What Are the Patches on a Military Uniform For?
Military uniform patches are used to denote a service member's unit or any special qualifications he has obtained. They are most often used by the Army and flight units in the Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force. Permissible patches and their placement on uniforms are governed by each service branch's respective uniform regulations.
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Unit Patch
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These patches are most often used with the Army Combat Uniforms (ACUs). According to Army Regulation 670-1, soldiers may wear one patch on each shoulder of the ACU. On the left shoulder, soldiers may wear the current unit patch. The right shoulder is for the former wartime service patch. Soldiers who served with a unit in a combat zone can wear that unit's patch on their left shoulder.
Specialty Patch
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In the Navy every enlisted sailor has a job qualification that is called a rating. On the left sleeve of her uniform, the sailor has a special insignia patch that signifies the rating.
There are also patches for special skills such as the Army's Ranger or Special Forces tab. These patches may be worn by qualified soldiers regardless of their job qualification or unit assignment.
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Rank Patch
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Enlisted service members of all branches have a rank patch that is embroidered on the left sleeve of their service and dress uniform coat. Military rank determines who is in charge in a given situation and thus the this patch is always prominently displayed in non-combat settings. In combat settings, rank patches are more subdued to prevent enemy forces from targeting senior enlisted personnel and officers.
Flag Patch
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The U.S. Flag patch is worn by service members on their field uniforms to differentiate themselves from enemy forces and foreign allies. The patch is actually a reversed image of the flag with the blue field and stars on the right side as opposed to the left, as on the true flag.
Beret Patch
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Berets are hats with a soft cloth cover that flows over the brim to one side of the head. They are worn by all soldiers in the Army and some airmen in the air force. Both groups wear a patch on the front of the beret called a flash that represents the wearer's unit.
Flight Patch
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In the Navy and Air Force, pilots and flight crew wear unit patches on their flight uniforms and sometimes on leather jackets. The patch represents their squadron or wing. Since the flight suit is an official uniform only the patch for the current unit is worn.
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Comments
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that patch is upside down.
