Col. Brian Fletcher, Task Force Spartan Division Tactical Officer in Charge, places a TFS combat patch on Spc. Alondra Santos, Geospatial Engineer with the 36th Infantry Division, Intelligence and ...

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Army has authorized the wearing of the combat patch -- officially known as the "shoulder sleeve insignia for former wartime service" -- for Soldiers who have been deployed ...

There is no baseline time-in-theater requirement, the Army noted. The patches, worn on soldiers’ right arms underneath the American flag patch, show that a soldier has been on a combat deployment.

Combat patches are now authorized for U.S. soldiers who deployed to a select group of countries in the Middle East and Africa over roughly the past two years, the Army announced recently.

The Army has expanded eligibility for the combat patch for soldiers deployed to select countries between October 7, 2023, and June 24 of this year.

The Army expanded eligibility for the shoulder sleeve insignia for military operations in hostile conditions, commonly known as the "combat patch," for Soldiers deployed to select countries ...