Wearing of the Tab

[QRQ 30]

I brought this from another thread to avoid the Hi-jack police.

Special Forces Tab
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Special Forces Tab
Special Forces Tab
Awarded by United States Army
Type Tab
Awarded for
Status Currently awarded
Statistics
Established 1983
Last awarded On going
Related President's Hundred Tab, Ranger Tab, Sapper Tab

The Special Forces Tab is a service school tab decoration of the United States Army, awarded to any soldier completing either the Special Forces Qualification Course, or the Special Forces Officer Course, at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

The Special Forces Tab was created in 1983 and is an embroidered quadrant patch worn on the upper left sleeve of a military uniform. Those soldiers awarded the Special Forces Tab are authorized to wear it for the remainder of their military careers, even when not serving in a Special Forces command.

At the time of its creation, the Special Forces Tab was retroactively awarded to any Army soldiers previously Special Forces qualified. Before creation of the Special Forces Tab, Special Forces status was indicated by wearing a full-size unit flash on the green beret. A support soldier (company clerk, cook, et cetera) assigned to a Special Forces unit wore a 1/4" high bar below the Special Forces Crest on his green beret. Today, only Special Forces-qualified soldiers may wear the green beret, making obsolete the unit flash and bar.

The Ranger Tab is a similar decoration authorized upon completion of the U.S. Army’s Ranger School.

The Sapper Tab is a similar decoration which is authorized for completion of the U.S. Army’s Sapper School.

The President's Hundred Tab is a similar decoration which is authorized for success at the annual competition held at Camp Perry, Ohio.

The order of precedence for the four permanent tabs is: President's Hundred Tab, Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, Sapper Tab. Only three may be worn at once.

[Airbornelawyer]

How many errors can we count? I can start:

1. The restriction on the Green Beret to SF-qualified personnel did not "mak[e]obsolete the unit flash and bar". The tab did. After the candy stripe was abolished and until the change in beret policy effective January 1993, all personnel in a Group wore the same beret and flash.

[The Reaper]

Wikipedia is a dubious source for information, as always.

Garbage in, garbage out.

TR

Army Regulation 600-8-22

Section IV

Marksmanship Badges and Tabs

8–48. Ranger Tab

a. The Ranger Tab is authorized for award to U.S. military and civilian personnel, and foreign military personnel
who qualify as prescribed.

b. The basic eligibility criteria for award of the Ranger Tab are as follows:

(1) Successful completion of a Ranger course conducted by the U.S. Army Infantry School.
(2) Any person who was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge while serving during World War II as a member
of a Ranger Battalion (1st-6th inclusive) or in the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional) (Merrill’s Marauders).
(3) Any person who successfully completed a Ranger course conducted by the Ranger Training Command at Fort
Benning, GA.
(a) The Commandant of the U.S. Army Infantry School, Commander, USA HRC, and the Commander, HRC, St.
Louis, may award the Ranger Tab.
(b) See paragraph 1–31c(13) for revocation requirements.

8–49. Special Forces Tab

a. Any person meeting one of the criteria below may be awarded the Special Forces (SF) Tab:

(1) Successful completion of USAJFKSWCS approved Active Army (AA) institutional training leading to SF
qualification.
(2) Successful completion of a USAJFKSWCS approved Reserve Component (RC) SF qualification program.
(3) Successful completion of an authorized unit administered SF qualification program.

b. For active component institutional training, the SF Tab may be awarded to all personnel who meet the following:

(1) For successful completion of the Special Forces Qualification Course or Special Forces Detachment Officer
116 AR 600–8–22 • 11 December 2006
Qualification Course (previously known as the Special Forces Officer Course). These courses are/were conducted by
the USAJFKSWC (previously known as the U.S. Army Institute for Military Assistance).
(2) Prior to 1 January 1988 for successful completion of the then approved program of instruction for Special Forces
qualification in a Special Forces Group, who were subsequently awarded, by competent authority, SQI “S” in Career
Management Field 18 (enlisted), or SQI “3” in Functional Area 18 (officer).

c. For Reserve Component (RC) SF qualification programs, the SF Tab may be awarded to all personnel who
successfully complete a RC SF qualification program according to TRADOC Regulation 135–5, dated 1 June 1988 or
its predecessors and who were subsequently awarded by competent authority, SQI “S” or “3” in MOB 11B, 11C, 12B,
05B, 91B, or ASI “5G” or “3”. The USAJFKSWCS will determine individual entitlement for award of the SF Tab
based on historical review of Army, Continental Army Command (CONRAC), and TRADOC regulations prescribing
SF qualification requirements in effect at the time the individual began an RC SF qualification program.

d. For unit administered SF qualification programs, the SF Tab may be awarded to all personnel who successfully
completed unit administered SF qualification programs as authorized by regulation. The USAJFKSWCS will determine
individual entitlement to award of the SF Tab based upon historical review of regulations prescribing SF qualification
requirements in effect at the time the individual began a unit administered SF qualification program.

e. The SF Tab may be awarded retroactively to all personnel who performed the following wartime service.

