why does the army have unit patches while the marines doesnt? whats the big deal about knowing what unit someone is from? Is there a specific reason for having a unit patch?

In the marines you're either in 1 mef, 2 mef, etc. but don't have patches to show the world...

It's just a preference I guess.

I like the idea of knowing what units other people are in. But, with the Marines budget, they probably just can't afford it. Hell, they still use M-16s for most of their units.

[quote:504a5d6039="sta_07"]why does the army have unit patches while the marines doesnt? whats the big deal about knowing what unit someone is from? Is there a specific reason for having a unit patch?

[b:504a5d6039]In the marines you're either in 1 mef, 2 mef, etc. but don't have patches to show the world[/b:504a5d6039]...[/quote:504a5d6039]

I think you kinda answered your own question. The Marine corps is very small, and their doctrine is a bit different. They don't want to create an elitism amongst themselves because they feel they're already elite. The Army on the other hand is much larger, and is comprised of many more units. A soldier that's coming out of the 82nd Airborne is very different than a soldier coming out of the 10th Mountain. Both are strong in their own respects, but by seeing what unit they're coming from, or who they've fought with you can tell alot about them. Aside from that, it's just a symbol of pride for many. They say that the military wears their resume on their chest, well it's can't be more true for the Army, only we wear it on more places as well.

It's a pride thing really, you should be proud to wear a unit patch on your shoulder, especially your right shoulder.

[img:394424dc27]http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/20047126339/$file/patch1lr.jpg[/img:394424dc27]
[quote:394424dc27]Army SPC Wilfredo Sotomayor, member of Company A, 9th Psychological Operations Battalion (Airborne), displays his 1st Marine Division patch. According to the Company A Commander Maj. Hugh R. Sutherland, the patch signifies that his unit fought in a combat environment with the 1st Marine Division. A patch distribution ceremony was held at Camp Blue Diamond July 9 to recognize the soldiers' contribution to the division's security and stabilization mission in Iraq.[/quote:394424dc27]

Soldiers Earn Right to Division's Blue Diamond

Does anyone know if Army Reserve or NG soldiers wear their unit patches in BCT? Thanks...

not normaly but I do remember one guy when I went through basic that started wearing his once we graduated basic.

Yeah, nobody wore their patches in BCT, but when we got fitted for the Class A, they had their patches sewn onto their jackets for them along with their rank, they also wore their DUI on the berets at graduation.

quote:

I think you kinda answered your own question. The Marine corps is very small, and their doctrine is a bit different. They don't want to create an elitism amongst themselves because they feel they're already elite.

It's not just elitism. Marines consider themselves a rifleman first. And the Marines put a lot more emphasis on fraternity and brotherhood. As far as they are considerned, they are all Marines, regardless of their unit. They don't want to divide themselves by wearing a patch.

how many major commands are ther in the USMC? less than five right?

quote:

Originally posted by /elsinore98:
Does anyone know if Army Reserve or NG soldiers wear their unit patches in BCT? Thanks...

Yes, If you are a reservist or nationla guardsman in the split ops program then you are allowed to wear the patch of your parent unit during and only during AIT. If you wear it during basic "YOU ARE WRONG"


Quartermaster. I think they're are only 3 marine divisions.

When I was in basic, 19K OSUT, the NG guys had their unit patch sewn onto their Class A jacket, but they weren't allowed to wear their unit crests... They weren't allowed to put their unit patch on their BDU's either. I think it's a good idea because it shows that soldier as being in IET and hasn't been awarded an MOS yet.

[quote]Yes, If you are a reservist or nationla guardsman in the split ops program then you are allowed to wear the patch of your parent unit during and only during AIT. If you wear it during basic "YOU ARE WRONG"[\quote]

Our DS had the reserve and national guard members have their SSI sewn on for graduation and the final inspection.

We where not allowed to wear our Unit Crests or Parent Unit Patch until the end of basic. We where allowed to get our Patch sewn on for Class A's and We where able to wear our Unit Crests if we had them.

But. The Unit patch is usually given to the soldiers before they go to basic if they are part of a Pre BCT training. I know MN and PA send their soldiers to it and they run it just like basic...as a heads up sort of thing. There they where issued all teh same gear they got in Basic and all they're patches and crests. I also had some Unit Patches becuase my unit issued me a pair of BDU's when I enlisted that had em on already and I had some lying around.

i remember seing people wearing patches when i went to basic, but they were 10th mountain and some airborne artillery unit, these guys werent in my bct unit, but they were in the other battery, so i didnt get a chance to ask, hell, they could have been combat patches?