Another tradition we have in the Army is the wearing of the "combat patch." The regulations officially refer to it as "Shoulder Sleeve Insignia - Former Wartime Service (SSI-FWTS)," which is a pretty unwieldly name for a piece of embroidered cloth. My college and ROTC classmate (I'll call him WH) refers to it as the "varsity patch."
Army personnel wear a patch on the left sleeve of their uniform that represents the unit to which they are currently assigned. If you have served with a unit in a combat zone, you are authorized to wear that unit patch on the right sleeve of your uniform...hence the name "combat patch." It is becoming rarer and rarer to find anyone in the Army - Regular Army, National Guard or Reserve - who DOESN'T have that familiar right shoulder patch since nearly everyone who has spent time in uniform since 9-11 has spent time in Iraq, Afghanistan or some other locale.
In the recent past, units most often donned their combat patch in a ceremony approximately 6 months after arriving in the war zone. The patch ceremony was a rite of passage for those on their first combat tour and also represented the halfway mark in the unit's deployment.
The Army recently changed its regulations so that even one day of service in a combat zone qualified a soldier or officer to wear a combat patch. That particular change made me very uncomfortable, mainly because it created the opportunity for indviduals to make short jaunts into Iraq or Afghanistan, "punch their ticket" and spend the rest of their career wearing a "combat patch" while having spent little time in the danger area. I haven't seen examples that this is happening - yet - but I am still bothered by the possibility.
I was just as bothered when word spread that my unit would hold a "patch ceremony" and beginning wearing combat patches after only a month in Iraq. I dutifully attended the ceremony, stuck my Velcro-laden patch to my sleeve and promptly removed it. Wearing a combat patch after only a month in Iraq just didn't feel right. I am also a bit superstitious and can't help feeling that wearing a combat patch with 11 months left on my tour will bring me bad luck. A few folks have asked me why I'm not wearing the patch and I am happy to tell them.
The combat patch I was issued for the ceremony now sits in a box under my bed. Unless otherwise directed, I'll dust it off on January 16, 2008--6 months in country, halfway home.
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3 comments:
I just wanted to let you know that I think you are doing an honorable thing by waiting to put your patch on!
Thanks for serving our country.
Rachel
Thanks for your comment Rachel, and thanks for reading.
Another reason I'm a bit sensitive about things like "combat patches" is that I live a relatively cushy life here inside the gates of FOB Enormo. In the meantime, there are scores of incredibly brave kids outside the wire, who risk their lives every day on patrol or on the roads transporting supplies. They are the ones who deserve to wear a combat patch after a month in country, not us "fobbits."
Thank you for your service. I too am a combat vet, Desert Storm and OIF I. I have seen several senior level NCO's and officer go to Iraq for a month, 45 days, just to get their "varsity patch". It makes me sick. Someday at drill, Im a reservist, I will let it be know. I plan on writing to Army Times just to open up the issue.
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