(1) From 1942 through 1973. Served with a Special Forces unit during wartime and were either unable to or not
required to attend a formal program of instruction but were awarded SQI “S”, “3”, or “5G” by competent authority.
(2) Prior to 1954. The SF Tab may be awarded prior to 1955 for at least 120 consecutive days in one of the
following organizations:
(a) 1st Special Service Force, August 1942 to December 1944.
(b) OSS Detachment 101, April 1942 to September 1945.
(c) OSS Jedburgh Detachments, May 1944 to May 1945.
(d) OSS Operational Groups, May 1944 to May 1945.
(e) OSS Maritime Unit, April 1942 to September 1945.
(f) 6th Army Special Reconnaissance Unit (Alamo Scouts), February 1944 to September 1945.
(g) 8240th Army Unit, June 1950 to July 1953.
(3) From 1954 through 1975. Any company grade officer or enlisted member awarded the CIB or CMB while
serving for at least 120 consecutive days in one of the following type organizations:
(a) SF Operational Detachment-A (A–Team).
(b) Mobile Strike Force.
(c) SF Reconnaissance Team.
(d) SF Special Project Unit.

f. The Commander, U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center (USAJFKSWCS), Fort Bragg, NC
28307–5000 and the Commander, USA HRC (AHRC–PDO–PA), Alexandria, VA 22332–0471.

g. See paragraph 1–31 for revocation/reinstatement policy of the SF Tab.

8–50. Sapper Tab

The Sapper Tab was established by the Chief of Staff, Army on 28 June 2004. It is authorized for award to U.S.
military and civilian personnel and foreign military personnel who meet the prescribed eligibility criteria.

a. The basic eligibility criteria for award of the Sapper Tab are as follows:

(1) Successful graduation of all graduation requirements and a graduation certificate from a Sapper Leader Course
conducted by the U.S. Army Engineer School.
(2) Any person who successfully graduates from a Sapper Leaders Course conducted by the U.S. Army Engineer
School at Fort Leonard Wood, MO.

b. The Sapper Tab may be awarded retroactively to any person who successfully completes all graduation requirements
and received a graduation certificate from the Sapper Leaders Course on or after 14 June 1985. Retroactive
requests will be submitted to the Commandant, U.S. Army Engineer School, ATTN: Commander, 577th Engineer
Battalion, Fort Leonard Wood, MO 65473. Retroactive requests for veterans and retirees must be forwarded as follows:
(1) Personnel released from Active Duty with reserve obligation; reserve component personnel; Army personnel
separated after October 2002 by discharge, resignation, or death; retired officer and enlisted personnel submit requests
to USA HRC, ATTN: ZCC–A, 1 Reserve Way, St. Louis, MO 63132–5200.
(2) Personnel separated after 1912 and prior to October 2002 by discharge, resignation, or death; retired officer and
enlisted personnel submit to the National Personnel Records Center, Military Personnel Records, 9700 Page Avenue,
St. Louis, MO 63132.

c. The Sapper Tab may be revoked by the Commandant, U.S. Army Engineer School or the USA HRC, ATTN:
AHRC–PDO–PA based on the recommendation of the field commander (Colonel and above) of the individual in
question. This can be based, on the opinion of that commander, that the individual has exhibited a pattern of behavior,
expertise or duty performance that is inconsistent with expectations of the Army, that is, degree of confidence,
AR 600–8–22 • 11 December 2006 117
commitment, competency and discipline. Award of the Sapper Tab may be revoked for any of the following
conditions:

(1) Dismissal, dishonorable discharge, or conviction by courts-martial for desertion in time of war.
(2) Failure to maintain prescribed standards of personal fitness and readiness to accomplish missions commensurate
with position and rank.
(3) Upon relief or release for cause.

d. Award approval authority for the Sapper Tab is the Commandant of the U.S. Army Engineer School and USA
HRC, ATTN: AHRC–PDO–PA.

