Army patch question

[Immy]

Was sitting in a food court today and saw an Army soldier in full fatigues also having lunch. I've kinda become sensitive to military gear since my nephew's serving in Afghanistan right now.

So I was observing the various patches and insignia on his uniform and I figured out (thru Google research) that the emblem on his upper right sleeve was 4th Infantry.

But what puzzled me was the small US flag patch. The 50 stars were in the upper right corner instead of the upper left where they normally are.

There must be a significance to this. Any insight?

When it's not intrusive, I take the opportunity to thank soldiers when I see them. In this case he was texting for most of his meal and I chose not to bother him. My nephew says the "random acts of thanks" (as he calls them) takes getting used to, but he now really appreciates it.

Thank your vets! And thanks to all the vets on T-Net!

 

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[CaptainRobin]

Hey Immy... the flag displayed on his upper right shoulder is faced so the blue field and stars are leading in his direction of movement (always forward) as it would be viewed from his right side by an observer... our National Colors have two sides, mirror images. If he had a 4th Infantry Division patch on his right shoulder, he is has served at least one tour in a hostile fire zone in the current hostilities. His current unit of assignment patch will be on his left shoulder. There are numerous rules/regulations as to how our National Colors are displayed. Hanging as a banner, the blue field is to be to the left. However, our military wears them on the right shoulder (or did when I was active) therefore the field will appear as you would view a flag passing you. Hope this helps.
Robin

 

[Immy]

Very interesting Robin. Never knew about Old Glory's "mirror" images like that. A lot of symbolism behind the placement I see. The only patch I saw on his left shoulder was US Army. Thanks for the info!

 

[CaptainRobin]

Hey Immy... we may have a minor misunderstanding here... US ARMY should be placed above the left breast pocket of the battle dress uniform. His/Her current unit of assignment would be on the shoulder (deltoid muscle group area) of the left sleeve of the jacket. A patch on the right sleeve indicates the soldier's unit of assignment while serving in a hostile fire zone. Unless Army Regulation 670-1, Wear and Apperance of the Uniform, has changed since I retired.
Robin

 

[Jerry68W]

Hey I'm new here. Served US Army honorably 2006-2011, 100% disabled Veteran.

Anyway CaptainRob is right about the flag patch, it symbolizes the US and the US Military always moving forward, and never in retreat.

The "US Army" patch on the left shoulder is a pretty new thing. It's worn by Soldiers who don't necessarily belong to a particular unit ... like recruiters and maybe some students? I'm not exactly sure what the deal on them is, but I have seen some recruiters wear them.

 

[FreedomUIC]

Hey I'm new here. Served US Army honorably 2006-2011, 100% disabled Veteran.

Anyway CaptainRob is right about the flag patch, it symbolizes the US and the US Military always moving forward, and never in retreat.

The "US Army" patch on the left shoulder is a pretty new thing. It's worn by Soldiers who don't necessarily belong to a particular unit ... like recruiters and maybe some students? I'm not exactly sure what the deal on them is, but I have seen some recruiters wear them.

Served 1982 - 1986. The left shoulder/arm patch was the current unit assignment. If there was patch on the right shoulder/arm, that was the unit that the soldier served in under hostile conditions.
With that said, I believe they have changed the BDU appearance and may only wear the patches on their class "A's".

 

[CaptainRobin]

Nope, FreedomUIC... and I AIN'T 'gettin' on you'... The BDUs were changed to the current ACUs (Army Combat Uniform)... got a soldier who has gone back Active at the age of 40+... he couldn't find 3AD patches for his ACUs for his service in the first Gulf War. I called a couple of clothing sales stores on posts in my area and found one pack of two... I bought them and sent them to him. He now sports them on his right shoulder on his ACUs. Also, Class As have been discontinued. Soldiers are now issued Blues. I know, because there is a cementary across the cul-de-sac at my home, and funeral details show up on occasion. I always ask if they would like to await the internment in the comfort of my home. Sometimes they do. I ALWAYS thank them for their service to OUR Nation.

 

[FreedomUIC]

Nope, FreedomUIC... and I AIN'T 'gettin' on you'... The BDUs were changed to the current ACUs (Army Combat Uniform)... got a soldier who has gone back Active at the age of 40+... he couldn't find 3AD patches for his ACUs for his service in the first Gulf War. I called a couple of clothing sales stores on posts in my area and found one pack of two... I bought them and sent them to him. He now sports them on his right shoulder on his ACUs. Also, Class As have been discontinued. Soldiers are now issued Blues. I know, because there is a cementary across the cul-de-sac at my home, and funeral details show up on occasion. I always ask if they would like to await the internment in the comfort of my home. Sometimes they do. I ALWAYS thank them for their service to OUR Nation.

Isn't anything wrong with information and no offense taken. I knew the uni changed but the information is correct for the period that I served.
No more dress greens? I know that presidential/cemetery detail was always dress Blues but the normal office/business attire was Class A's.

 

[jason1565]

the new army dress uniform is the dress blues but set up like the dress green short of current assigned unit patches the are located on the sleeves, and the right breast pocket is the placement for the combat patch for those who have served 6 month or more in a combat zone, specialist and below wear the light blue pants without out the gold stripe going down the length of the leg, sergeants and above have the gold stripe, also the use of the beret is used by all, but depending on rank one may also wear the service cap, (not the garrison cap that looks like a upside down boat) but the leather billed dress blue cap

 

[Beans]

(not the garrison cap that looks like a upside down boat)

I guess that is one way of putting it.

 

[jason1565]

Yea I am new here so I felt it best to keep it politiclly correct

 

[ibjeepn]

Here's the info. http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r670_1.pdf. A simpler ACU code...ACU Uniform Standards in the Army | eHow.com

 

[FreedomUIC]

the new army dress uniform is the dress blues but set up like the dress green short of current assigned unit patches the are located on the sleeves, and the right breast pocket is the placement for the combat patch for those who have served 6 month or more in a combat zone, specialist and below wear the light blue pants without out the gold stripe going down the length of the leg, sergeants and above have the gold stripe, also the use of the beret is used by all, but depending on rank one may also wear the service cap, (not the garrison cap that looks like a upside down boat) but the leather billed dress blue cap

Upside Down Boat huh.... LMAO That is not what we called it......

 

[jason1565]

Well ....I did not want to use the "c" word and offend Amy lady readers

 

[ibjeepn]

HaHa ! Never liked it or the beret. But wore them with pride. The beret was the Army's idea of re-instilling pride. I always thought it should have been left to those that earned it. For me, I was always helping fellow soldiers that looked like French artists..lol. It was terrible for weather conditions such as sun,rain,snow. A lint magnet and it was made in Sri Lanka.
As for re-instilling pride... I never lost it. I think someone up the chain of command wanted to wear one and didn't have the "creds". lolol rant over.. Hooah As for the "c" cap. It rather looked like the green version of a old burger joint employee's hat.

 

[jason1565]

Lol yea I agree with you their. I earned my jump wings. And was assigned to a ranger bat in ft Lewis . Now due to soldier input. The patrol cap is the norm for acu wear.

 

[ibjeepn]

Lol yea I agree with you their. I earned my jump wings. And was assigned to a ranger bat in ft Lewis . Now due to soldier input. The patrol cap is the norm for acu wear.

Yes. As an engineer the patrol cap came out after formation. It didn't take long for our commander to figure it out that the beret was a "no go".