Eligibility for the patch “does not authorize pay entitlements such as hostile fire pay, imminent danger pay, or combat zone tax exclusion,” the Army noted.

United States Army soldiers who were “deployed to select countries” in the past year and a half will be eligible to wear a “combat patch,” the service announced this month. The patch’s creation was intended to “acknowledge the inherent risks and challenges faced by Soldiers” who were deployed, and was meant to recognize their “contributions and sacrifices.”

In order to qualify for the patch, the soldiers will have needed to be deployed in countries “within” the US Central Command and US Africa Command “areas of responsibility” between October 7, 2023, and June 24, 2025. “The countries include Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen,” the Army added. It further noted that personnel from the regular Army, Army National Guard, and US Army Reserve who were deployed for at least one day during the aforementioned timeframe are eligible to wear the combat patch.

The dates seem specific to the Hamas attack on Israel and continued until Iran’s attack on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which was carried out in retaliation for the US bombing of nuclear sites in Iran. It is unclear if the end period will be extended if there is any further confrontation with Iran.

The selection of the countries has already been met with some criticism, with Military.com reporting that “Locations such as Egypt and Kuwait are considered peaceful deployments with minimal risk for most troops.” At the same time, Somalia has not been included, despite it having seen “sporadic combat since the 1990s.”

The Soldiers Will Not Receive a Pay Bonus

Previous deployments to combat zones resulted in a pay bonus, but that is not the case, at least not as it is related to the patch’s requirements.

Eligibility for the patch “does not authorize pay entitlements such as hostile fire pay, imminent danger pay, or combat zone tax exclusion,” the Army noted. However, soldiers only needed to be deployed to one of those countries in the time frame for a single day to be eligible to wear the patch, a change from past requirements of at least a month’s deployment to a combat zone.

What Are Combat Patches?

Combat patches, officially known as Shoulder Sleeve Insignia – Former Wartime Service (SSI-FWTS), are worn on the right sleeve of a soldier’s uniform and signify that the individual has been deployed to a war zone. These had been employed since 1945 to recognize individuals who had participated in combat operations.

However, the combat patches were largely only authorized to soldiers who served with “large echelon deployed units.” The patches became more common throughout the Global War on Terror (GWoT), but have become less used in recent years.

“Wearing a combat patch on the right sleeve, just below the US flag, signifies a Soldier’s service in a combat zone,” the Army explained.

These are just one form of patches that are worn on a soldier’s sleeve.

History of Shoulder Patches in the US Military

The use of official unit patches in the US military can be traced back to the American Civil War, when field uniforms became more “uniform” in design. Before that point, units were expected to be readily identifiable by the color of the piping or even the style of the uniform.

As the US Army greatly expanded during the Civil War and its field uniforms became more standardized, some soldiers began to adorn their uniforms with embroidered patches. Mothers, wives, and girlfriends typically made these early patches at home and sent them to the soldiers in uniform. Improvements in sewing machines and larger powered embroidery machines decreased the cost and increased the efficiency with which these patches could be made.

When the United States Army entered the First World War and deployed to France in 1917 and 1918, American soldiers wore uniforms and steel helmets that, at a glance, were similar in design to those of the British Army, which had already begun to wear formation signs at the divisional level to distinguish specific units. Taking a cue from those British formation signs, the US Army’s 81st Infantry Division, which had trained at Fort Jackson, SC, became the first American unit to adopt the shoulder sleeve insignia or tactical patch.

As the troops had trained near a body of water known as Wildcat Creek, the patch featured a wildcat on an olive-drab background. Soon after, other units began to design their own distinctive patches. 

The Army shoulder patches, officially known as shoulder sleeve insignia (SSI), are now worn on the upper left arm of the Army combat uniform. Today, headquarters patches and the US flag are worn on the right shoulder.