Posted on Apr 30, 2014
According to new guidance, everyone without orders to wear a different SSI-FWTS will have to remove it, or change their SSI-FWTS?
54.9K
30
24
5
5
0
The Regulation doesn't specify a "grandfathering in process for SSI-FWTS, nor does it specify if the new guidance applies to SM pre 31 March 2014. In this effect, according to the guidance, everyone without orders to wear a different SSI-FWTS will subsequently have to remove it, or change the SSI-FWTS with an authorized SSI-FWTS
21–17. Shoulder sleeve insignia–former wartime service
a. General. Authorization to wear a SSI indicating FWTS applies only to Soldiers who are/were assigned to U.S.
Army units that meet all the following criteria:
(1) The Secretary of the Army or higher must declare the theater or area of operation as a hostile environment to
which the unit is assigned or Congress must pass a Declaration of War.
(2) The units must have actively participated in or supported ground combat operations against hostile forces in
which they were exposed to the threat of enemy action or fire, either directly or indirectly.
(3) The military operation normally must have lasted for a period of 30 days or longer. An exception may be made
when U.S. Army forces are engaged with a hostile force for a shorter period of time, when they meet all other criteria,
and a recommendation from the general or flag officer in command is forwarded to the Chief of Staff, Army.
(4) The Chief of Staff, Army must approve the authorization for wearing the SSI for FWTS. Note: Units are not
authorized to make modifications to their SSI, or SSI-FWTS without prior approval from the DCS, G-1. A mirror
image SSI-FWTS is considered a modification.
(5) Personnel who served in a designated area as a civilian or a member of another Service, but were not a member
of the U.S. Army during one of the specified periods are not authorized to wear the SSI-FWTS.
(6) Unless otherwise approved by this regulation, Soldiers attached or under operational control (OPCON) to other
services are not authorized to wear their patches as their SSI-FWTS without written approval from DCS, G-1 or a
designated representative.
AR 670–1 • 31 March 2014 33
(7) Soldiers of all Army components (Active, ARNG, and USAR) who deploy during periods of service designated
for wear of the SSI-FWTS are authorized to wear a SSI-FWTS. There are no time-in-theater requirements for
authorization to wear the SSI-FWTS. Soldiers may not earn more than one SSI-FWTS during the same deployment.
(a) A deployed unit (company or higher) will wear its unit SSI as the SSI-FWTS, regardless of the headquarters
element deploying and the unit alignment or OPCON during the period of deployment.
(b) A deployed unit will not wear its assigned SSI as its SSI-FWTS when the SSI belongs to a major command,
such as an ACOM/ASCC/DRU or State Area Command, or a non-deployable unit. In such cases, the unit will wear the
SSI of the lowest echelon Army unit (company or higher) in the deployed chain of command as the SSI-FWTS. When
there is no intermediate unit (company or higher) in the deployed chain of command, these deployed Soldiers will wear
the SSI of the senior command in the theater as its SSI-FWTS.
(c) When echelons below company level (such as teams or squads) deploy, members of these units will wear the
SSI of the lowest echelon deployed Army unit (company or higher) in the deployed chain of command (based on
written orders) as the SSI-FWTS. When there is no intermediate unit (company or higher) in the deployed chain of
command, these deployed Soldiers will wear the SSI of the senior command in the theater as its SSI-FWTS.
(d) Individual Soldiers who are attached (to include OPCON, cross-leveled, assigned, or augmenting deployed units)
will wear the same SSI-FWTS worn by members of the deployed Army unit (company or higher) to which attached by
written orders. A Soldier who is further attached (to one or more units) during one deployment will only wear the SSIFWTS
for the first Army unit (company or higher) to which attached by written orders. Soldiers who deploy with their
unit (company level or higher) will wear the SSI-FWTS as outlined in paragraph 21–17a(7)(a), regardless how many
times they are further attached to other units as individuals or teams. Members of trial defense and Criminal
Investigation Division Command will wear the SSI of their respective commands as their SSI-FWTS.
21–17. Shoulder sleeve insignia–former wartime service
a. General. Authorization to wear a SSI indicating FWTS applies only to Soldiers who are/were assigned to U.S.
