Proper Placement of Name Tapes, Unit Badges, etc.
 

I've been browsing Google for a couple of days now trying to find information or pictures relating to where Name Tapes, Unit Badges, Rank, etc. are supposed to be placed on USA BDU's. I've seen a ton of pics of soldiers but they all seem to have different badges in different places.

I'm trying to get a desert kit together for next year but I'm clueless about how to do this when it comes to badge placement. If anyone has information or pictures outlining where everything is to be placed, I would appreciate the help. Please feel free to PM me if you don't want to post in this thread.

I found this in a few seconds http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r670_1.pdf

i may not be completely correct, but...

Name tape: Above right chest pocket
Service Tape: above other chest pocket

Specialty tabs: Left shoulder
Unit insignia: upper left arm, under tab
Rank (NCO, enlisted): right sleeve
Rank (officers): On the collar tabs


I am not 100% sure about these, but im PRETTY sure. its a starting point atleast.





EDIT: dont pay attention to me... thanks tot ab browsing, i didnt reply before someone else with a better answer did

On BDU, rank is always on the collar unless you're an Airforce NCO.
On ACU, rank is always on the chest square.

The division that you are in goes on the right side because you die for that division (Its over your heart). You Canadaian guys are lucky, we hace people jump on our asses if we wear US ARMY nametapes!

Here's the proper "standard" US Army ACU placement (just to elaborate on lithium's post):

Can embroidered badges be worn on the ACU?
No, embroidered badges will not be worn on the ACU.

Describe the Name tape / U.S. Army tape for the ACU.
The U.S. Army Tape will be black embroidery on the digitized fabric with hook fastener. The finished length will be 5 inches.

How is the Name tape / U.S. Army tape worn on the ACU?
Immediately above and parallel with the slanted chest pocket flaps

Describe the rank insignia dimensions used on the ACU.

Private through Colonel – 2 inches by 2 inches with hook fastener
Brigadier General and Major General – 2 inches by 2 inches overall with hook fastener
Lieutenant General – 2 inches by 3 ¼ inches with both hook and loop fasteners attached.
General Officer – ¾ inch stars point to vertex 1/8 inch apart

Soldiers may wear up to five skill badges on the ACU. All skill badges will be worn above the U.S. Army tape in order of precedence from the wearers left. How would you wear 1,2,3,4, or and 5 skill badges?

1 Badge – Worn 1/8 inch above and centered on the U.S. Army tape.
2 Badges – Worn vertically 1/8 inch above and centered on the U.S. Army tape with ¼ inch between badges.
3 Badges - Worn vertically 1/8 inch above and centered on the U.S. Army tape with ¼ inch between badges.
4 Badges – Worn vertically and side by side in stacks of two, 1/8 inch above and centered on the U.S. Army tape, with 1.4 inch between badges vertically and ½ inch between badges horizontally.
5 Badges - Worn vertically and side by side in stacks of two, 1/8 inch above and centered on the U.S. Army tape, with 1.4 inch between badges vertically and ½ inch between badges horizontally. The 5th badge is placed ¼ inch above and centered on the top two badges.

Branch insignia will not be worn with the ACU with one exception. Who is allowed to wear branch insignia and how is it worn?
U.S. Army Chaplaincy religious denomination insignia may be worn 1/8 inch above and centered on the name tape. The insignia will be pin on only.


How will the SSI (Unit Patch) and the SSI-FWTS (Combat Patch) be worn on the ACU?
The SSI will be worn centered on the hook and loop faced pad already provided on the left sleeve of the coat.
The SSI-FWTS will be worn centered on the hook and loop faced pad already provided on the right sleeve of the coat.

How will the U.S. Flag insignia be worn on the ACU?
The U.S. Flag insignia is worn on the right shoulder pocket flap of the ACU coat.

How many skill tabs can be worn on the ACU?
No more than 3

How are skill tabs worn on the ACU?
Centered on the shoulder pocket flap of the hook and loop faced pad already provided on the left shoulder of the ACU coat in order of precedence IAW AR 670-1.

How is the ACU patrol cap worn with the ACU?
Personnel wear the patrol cap straight on the head so that the cap band creates a straight line around the head, parallel to the ground. The patrol cap will fit snugly and comfortably around the largest part of the head without distortion or excessive gaps. The cap is worn so that no hair is visible on the forehead beneath the cap. At their discretion, individuals may wear the earflaps down during cold weather, except in formation when the commander may prescribe wear policy

What type of rank is authorized to be worn on the ACU patrol cap?
Sewn or Pin on rank.

How is the name tape worn on the ACU Patrol Cap?
The name tape will be worn centered on the hook and loop pad on the back of the ACU Patrol Cap.

When the ACU trouser leg is bloused, what is the maximum distance that it may extend down the boot?
The bloused trouser legs should not extend below the third eyelet from the top of the boot..

http://www.armystudyguide.com/conten...dy-guide.shtml

Hope that helps. If you have any more questions, feel free to hassle me.

It's the left side for the US Army tape and right side for your name tape. Only difference is with an IBA.

Whoops! Thats what I meant to say! Your heart isnt on the right side of your body haha :D

Thanks for the elaboration Firewalker... Learned something new today lol... didnt realize 5 badges could be worn above the US Army tape

Since this is turning into a very useful thread, I'll throw in that Marines don't follow the same setup.

Quite simply (this is for the Marine Utility Uniform, AKA MARPAT BDUs) have no patches (including flag) except for service and name tapes, and rank insignia. (and USMC EGA, which are embroidered in the BDUs, boonies and 8-pointer utility caps).

Rank insignia is worn on the collar. No rank insignia is worn on the MARPAT utility cap or helmet cover. Officers often do not wear rank in combat situations.

Tapes on the shirt/blouse are the same (Service left, Name right), but I've sometimes also seen a nametape over the right rear trouser pocket and/or the back of the helmet cover. No nametape or service on the IBA.

I've seen pics of Force Recon with flags, as well as FR (MEU?) in flight suits with no markings/tapes.

Yes, indeed. I believe that's a new thing that they threw in when they introduced the ACUs.

The most likely combination you'd see of such a configuration:

Combat Infantryman Badge
Parachutist Badge
Air Assault Badge
Pathfinder Badge
HALO Badge

Honestly, though... it's a bit ridiculous to do so.

It's mostly for Garrison, as any idiot who would wear one of those while being shot at wouldn't have them on his uniform to begin with, lol. They serve no combat function, but in Garrison, your "higher ups" like to know who can do what without giving more than a glance.

wtf?

First off what you just said about the Division patch is BS


The insignia for the unit(not everyone is in a Division) you are part of is worn on the left sleeve. Combat Patches(ie the unit you served in a combat theatre) is worn on the right sleeve. And Tabs like Ranger and Special Forces are not worn on the right sleeve, only left.




Oh an when it comes to wearing pin on qual badges on the ACUs, alot of guys don't bother since they hate the pin ons. An yea, if anyone were to do it, it would only be in garrison.

But, yea... shouldn't be wearing insignia you haven't earned, especially combat patches and qual badges and tabs. IMO

This is one thing I agree with.

With JSOC, instead of the Branch Tape (US ARMY) we use our team name. We're also getting our own SSI soon. Should be fun :D

If anyone is uppity about using registered stuff, just get custom stuff made. http://www.camotech.com makes awesome stuff and does small minimum orders (only 7 patches for minimum, instead of 50, on all custom designs).

+1 Firewalker

Being in the CF I can totally relate to that sentiment. Therefore,

Branch Tape: FOXHOUND
Patch on left shoulder: FOXHOUND - Special Force Group