How come some people in the army are allowed to wear marine combat patches?

Question

I saw a guy wearing a 1st marine expeditionary force combat patch, while he was in the army, in ACU's... how did he get it??

he was never in the marine corps, I asked him and he wouldnt give me a straight answer but he did say he was never in the corps, and I know he wasnt some idiot wearing the patch without authorization, because he was my drill sergeant!

This is the patch he was wearing: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/US1mardivlogo.jpg

Answer 1

Was he in the 1st Infantry Division? If so, it's from "Operation Phantom Fury"- a joint Marine Corps/Army operation in Fallujah,Iraq. In appreciation of the Army's help in the successful operation, the Marine command awarded the "1st Marine Expeditionary Force combat patch" to the soldiers who served in the task force.

Answer 2

The regulation is pretty clear: (3) Other services. The Department of the Navy, the United States Marine Corps (USMC), and the Air Force do not authorize wear of SSI. Therefore, personnel who served in one of the designated areas during one of the specified periods, but who were not members of the U.S. Army, are not authorized to wear the SSI–FWTS on their right shoulder. The only exception to this policy is for U.S. Army members who served with the USMC during World War II from 15 March 1943 through 2 September 1946.

Answer 3

you can not wear it being prior Marine corps, i served with the marines for 5 yrs as a corpsman before i joined the army, the reason he was wearing it, he was down range with the marines in Iraq, or Afghanistan this was the only ones authorized to wear a marine corps patch as a combat patch, i have only seen a hand full f these as it is very uncommon, for this patch to be awarded

Answer 4

Im in the 41st BCT which is a Army Brigade Combat Team. My unit is a infantry unit. While in Iraq soldiers from anoth company in my battalion supported the 1st marine in Falujah. Their leadership has authorized them to wear a marine patch and they are all in the Army

Answer 5

This individual probably did an enlistment with the Marines then joined the Army.
I used to drive some people nuts in the military trying to figure out my patches, ribbons, and augilets. I was in the Navy, Air Force, Air National Guard and Army Reserves. It was legal to wear the patches, etc. from the different services.

Answer 6

The biggest problem is that there is no such thing as a "Marine Combat Patch".

In fact, the Marines have no patches at all. The only patches you will ever see a Marine wear is their Rank, and "Hash Marks" for time in the service. There are no "Official" patches for anything else.

While all units do have "Unofficial patches", they are never worn on the uniform. Even if the Marine when through Army schools that earned them patches, they can't wear them.

In fact, a Marine MEF is not really a "Unit", but a temporary conglomeration of various Infantry-Artilliary-Armoured-Air units assembled together for a period of time. As one unit finishes it's time in the MEF, it is rotated out and another one takes it's place.

In my 10 years in the Marine Corps, I was twice assigned to "2 MAF" (old name for MEF). One assignment was for 3 days (for an operation into Haiti that was cancelled), the other was for 4 months (NATO war games in Norway). And in my 10 years, I never saw any kind of "Marine Unit Patch", other then the honorary ones sewn onto civilian jackets (the one exception is Air Wing Units, but those are only seen velcroed on Flight Suits, NEVER on actual uniforms).

I myself have multiple "Marine" patches sewn on mt leather motorcycle jacket, but they are to show what I did and who I was with. I even have my one "Army Patch" sewn on (Jungle Expert), something I was never allowed to wear on my uniform.

Answer 7

(14) Operation Iraqi Freedom: from 19 March 2003 to a date to be determined, for soldiers assigned to units participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Soldiers must have been deployed in the CENTCOM area of operations, or participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom while deployed in Turkey, Israel, and Aegis cruisers. Soldiers who served with the 1st Marine Division from 19 March 2003 to 21 April 2003 during combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom are authorized to wear the 1st Marine Division shoulder sleeve insignia as their SSI-FWTS. Soldiers who were deployed in the area of operations on training exercises or in support of operations other than Iraqi Freedom are not authorized the SSI-FWTS, unless those exercises or operations became combat or support missions to Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Answer 8

My first platoon sgt when i joined the military used the 1st marine expeditionary force patch also, we were both in the army, he got his during his 1st tour of duty in vietnam.

so it is possible.

Answer 9

His unit served in support of 1 MEF during OIF. As long as he has the piece of paper authorizing him to wear it, he can. My husband (who is Army and been downrange 3 times now) has the same patch and I asked him the same question.

Answer 10

I can tell you I was in the Air Force during the Viet Nam War. I was attached to 1 Armor Division Aviation, and I got a medal from the Army. Wow, was I surprised -