Army units that meet all the following criteria:
(1) The Secretary of the Army or higher must declare the theater or area of operation as a hostile environment to
which the unit is assigned or Congress must pass a Declaration of War.
(2) The units must have actively participated in or supported ground combat operations against hostile forces in
which they were exposed to the threat of enemy action or fire, either directly or indirectly.
(3) The military operation normally must have lasted for a period of 30 days or longer. An exception may be made
when U.S. Army forces are engaged with a hostile force for a shorter period of time, when they meet all other criteria,
and a recommendation from the general or flag officer in command is forwarded to the Chief of Staff, Army.
(4) The Chief of Staff, Army must approve the authorization for wearing the SSI for FWTS. Note: Units are not
authorized to make modifications to their SSI, or SSI-FWTS without prior approval from the DCS, G-1. A mirror
image SSI-FWTS is considered a modification.
(5) Personnel who served in a designated area as a civilian or a member of another Service, but were not a member
of the U.S. Army during one of the specified periods are not authorized to wear the SSI-FWTS.
(6) Unless otherwise approved by this regulation, Soldiers attached or under operational control (OPCON) to other
services are not authorized to wear their patches as their SSI-FWTS without written approval from DCS, G-1 or a
designated representative.
AR 670–1 • 31 March 2014 33
(7) Soldiers of all Army components (Active, ARNG, and USAR) who deploy during periods of service designated
for wear of the SSI-FWTS are authorized to wear a SSI-FWTS. There are no time-in-theater requirements for
authorization to wear the SSI-FWTS. Soldiers may not earn more than one SSI-FWTS during the same deployment.
(a) A deployed unit (company or higher) will wear its unit SSI as the SSI-FWTS, regardless of the headquarters
element deploying and the unit alignment or OPCON during the period of deployment.
(b) A deployed unit will not wear its assigned SSI as its SSI-FWTS when the SSI belongs to a major command,
such as an ACOM/ASCC/DRU or State Area Command, or a non-deployable unit. In such cases, the unit will wear the
SSI of the lowest echelon Army unit (company or higher) in the deployed chain of command as the SSI-FWTS. When
there is no intermediate unit (company or higher) in the deployed chain of command, these deployed Soldiers will wear
the SSI of the senior command in the theater as its SSI-FWTS.
(c) When echelons below company level (such as teams or squads) deploy, members of these units will wear the
SSI of the lowest echelon deployed Army unit (company or higher) in the deployed chain of command (based on
written orders) as the SSI-FWTS. When there is no intermediate unit (company or higher) in the deployed chain of
command, these deployed Soldiers will wear the SSI of the senior command in the theater as its SSI-FWTS.
(d) Individual Soldiers who are attached (to include OPCON, cross-leveled, assigned, or augmenting deployed units)
will wear the same SSI-FWTS worn by members of the deployed Army unit (company or higher) to which attached by
written orders. A Soldier who is further attached (to one or more units) during one deployment will only wear the SSIFWTS
for the first Army unit (company or higher) to which attached by written orders. Soldiers who deploy with their
unit (company level or higher) will wear the SSI-FWTS as outlined in paragraph 21–17a(7)(a), regardless how many
times they are further attached to other units as individuals or teams. Members of trial defense and Criminal
Investigation Division Command will wear the SSI of their respective commands as their SSI-FWTS.
Posted in these groups: 
Regulation
Regulation
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 8
6
6
0
This is the same as before. Honestly the only thing that really bothers me is individuals that never served in a unit but will wear the SSI-WTF because they were attached. Let me be clear on something if you never being in FT Riley or Germany with Big Red One but you wear the patch like you were and I ask you what brigade were you in and your answer is I was attached you look ridiculous and you don't even understand what we go trough being part of those type of units. Specially when I see someone wearing the 82ND ABN but is not a jumper and I ask them and their respond is I was attached it drives me insane.... Be proud of your unit and wear your patch even if is from some small unit or a NTL Guard patch wear it with pride. If you never served at that unit in the rear don't wear the patch. When I see individual wearing the 1ST ID patch but they never were in division it's crazy being part of a Division it's a life style an experience going to the Field doing our training, singing our division song, participating on division runs and force ruck marches etc.... Bottom line you were not part of it don't wear it.
