Where to Find Military Patches | USAMM

Those detailed bursts of color that have been embroidered into military patches contain common iconography of the battlefield, such as eagles and parachutes, eagles. Stars are stitched onto the jackets of soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines, indicating squadrons, divisions, brigades, wings, or vessels they are associated with. 

Military patches can also show rank, and some even acknowledge one’s status as a United States Army, Navy, Airforce, or Marine veteran. With all of the history and national stories that are drummed up by military patches, they have become quite the collector’s items. 

If you are one of those lucky people that are looking to broaden the horizons of your personal military patch collection, it is time to learn about the different types and also where to find military patches.

Military Patches on eBay

When in doubt, you can get started on your quest for military patches by shopping on eBay. You will have access to military patches from sellers that live all over the country and the world for that matter. This will put you into contact with collectors of all levels. You can even contact them directly on eBay to ask questions about the patches they are selling.

Be sure to do your research to make sure that what they are offering and how it is being advertised is accurate and not something they are just throwing out there to get over on uninformed consumers. 

Online Military Stores

You can also shop for military patches at reliable online stores. Be on the lookout for an internet military store that has an active buzz on social media, carries not just military patches but also other items such as official U.S. military medals, ribbons, and uniform supplies. The vast selection will show their commitment to military memorabilia.

If you can find an online military store that is owned by a military veteran, this an even more ideal situation. The involvement of a veteran adds authenticity to the business, helps to ensure the genuine nature of their products and services, and is a great way to financially support a military veteran to help repay them for the sacrifice that they have made for citizens of the United States of America. 

Military Patch Collector’s Clubs

If you feel isolated in your passion for military patches, and not too many of your friends or family share your interest, or even have much to say about the subject, it might be time to join a military patch collector’s club.

Find people that naturally share your appreciation for military patches without having to be talked into loving them. If you are having trouble finding one in your area or online, try joining a Facebook group that has been formed around this topic. 

Collector’s clubs are a fantastic method to join a community that can point you in the right direction of where to buy military patches, and may even be able to sell some to you directly. 

Army Patches for Combat Operations

The Army combat patch, which is officially referred to as the “shoulder sleeve insignia-former wartime service” (SSI-FWTS), is to recognize a soldier’s participation in combat operations.

Ever since 1945, the only soldiers that were eligible to wear the combat patch were those serving with large echelon deployed units. These could be separate brigades, corps, Army commands, divisions, or beyond. 

Separate combat patches are issued to smaller support companies and battalions that fall into lower-ranking units. 

Color Patches and Subdued Patches

Military patch collectors find pleasure in combat patches because they are known as a symbol of pride for Army war veterans.

Class A Uniforms require full-color detail of patches that have been earned to appear on the sleeves. The design of these patches will be the same when they are worn in the field, but the difference is that they will be in subdued colors like green, black, brown. 

Bright colors are no good for fieldwork because they could give away a soldier’s position and put him or her in fatal danger during combat. 

Combat Patch Requirements 

For members of the military to even be eligible to earn combat patches, soldiers must be serving in an area of operation designated as a hostile environment. Other than that, combat patches can be earned by serving during a war period, as officially declared by Congress.

There is also an additional requirement. The military operation also must have gone on for no less than for 30 days, in most cases. 

Any Army personnel who served the Army in a designated area in the capacity of civilians or as part of some other service and not as members of the Army during one of the specified periods do not have the authorization to wear the combat patch.

When soldiers have the honor of earning multiple combat patches, they have the right to choose which patch they want to wear. Soldiers can also choose not to wear a combat patch as well. 

Get your military patch collection expanded right away by searching through eBay, shopping at a reputable online military shop, and joining a military patch collector’s club.