How do I determine which combat patch I should put in a shadow box for my office?

SGT Dalton West — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 22:45:07 -0400

I am putting together a shadow to hang in my office. I want to ensure anything I put in is legit and in accordance to Army regulation.

My detachment supported the Army Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT) Mission in southwestern Saudi Arabia on the Saudi-Yemeni border from December 2017-May 2018. During this time, we were operationally attached to SOCCENT and administratively attached to said artillery brigade. We were patched with both the artillery brigade and the SOCCENT patch. However, upon returning to Kuwait in June 2018, our command told us we were not authorized to wear the SOCCENT combat patch. They claimed was it was more for “tradition” and not an actual formality in accordance to Army regulation. Note, none of the command team was present for the patching ceremony, as it was only a squad sized element for this mission.

I’ve heard arguments from both sides on this. Any insights ?

Response by SFC William Farrell made Oct 31 at 2023 12:29 AM

SFC William Farrell — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 00:29:11 -0400

Im sure the powers that be will be piping in soon SGT Dalton West

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Oct 31 at 2023 12:38 AM

SGM Mikel Dawson — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 00:38:09 -0400

It all comes down to the wording in your orders. Need to read them carefully. I know from experience wording is everything and the Army is great at getting around something.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Oct 31 at 2023 12:44 AM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 00:44:02 -0400

If you deployed as a unit, you wear your unit patch, regardless of higher HQ or who you were supporting.

AR 670-1 Par 21-18 spells it out. But, with very rare exceptions, whatever you were wearing on your left sleeve going in, is what you wear on your right sleeve, coming out.

Response by SSG Robert Perrotto made Oct 31 at 2023 9:34 AM

SSG Robert Perrotto — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 09:34:15 -0400

I get the patch issue – it can be a real head-scratcher. Sometimes, it depends on your unit's interpretation of regulations. I'd recommend talking to your chain of command or personnel office for the final word.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 31 at 2023 11:05 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 11:05:59 -0400

Wear the one you have orders for...

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 31 at 2023 11:34 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 11:34:09 -0400

It's for a Shadow Box. It's not like you're trying to actually wear it on your uniform. It's a patch in a box surrounded by other patches/ribbons. Why not have BOTH the SOCCENT and Artillery BDE patches in that box? And, if anyone asks, you can easily explain that the BDE had ADCON and SOCCENT had OPCON. Or, in other words..."I worked for these guys but I reported to those guys."

Response by SP5 Peter Keane made Oct 31 at 2023 12:18 PM

SP5 Peter Keane — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 12:18:01 -0400

There are no Army Regulations with regards to shadow box.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 31 at 2023 6:25 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 18:25:54 -0400

You should only unit your unit patch. I have seen this so much with National Guard. It's usually because they just want a cooler patch. I recall an officer showing me his 5 combat patches that he got from one deployment. It was the silliest thing I have seen. Their was no pride in it. I also ask the person with this question where would they hang up your photo if you were killed in action?

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Oct 31 at 2023 8:01 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 20:01:36 -0400

What did your orders say for the combat patch? I would follow that- there should have been orders or a MOR concerning it.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 31 at 2023 10:46 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 22:46:08 -0400

It's a shadow box, put whatever patch you eant in it.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 1 at 2023 12:44 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 00:44:18 -0400

You'll probably have got a memo when you left theater if your S1 was on top of it.

I hear ya regarding confusion. I went as part of a two team augmentee deployment. Some of us when to AGF and some of us went to Qatar both in support of SOCCENT. The AFG folks got the patch, and Qatar folks did not, and we were all on the same mission at the end of the day.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 1 at 2023 10:52 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 10:52:54 -0400

My Unit supported 1st COSCOM for 6 months and then 3 ID replaced them, some people in my unit started wearing 3 ID patches but our orders only authorized 1st COSCOM so you need to go about what it is specified on the orders...

Response by SSG Jonathan Flynn made Dec 22 at 2023 11:37 AM

SSG Jonathan Flynn — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 11:37:35 -0500

In my shadow box, next to patches I'm authorized, I have an Iraqi Army patch that the unit I helped train gave me. AR 670-1 has no authority over your shadow box.

Response by SPC Rick Price made Dec 31 at 2023 1:13 PM

SPC Rick Price — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 13:13:13 -0500

You should follow what is written in your orders only.