A soldier’s uniform is their identity. Just like superheroes don their special suits and men at arms, the real superheroes wear badge patches. These custom military patches tell their stories. To the untrained eye, these custom military patches appear to be decorations with arbitrary lines and symbols, but the true significance of these symbols will leave you mesmerized.
If you look at a military uniform, you will find numerous patches on them. There are several on each sleeve, at the front of the uniform, and on the cuffs. Each of these military patches signifies something equally important but distinctive.
For instance, the name patch is a tape patch located on the upper part of the right front pocket. This custom military patch is fixed to their uniform and displays each member’s last name in big, capital characters. The name on the patch sticks out amongst the camouflage on the field, making it easy to identify a soldier.
History Behind Custom military patches
The tradition of custom military patches began decades ago when they were only a piece of fabric sewn on uniforms with unit numbers. They became an important way of distinguishing enlisted troops from other authorities. Custom military patches eventually became a commonplace component of the uniform, with each patch location on the uniform revealing a unique piece of soldier information.
Today, these patches are more than simply text on a piece of cloth for soldiers serving in the military. By fighting for a common cause and a single country, these custom military patches show solidarity. They act as a reminder of what these men and women have given up for their nation. It acts as a symbol of pride. It enables them to work among others who have experienced comparable hardships. They are united by these common experiences.
The Meaning Behind Custom military patches
Every patch on a military uniform has a specific function and placement. Let’s look at a few of the most used patches found on a military uniform.
Branch Tape Patch
The branch tape is the custom military patch on the upper left front pocket. This patch is affixed to each member’s uniform and their current military branch is displayed on it. For ease of recognition, the branch name is presented in bold, capital characters.
Flag Patch
This custom military patch is fastened to both shoulders. It serves as a reminder that all the armed men and women are fighting for the same nation. The original red, white, and blue flag is weaved with muted colors on a military patch to allow for better camouflage on the field.
The reversed flag patch on the uniform’s right shoulder makes it look like the flag is billowing in the wind.
Rank Patch
On the uniform, this military patch is located at the center of the chest. It identifies the ranking of the officer within their branch. Each rank has a patch that is a modification of the previous rank.
Shoulder Sleeve Insignia or SSI
The military insignia patches are placed on the left shoulder of the combat uniform. It specifies the US Army division to which the soldier has been assigned.
Combat Patch
This military patch is seen on the right shoulder of the uniform. It represents former units, a soldier served in combat. If there are several units they have served with in battle, they can decide to show the emblem of any of them.
Special Skills Badge Patch
These patches are on the left side of the chest and show any special skill training a soldier has completed.
Service Stripes
These custom military patches can be seen on the cuff of formal uniforms. They stand for the number of years a soldier has served in the military. Each strip represents 3 or 4 years of service depending on the military division it is being awarded to.
Custom military patches for Civilians
For the rest of us, custom military patches are a fantastic way to support the armed services. Morale patches are a more popular name for these custom military patches. It is an excellent way to raise the spirits of the men and women who work so hard to keep us safe. And let’s be honest, they look awesome.
How to use custom military patches
Custom military patches come in a wide variety and are easy to apply to most clothing articles. They look great on shirts, backpacks, hoodies, caps, and jackets. For more impact, you can use several military patches on one article of clothing. For instance, you can put a few patches on each sleeve and one on each of the front pockets. When combined this way, any jacket or hoodie can become a statement piece.
Additionally, there are a variety of application options to choose from. These include Velcro, sew-on, and iron-on patches.
Things To Be Careful of When Ordering Custom military patches
Wearing a custom military badge can be fun, but here are some things to be careful of so that you don’t end up getting into trouble.
- When ordering your custom military patches, make sure none of your patches are a replica of an official military badge or insignia.
- For the men in the armed forces, these patches represent their sacrifices, a greater purpose, and a sense of unity with their comrades. Therefore, it is your responsibility to make sure your custom military patches do not offend them in any way.
- If you are choosing a comical military patch, it should not be offensive to any group of people.
Now that you are aware of the profound meaning and symbolism behind military patches, you know they are more than just decoration. Additionally, you will never look at the military patches on a soldier’s uniform again and not understand their significance. A soldier’s uniform signifies their honor and loyalty to their country.
It is fun to find out about the variety of fascinating military patches. You can start having fun creating your custom military patches as well. Choose your favorite piece of clothing and imagine what patches would look good on it.
