SF Combat Patches for Leg Spt
 

Was told last night that some 20th Gp company down in MS, after returning from A-stan, was handing out orders for SF combat patches like they were party favors. The result is there are a bunch of leg support troops running around them parts sporting SF patches on their right shoulder.

Any of you know about this?

If they were assigned or attached to a SF unit, that's the patch they wear.

This happens a lot with anyone attached to ODAs as well as smaller "leg like" units attached to bigger airborne units or any other unit they think is cool. It gets as bad as Army units wearing Marine unit patches for a combat patch when Marines themselves do not wear them. Sometimes it’s a appreciative gesture that the conventional guys take some pride with serving alongside an ODA.

Yes, that happens with our attachments.

The Rangers don't do that, BTW. Their attachments and enablers get the SOCOM combat patch, IIRC. You don't get a combat scroll unless you are assigned to Regiment.

TR

It's nothing new.

1. What you arte calling combat patches are shoulder sleeve insignia-former wartime service (SSI–FWTS), not awards for combat.

2. Active Duty SFG's cut the very same orders, because that's what Army regs call for.

Gives a whole new meaning to "Scroll to the road".

SOCOM or USASOC? I've only seen the latter.

Richard

No OpCon
 

What I heard was that they were given to troops who were neither assigned nor attached, no opcon, and thus should not have had those orders.

ALARACT 055/2007
 

Unless there is an update that supersedes this, I refer to paragraph 9 in this ALARACT:

9. SOLDIERS WHO ARE CROSS-LEVELED, ASSIGNED, ATTACHED, OR AUGMENTING DEPLOYED UNITS, AND SOLDIERS WHO ARE TDY ON ORDERS THROUGH THE USE OF DD FORM 1610 (REQUEST AND AUTHORIZATION FOR TDY TRAVEL OF DOD PERSONNEL) WILL WEAR THE SAME SSI-FWTS WORN BY MEMBERS OF THEIR DEPLOYED UNIT (COMPANY OR HIGHER) TO WHICH ATTACHED OR OPCON. THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO MEMBERS OF TRIAL DEFENSE AND CIDC, WHO WILL WEAR THE SSI OF THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMANDS AS THEIR SSI-FWTS.

Obviously, from reading other portions of this ALARACT, one must pay close heed to the nature of the relationship between the SOF unit and the supporting unit.

Anyone assigned to a SFG during a combat rotation can get a UNIT PATCH. They must be in the unit for I think Three months in a Combat Zone.

Yes it is or the get orders for combat patches are shoulder sleeve insignia-former wartime service (SSI–FWTS)... NOT THE SPECIAL FORCES TAB just the Special Forces Unit patch which comes with ONLY the AIRBONE TAB.

I'm 18 Series not a PAC clerk so I don't know the Regs.

MoFo,

PM me particulars and I'll look into it. I personally can attest that the 2/20th SOT-As are in compliance with 670-1 and the ALARACT. Our MI Det SGT would not tolerate anything less.

Lindy

from my experience in Astan it's pretty much put on whatever patch you want.
We had imbedded NG's with the 205th Afghan Corps that had their own HQ's and complete Bn State unit deployed.....when SF took opcon of the Afghans for an individual op and the imbedded NG's went with they would all put on SF combat patches the next day.(those that rode along)
If they went with a US unit (173rd) then they'd wear that patch to (velcro is a great thing).
Mother Army doesn't care as long as they deploy. Sad really as tradition and unit integrity is not what it once was.

There is no time in theater requirement for the SSI-FWTS and by extrapolation, no time requirement with the unit you are assigned/attached/OPCON to in theater in order to wear their patch.

From the ALARACT that I posted above:

5. THERE IS NO TIME-IN-THEATER REQUIREMENT TO BE AUTHORIZED TO WEAR THE SSI-FWTS.

I was hoping a S1 NCO would log on this weekend.. But with it being the weekend it is. I'll stop in Monday and ask PAC about this.

That is shameful that they are allowed to wear it,they are no better than any other POSER we've address so far........ It's just BS pure and simple.........:mad::mad::mad:

Big Teddy :munchin