What if an an Army Officer has never been in a combat zone, but can he still wear his unit's combat patch?

Answer 1

Yes!!!

Answer 2

No the individual can not wear the unit patch as a combat patch, or what we in the military use to simply call a "two patcher." The unit will be issued a citation or campaign ribbon most likely, depending on the circumstances of the engagement, ie "conflict, war, etc etc."

So individual doesn't wear the other patch. His/Her DD form 214 will show his deployment and if he or she is eligible to wear the patch, and /or any award ribbons etc.

Answer 3

I suspect that you may be confusing the combat patch with the unit patch. They are two different things.

Check which sleeve is it on.

You always wear the patch of the unit you are assigned to on your LEFT sleeve. That is the UNIT INSIGNIA of the unit you are assigned to. If you are assigned to that unit, you wear it. Doesn't matter if you have been in combat or not. THIS is NOT a "combat patch". EVERYBODY wears this.

If you have been in combat with a unit, then you can wear that unit's UNIT INSIGINA on your RIGHT sleeve. This is what is normally called a "combat patch". That is what people here are talking about.

For the vast majority of soldiers this means their patches won't match.

ROTC cadets that are also in the National Guard or Reserve wear their unit patches on their left sleeve, and their ROTC patch on the right sleeve. Since everybody knows ROTCs are just cadets, nobody gets confused by this.

Answer 4

No.

Authorization for the Shoulder Sleeve Insignia-Former Wartime Service (SSI-FWTS) requires that the individual meet all the following criteria
(1) The Secretary of the Army or higher must declare as a hostile environment the theater or area of operation to
which the unit is assigned, or Congress must pass a Declaration of War.
(2) The units must have actively participated in, or supported ground combat operations against hostile forces in
which they were exposed to the threat of enemy action or fire, either directly or indirectly.
(3) The military operation normally must have lasted for a period of thirty (30) days or longer. An exception may be
made when U.S. Army forces are engaged with a hostile force for a shorter period of time, when they meet all other
criteria, and a recommendation from the general or flag officer in command is forwarded to the Chief of Staff, Army.
(4) The Chief of Staff, Army, must approve the authorization for wear of the shoulder sleeve insignia for former
wartime service.

It's done on an individual basis, not a unit basis.

Answer 5

First, combat patches are individual, not unit. If he's never been to combat, he shouldn't be wearing a combat patch.

Second, to wear any unit comendation you must have served WITH the unit during the time that the honor was awarded for. Example: I arrive in unit the day after the closing date on the certificate, i CANNOT wear that unit commendation.

Answer 6

NO. only if he served in the unit when the unit EARNED the Patch.

For instance: the CP was earned between the dates of January 1st and August 15th, but he didn't report until August 30th> he therefore did NOT earn the patch as he was not assigned to the unit during the qualifying time period. Doesn't matter that he was assigned to the unit on October 1st when the commendation was issued.

BTW: it is now a FEDERAL offense to wear patches or medals you did not earn. that means you can be court martialed, jailed, fined and/or drummed out of the service when you are caught. Note the *when*...

Answer 7

I'm not sure how his unit was there and he was not. A combat patch is worn on the right arm of the uniform (assuming he isn't KIA, of course). If he's assigned to a unit that was in combat "before" he arrived there, then, no - he cannot wear it just because he's assigned to that unit.

Answer 8

Combat patch is worn on the right shoulder and only after You have been in a combat zone.

Answer 9

No, you are not authorized to wear a combat patch until you have deployed into a combat zone.

Answer 10

No. You must have actually deployed to a combat zone to wear a combat patch.

The unit doesn't have a combat patch, each individual has his own combat patch.

Answer 11

"Second, to wear any unit comendation you must have served WITH the unit during the time that the honor was awarded for. Example: I arrive in unit the day after the closing date on the certificate, i CANNOT wear that unit commendation."


Not exactly on the part about the unit commendation, at least in the Army. You wear all the unit's citations while you are assigned to that unit. You can continue to wear the unit citation as your own if you served in the unit during the time period for which it was awarded and have the orders awarding you that citation.