(6)
(0)
(0)
(0)
SFC (Join to see)
I have to disagree, when you are in a small detachment and deployed with another unit actively performing your wartime mission, your instinctive association is stronger with the people/command you are deployed with.
(3)
(0)
MAJ Byron Oyler
I know this is way late however it popped up. When I was in Afghanistan, the 10th made us wear their patch on both shoulders, it was not a choice. I never served at Drum and I am medical however I still do on my R sleeve what the 10th wanted us to do.
(2)
(0)
SFC (Join to see)
SSG (Join to see) there is a specific process for transfer of MEF and Marine Division patches into the Army. Your S-1 would be of the most help there.
(0)
(0)
4
4
0
You wear the SSI of the lowest unit authorized an SSI that you served with. When we went to Iraq, quite a few in our unit were hoping we'd be able to wear the XVIII Airborne Corps, "pukin', dragon". Then we were told that as a Bde, we were authorized our own patch as our wartime service SSI.
You might have thought the DFAC pi$$ed in the our unit's entire supply of Cheerios, when that news came down.
The insulting part is we had an active duty unit, bunch of real, "All Americans" who refused to wear a NG SSI and wore their own instead - against regulations.
Me, on the other hand, found it quite cool as we were the first unit in our state to have our patch as a combat patch.
You might have thought the DFAC pi$$ed in the our unit's entire supply of Cheerios, when that news came down.
The insulting part is we had an active duty unit, bunch of real, "All Americans" who refused to wear a NG SSI and wore their own instead - against regulations.
Me, on the other hand, found it quite cool as we were the first unit in our state to have our patch as a combat patch.
(4)
(0)
MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca
A lot of LRSD units were affected by that from all 3 components. That is a bummer especially if the unit is/was on jump status.
(0)
(0)
MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca
Very true SGT Nyberg. Its the "Shock & Awe" effect of seeing a famous patch - who would have thought - Patch Envy. I also could wear the 10th Mountain Div - the first SSI I was awarded for Somalia. I have done a lot of reading on them and love their history! Who would have thought a bunch of rich ski bums could create and change not just one Army division, but set the standards for ski rescue, mountain grooming and all that is modern skiing.
(0)
(0)
SSG (Join to see)
A lot of the National Guard commands have just as much, if not more, history than the "famous" Active Duty commands.
These were my SSIs for my two deployments.... the campaign streamers aren't too shabby for a couple of reserve component commands...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/42nd_Infantry_Division_(United_States)
World War I
Champagne‑Mame
Meuse‑Argonne
Aisne‑Mame
Lorraine 1918
St. Mihiel
Champagne 1918
World War II
Rhineland
Ardennes‑Alsace
Central Europe
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/26th_Infantry_Division_(United_States)
World War I Champagne-Marne 1917
World War I Aisne-Marne 1917
World War I St. Mihiel 1917
World War I Meuse-Argonne 1917
World War I Ile de France 1918
World War I Lorraine 1918
World War II Northern France 1944
World War II Rhineland 1945
World War II Ardennes-Alsace 1945
World War II Central Europe 1945
These were my SSIs for my two deployments.... the campaign streamers aren't too shabby for a couple of reserve component commands...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/42nd_Infantry_Division_(United_States)
World War I
Champagne‑Mame
Meuse‑Argonne
Aisne‑Mame
Lorraine 1918
St. Mihiel
Champagne 1918
World War II
Rhineland
Ardennes‑Alsace
Central Europe
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/26th_Infantry_Division_(United_States)
World War I Champagne-Marne 1917
World War I Aisne-Marne 1917
World War I St. Mihiel 1917
World War I Meuse-Argonne 1917
World War I Ile de France 1918
World War I Lorraine 1918
World War II Northern France 1944
World War II Rhineland 1945
World War II Ardennes-Alsace 1945
World War II Central Europe 1945
(2)
(0)
MAJ Ronnie Reams
MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca - Is not LRSP the new name for LRRP? In the 199th, the LRRP company wore their ranger scroll, M CO LRRP 75th INF and not the 199th Inf Bde patch. Their jump wings indicated Airborne.
(0)
(0)
2
2
0
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google