Are the days of combat patches over?

SGT Ben Keen — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 15:45:56 -0400

When I first joined the Army in 1999, seeing someone with a combat patch was rare. Then following the attacks on 9/11, seeing someone WITHOUT at least one combat patch became rare. Heck some of us have/had enough combat patches to wear a different one each day of the week and not repeat. But now, after 17 years, are we seeing the Army go back to the day where combat patches are a rare thing?

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Oct 15 at 2018 3:51 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 15:51:22 -0400

Hopefully not.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2018 3:52 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 15:52:04 -0400

Not asking as there are combat deployments.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2018 4:16 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 16:16:49 -0400

People get out, people retire and the new Army Combat physical fitness test is going to weed out even more so you will see even less combat patches in the future in the active Army, Army National Guard and Army Reserve. We still have soldiers in Afghanistan so you will still see some combat patches.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2018 4:19 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 16:19:49 -0400

I also think that we may be in a war sooner than later with all the things going on. China shouldering are ships, Russians provoking conflict in the Ukraine and in the Northwestern flank of NATO's newest members and former Baltic states ripped off and stolen from World War II. Putin wants them back but they were granted their independence in World War 1. Iran is also a problematic so we could have a combat scenario with them.

Response by SPC Casey Ashfield made Oct 15 at 2018 4:30 PM

SPC Casey Ashfield — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 16:30:02 -0400

I hope not either. But I expect they might. I earned 2 patches on my deployment. The last deployment my unit went on earned 4-6 depending on their mission as they rotated working with different units. We got our tour awards and medals in Oct 2010 and left country early December. On our way home we were told NOT to wear combat decorations. A clear reason was not given why.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Oct 15 at 2018 4:32 PM

SSG Warren Swan — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 16:32:32 -0400

It’s a cycle. Look after WWII. We slid into the Korean War. Then Nam and so on. It’s a cycle where you see a ton of em, then dry spells with none being there aren’t any conflicts that allow them. What sucks right now being we’ve been at war for 17yrs with no chance at an end.
When the day comes where the masses are home, another drawdown will happen. Years after that, combat patches will be just how it was when I came in....there, but RARE.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Oct 15 at 2018 5:18 PM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 17:18:46 -0400

While combat is our mission, it is much preferred to be a deterrent. I hope we never see another, but that is unlikely. Thank you for your service.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Oct 15 at 2018 5:23 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 17:23:07 -0400

Depends on the politicians- It would be niece to have a break in the OPTEMPO and not have to bury an AD member every time we turn around.

Response by SPC David S. made Oct 15 at 2018 6:06 PM

SPC David S. — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 18:06:41 -0400

I think with the advent of the term " MOOTW" - military operations other than war - the definition of combat along with war shifted into the gray. Personally if some one is shooting at you or me - that's combat - do you or I need to get a patch - that depends. I think combat patches are more for large scale, long campaign type engagements.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2018 6:08 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 18:08:55 -0400

Unfortunately, I think we are a long way from having fought "the war to end all wars" and there is a very high likelihood that combat for our troops is in the cards for the future. My wish is that we would get to a point where it has been so long between conflicts that no one on active duty has a combat patch. But I don't put the chances of that happening as very high.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2018 6:11 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 18:11:22 -0400

I hope so

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2018 6:43 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 18:43:14 -0400

I hope that many combat veterans will consider making a career of soldiering so that they can pass on the unwritten "tribal knowledge" to their peers and subordinates.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2018 7:44 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 19:44:59 -0400

When I joined the army in 1998 the only people with combat patches we're the ones who had been in Panama, the Gulf War, and Mogadishu. The army has spent very few years not at war and there will always be combat departments for Soldiers in the future.

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made Oct 15 at 2018 10:11 PM

SFC Ralph E Kelley — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 22:11:21 -0400

I don't see why it's an issue either way.

Response by SFC Quinn Chastant made Oct 16 at 2018 1:48 AM

SFC Quinn Chastant — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 01:48:06 -0400

Often it depends upon the individual if he or she chooses to wear one, unless local command says not to. And also depending upon the nature of a few operations while Soldiers may be authorized Hazardous Duty/Immenent Danger Pay while in an overseas location, DA may not authorize a war time unit patch. With the draw down of troops in a few locations world wide, it is likely also that there are fewer troops being awarded "combat patches".

Response by Maj John Bell made Oct 16 at 2018 6:11 AM

Maj John Bell — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 06:11:49 -0400

I know I don't use Velcro around the farm. It's a mother to keep hay and other detritus out of it.

Response by SSG Timothy Stevenson made Oct 16 at 2018 7:09 PM

SSG Timothy Stevenson — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 19:09:33 -0400

I had enough to cover a wall but all of them and 1.50 will get you a coke when your done.

Response by SPC Brent Melton made Oct 17 at 2018 3:52 PM

SPC Brent Melton — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 15:52:53 -0400

First off, that is a beautiful theater made patch. Secondly, I think as the personnel age, so too will those with combat patches. You'll start to see higher ranking NCOs/Officers with them, and the brigades who deploy to fight ISIS slowly percolate through as they change duty stations.

It's funny you mention this, because as I look at my units page, and other pages (USAWTFM, Army's official facebook, etc) you're starting to really see a lot of slick-sleeves in most pictures. This also represents the Army losing leadership and knowledge all at the same time. Lessons learned will be forgotten until the next time shit kicks up because its what the Army does. You also can't teach deploying and the environment you'll be in. Once boots get on the ground again, then you'll see that knowledge coming back for whatever X conflict will be.

Response by SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 17 at 2018 7:34 PM

SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 19:34:20 -0400

The trophy generation and attitude is now emerging in the military. That patch was F’n earned!!!! Living in the dirt, rocket attacks, mortars, constant threats, cold showers, MRE’s, friends dieing, IED’s, moving forward!!!! So ... if you want a patch.... earn it!!! Respect those who have one. Believe me.... after multiple tours as an AF medic, treating guys blown to shit, watching them die... if you think a patch seperates you it does. You will never be the same person again. Anger, irritibility, trying to fit in again.... GD I look for those guys with patches so I can have a normal conversation and life. So you that are jealous, that patch comes with a price.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Oct 17 at 2018 8:31 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 20:31:16 -0400

Prior to the GWOT, there was a combat deployment each decade.
- Spanish American War/PI Insurrection 1898-1902ish
- punitive expedition 1915
- WWI 1916-1918, later if you count the IN BN in the Far East by Vladivostok.
- 1920s small wars inSouth America
- exception 1930s, technically 1939 Navy was in combat in the Atlantic
- WWII 1941-1945
- Korea 1950-53
- Vietnam 1959-1973
- Dominican Republic 1965
- Mayaguez Incident 1975
- Grenada 1983
- panama 1989
- ODS 1991
- initial intervention in Bosnia 1990s
- somalia 1993
- GWOT from 2001 forward

I was commissioned in the Army in 1994. About 1 in 3 or 1 in 4 had a SSI FWTS. We thought we’d “missed everything”. The wall fell, USSR imploded, Saddam was done for ten years...Then in 2003 it all came up on the wheel and I deployed three times. You’ll go cycles like this. Guys coming in post 1973, 1946, 1919 and 1954probably had similar thoughts.

Response by SSG Kenneth Ponder made Sep 23 at 2019 3:18 PM

SSG Kenneth Ponder — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 15:18:12 -0400

Combat patches only started in WWl. The Marines that served with the Army got permission to wear, when war was over and everything calmed down. Commandant of USMC took it away from them, didn't get it back till WWll. When it was over, it was taken off. The USArmy never stopped, probably never will.