Guys have them on their vests but it doesn't sound like riding was the issue. Like CPT Jack mentioned there is a way for awards and badges. I'm curious what input others might have.

Response by LTC John Griscom made Jan 25 at 2018 1:01 PM

LTC John Griscom — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 13:01:57 -0500

I have seen some small metals pins representing various patches displayed in exchanges and other places where military items are displayed.

Response by Sgt Wayne Wood made Jan 25 at 2018 1:09 PM

Sgt Wayne Wood — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 13:09:39 -0500

tie pin, lapel pin, or a polo shirt.

or you could go all Vietnam on 'em and wear your old utility shirt!

Response by SGT David T. made Jan 25 at 2018 1:16 PM

SGT David T. — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 13:16:51 -0500

I generally don't wear anything like this. At most I'll wear a hat or a tshirt with some messed up graphic on it but that's about it lol. Even when I dress formally, I don't wear military stuff. I wear my 15 service pin I got from my civilian job.

Response by SGT Tony Clifford made Jan 25 at 2018 1:29 PM

SGT Tony Clifford — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 13:29:37 -0500

I've never thought about it to be honest. I still use some equipment that CIF didn't want back. This is an old Alice pack and the superbadass assault pack they issued me in 05. Other than that all of my awards and decorations are just wall hangers at home. There's no real point to live in the past, at least for me.

Response by SSG Raymond Kidd made Jan 25 at 2018 2:41 PM

SSG Raymond Kidd — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 14:41:52 -0500

Thanks to all who have responded. Just to clarify this question - I will be attending a US Army Ball (All Saints) to receive the Order of St. George recognition, for many years of dedicated service (active duty and current profession) to the Cavalry and Armor branches. Retired with Class A (Dress Greens) and never owned a set of Blues. The whole time I was in I never attended a formal function. Sad, I know.

Response by SSG Trevor S. made Jan 25 at 2018 2:49 PM

SSG Trevor S. — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 14:49:23 -0500

Your demeanor and bearing

Response by LTC John Mohor made Jan 25 at 2018 3:17 PM

LTC John Mohor — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 15:17:44 -0500

Medals of America makes a miniature ribbon rack that yo can have made. It can be worn on a hat, t-Shirt or a dress shirt/ jacket.
Your "combat service patch" won't be recognized as such if you wore just a unit pin.

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Jan 25 at 2018 3:43 PM

SGT Joseph Gunderson — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 15:43:52 -0500

This is a very subjective question. There is no regulation that governs this kind of thing. If the function is appropriate, I like to wear the distinctive unit insignia that I wore on my beret in order to signify the unit that I deployed with and am most proud of serving with. I have known vets who wore small pins that were versions of their unit's patch on their lapel and I have known people that simply wore pins that stated that they were veterans of such and such war. Really, I think it depends on the function and what you would like to pin on.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Jan 25 at 2018 3:51 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 15:51:21 -0500

That's what your tacticool Velcro American flag hat is for ;o)

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 25 at 2018 4:45 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 16:45:04 -0500

I have a nice thermal mug I carry around that says "OEF Afghanistan". There's no regulation on this as others have said.

Response by SGT(P) Joe Zitzelberger made Jan 25 at 2018 9:54 PM

SGT(P) Joe Zitzelberger — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 21:54:25 -0500

Why not get your OSSI-FWTS tattooed on your right shoulder? That way, it is always with you, and always in the right place.

Alternatively, I know Dad, never a fan of tattoos, has a several of the baseball caps (Korea-Vietnam, Bayonet), a jacket with a 7th ID on the left breast and even a bumper sticker on his car from the Chosin Few.

Lots of different ways to represent.

In a formal setting, I would suggest getting the DUI pin and wearing it as a lapel pin.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Jan 27 at 2018 4:49 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sat, 27 Jan 2018 16:49:10 -0500

If you are wearing a suit jacket or sport coat, I would wear a lapel pin with the unit patch on it. I wear a 101st or 3D Army insignia on it.

Response by PFC Adam Murray made Jan 28 at 2018 11:55 AM

PFC Adam Murray — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 11:55:16 -0500

Nothing. It would ruin the lines of the dress...

Response by SFC Francisco Rosario made Mar 17 at 2019 6:10 AM

SFC Francisco Rosario — Sun, 17 Mar 2019 06:10:37 -0400

You can buy a miniture pin of the your unit patch and wear it on your lapel or on any hat that you may have from the old unit. Many Vets do this with pride.

Response by LCDR Joshua Gillespie made May 6 at 2019 1:34 PM

LCDR Joshua Gillespie — Mon, 06 May 2019 13:34:22 -0400

I generally do very little unless the situation requires it. In my capacity as a member of the American Legion, I wear my cap...traditionally, Legion members wear pins on the cap indicating their theater of action, service branch, and maybe rank (though it's kinda an unspoken rule in some posts that you don't... especially if a former officer).

At veterans' events, unless a uniform is requested, I generally wear the miniature (enamel "ribbon" of my highest award (MSM)... people "get" you're a vet, and will ask questions if they want to know more.

I also have a very special (to me) ballcap that only a handful of folks would've even recognize as something "military"... and other than that, I generally avoid anything more that would draw attention.