8–53. President’s Hundred Tab

a. A President’s Hundred Tab is awarded to Soldiers who qualify among the top 100 scoring competitors in the
President’s Match held annually at the National Rifle Matches.

b. The National Rifle Association’s (NRA) President’s March was instituted at the NRA matches of 1878 as the
American Military Rifle Championship Match. It was patterned after an event for British Volunteers called the Queen’s
Match, which the NRA of Great Britain initiated in 1860. In 1884, the name was changed to the President’s Match for
the Military Rifle Championship of the United States. The President’s Match was discontinued during World Wars I
and II and the Korean War. It was reinstated in 1957 at the National Matches as “The President’s Hundred.” The topscoring
100 competitors in the President’s Match were singled out for special recognition in a retreat ceremony in
which the competitors passed in review before the winner and former winners of this historic match.

c. The cloth tab was approved for wear on the Army uniform on 3 March 1958. It is a full-color embroidered tab of
yellow 4 1⁄4 inches (10.80 cm) in length and 5/8 inch (1.59 cm) in height, with the words “President’s Hundred”
centered in 1⁄4 inch (.64 cm) high green letters.

[QRQ 30]

Well !@#$#@@ let me quote only this, I wasn't really interested in the flash policies which varied from commander to commander.

The Special Forces Tab is a service school tab decoration of the United States Army, awarded to any soldier completing either the Special Forces Qualification Course, or the Special Forces Officer Course, at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

The Special Forces Tab was created in 1983 and is an embroidered quadrant patch worn on the upper left sleeve of a military uniform. Those soldiers awarded the Special Forces Tab are authorized to wear it for the remainder of their military careers, even when not serving in a Special Forces command.

This is accurate. We discussed it on another site. Do I have to dig up the reg or will a Lawyer do it?

I just got my orders so I have a Tab retro-actively rather than post-humously.

hint: AR 600-8-22, para 8-47 (b) (6). I don't know if this comers continued wearing or not.

[Guy]

Originally Posted by Broadsword2004

I learned from Wikipedia that the entire Army National Guard is weaker than one Marine.

(no joke, someone once wrote that in, I wish I had taken a picture!).

Stay safe.

[Airbornelawyer]

Wikipedia is a dubious source for information, as always.

Wikipedia is as reliable as its users make it. I have authored over 40 articles and extensively overhauled several others. I am reasonably certain that, at a minimum, despite the universality of "as always", you would not find these to be "dubious".

I really only revise articles in areas where I am arguably a subject-matter expert, and I would avoid the really unreliable articles, which are any on a controversial topic like politics. But given the number of intelligent articulate Special Forces personnel on the Internet who are SMEs, there really shouldn't be any dubious special operations articles on Wikipedia.

One can say "we don't care about that old Wikipedia" and just sit around the team room having a few beers, but the simple fact is that Wikipedia is the main source for information on topics like this, and will be a source for misinformation unless those who know better improve it. On Google, Wikipedia is the #3 hit for "Special Forces" (after commercial websites specialforces.net and specialforces.com), the #1 hit for "Green Berets", the #1 hit for "Army Rangers", the #2 hit for "special operations forces" (after socom.mil), the #3 hit for "United States Special Operations Command" (again after socom.mil), the #4 hit for "United States Army" (after 3 US Army sites), and so forth.

Lay people will go there, and they will be presented either good information or bad. You have the power to decide which it is.

I'm sorry if this sounds snippy or preachy, but I got tired of myself and my own complaining about poor articles. We often complain about misinformation in the media. We can't change what the MSM tells people about various topics; we can change what Wikipedia tells them.

[Airbornelawyer]

I went ahead and made some changes to the SF Tab article. Please let me know if there are any egregious errors, or make the corrections yourself.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Forces_Tab

Regards

[QRQ 30]

Originally Posted by Airbornelawyer

I went ahead and made some changes to the SF Tab article. Please let me know if there are any egregious errors, or make the corrections yourself.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Forces_Tab

Regards

Very good Sir. The first paragraph makes my point. TKS>

I always use GOOGLE first and if I can't find something I want that is understandable I will go to WIKIWIKI which is in english.

[The Reaper]

Originally Posted by Airbornelawyer

I really only revise articles in areas where I am arguably a subject-matter expert, and I would avoid the really unreliable articles, which are any on a controversial topic like politics.

Unfortunately, not everyone subjects themselves to the same judicious scrutiny.

IIRC. an idiot kid with all of his vast SF knowledge, gained via the SF video game can come by tomorrow, and change it any way he would like.

It would be more credible were it restricted to changes by vetted personnel in different subject areas.

The point remains, that without extensive knowledge of the subject matter already, it is difficult to judge Wiki's veracity.

Hence, my hesitancy to give credibility to the articles without a supporting source.

With the QM School story of the Tab, and AR 600-8-22, I had no need to Wiki it up.

Nothing personal, D.

TR

[QRQ 30]

Well shucks. I even posted the ref. It is on my orders.

I cain't hep it if I suffer from dementia.