The history of military patches is a long and complex one. The first recorded use of the term "patch" was in 1576 when it referred to an embroidered cloth worn by soldiers on their coats or armor. It would not be until the late 17th century that the word began to refer to any type of logo. In 1681, King Charles II of England issued a proclamation requiring all officers and men serving under him to wear distinctive badges on their uniforms. These were made from silk, velvet, satin, or other materials, including portraits of the monarch, his family, regimental crests, or even the royal coat of arms. By the early 18th century, these badges had become quite elaborate and expensive. They were often sewn onto clothing, but they also became attached to equipment such as boots, belts, and helmets. During this period, the wearing of badges was required for most branches of the British Army. Officers wore them on their hats, while enlisted personnel wore them on their coats or jackets. By the mid-18th century, however, the practice of wearing badges had fallen out of favor with many commanders due to its expense and impracticality. After the Seven Years' War (1756–63), the wearing of badges was prohibited by Parliament. However, during the American Revolution, wearing military badges returned. However, this time, the badges were intended to serve as identification rather than decoration. For example, the Continental Congress ordered each regiment to have a badge depicting the state's coat of arms on their uniform. Many of the states followed suit, issuing their versions of the national flag. While some of these designs were simple flags, others were more elaborate.
Some of the more common ones included:
1) A shield bearing the state's name;
2) An eagle holding a banner inscribed with the state's motto;
3) A coat of arms;
4) A seal;
5) A map showing the location of the state;
6) A portrait of the governor;
7) A representation of the U.S. Capitol building;
8) A depiction of the Great Seal of the United States;
9) A representation of the state flower;
10) A representation of the flag of the United States.
In addition to identifying which state a soldier belonged to, these badges served another purpose. They helped distinguish between different units within a given team. For instance, if a company consisted of several platoons, each platoon would carry a number symbol. If a battalion consisted of two companies, both companies would have the same sign. To avoid confusion, each company's logo would be placed at right angles to those of the other companies so that no two companies carried the same sign.
Current Military Patches
The United States Army has a long tradition of using patches to identify soldiers and their units. The first official patch was used by the 6th Infantry Regiment in 1866 when they were known as "Black Hats." They wore black hats with a white star centered on the front. Their motto was "Onward Christian Soldiers." The 7th Infantry Regiment adopted a similar design next year. These regiments were part of the Union Army during the Civil War. The first U.S. Army unit to assume a formal patch was the 1st Cavalry Regiment in 1882. The 1st Cavalry Regiment was organized in 1861 and fought in the Civil War.
In 1892, the 2nd Cavalry Regiment adopted a patch featuring a horseman riding across a field of blue. The 3rd Cavalry Regiment adopted a design featuring a cavalry sword and lance. The 4th Cavalry Regiment adopted a red circle surrounded by a gold border. The 5th Cavalry Regiment adopted the same plan, except that the process was green instead of red. The 6th Cavalry Regiment adopted what is now considered to be the standard patch for the U.S. Army. The 6th Cavalry Regiment was formed in 1865 and fought in the Civil war. In 1890, the 7th Cavalry Regiment adopted an olive drab rectangle with a yellow center. The 8th Cavalry Regiment adopted three horizontal stripes of equal width separated by thin lines. The 9th Cavalry Regiment adopted two vertical stripes of equal width. The 10th Cavalry Regiment adopted four diagonal stripes of unequal widths. The 11th Cavalry Regiment adopted five diagonal stripes of unequal width. The 12th Cavalry Regiment adopted six diagonal lines of unequal width, and the 13th Cavalry Regiment adopted seven diagonal stripes of unequal width.
The current designs are:
1) The Army Airborne Badge - features a parachute over a globe. The badge is worn on the left shoulder.
2) The Army Aviation Badge - features a helicopter flying above a map of the world. The badge is worn around the neck.
3) The Army Combat Uniform Badge - features a camouflage pattern over a shield. The badge is worn below the collar point.
4) The Army Service Ribbon Badge - features a shield with crossed rifles. The badge is worn above the left pocket flap.
5) The Army Staff Identification Badge - features a shield bearing the words "Army Staff" and the organization's name. The badge is worn by the Chief of Staff or their designee.
6) The Army Service Ribbon - features a shield with the word "SERVICE" inscribed on it. The ribbon is worn on the upper chest.
7) The Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon - features a shield bearing a rifle and a grenade. The ribbon is worn above the right pocket flap.
8) The Army Reserve Component Training Ribbon - features a circular badge. The ribbon is worn inside the shirt pocket.
9) The Army Reserve Component Campaign Medal - features a circular medal with a colored edge. The ribbon is worn over the top of the award.
10) The Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal - features a circular award device. The ribbon is worn under the medal.