Government

What Are Those Number Patches on a Soldier’s Uniform?

There are many things strapped and stitched onto a soldier’s uniforms. They all have purpose and meaning.

So, how about those patches on the shoulders of the uniform? Jack Murphy, a former member of the U.S. Special Operations Command who helped start the site The Loadout Room, writes in a recent post these patches are more specifically called “callsign patchs.” The Loadout room is part of the larger site SOFREP, which stands for “special operations forces situation report” and touts itself as the “number one site for authentic, accurate, and timely information related to the US and Allied Special Operations Community.”

Murphy says they identify to others who you are and what you do and are used over radio. He also notes the Velcro on the front and back so “it can be turned over and stuck to your uniform sleeve without exposing your callsign in the chowhall or wherever else.”

Callsign Patches on Soldier Uniforms Signify Who You Are and What You Do

Callsign patches (Image: Jack Murphy/Loadout Room)

Here’s more on what the above patches stand for:

I think you can figure out the one on the bottom. The three stripes signify what battalion I was in, 3rd Ranger Battalion and SNP of course is short for Sniper. Later on the Regiment had a new Callsign SOP which is what you see on the middle patch.  I’m pretty sure they’ve moved on once again to something new, but I will hold off decoding this one for now.

[...]

The top patch is the one I wore when I was the Senior Weapons Sergeant on my Special Forces ODA. 1=the first company in my battalion or Alpha Company. 4=the 4th ODA in my company, the 4th team being the HALO team. B=my MOS, 18B or Special Forces Weapons Sergeant.  Finally 1=Senior position. A 2 would be the junior position for that MOS. This was an internal callsign SOP to my ODA.

And there you have it. If you didn’t know what a callsign patch was before. You do now.

Comments (122)

  • McNamara
    Posted on June 6, 2012 at 1:15pm

    Thank you to all you military folks. I appreciate what you have done or are doing for the country. If I could have a patch like that it would have FU B0 12 :)

    Report Post » McNamara  
    • theelectrician
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 1:42pm

      love your comment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Report Post »  
    • Jim in Houston
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 3:14pm

      What a great call sign that is.

      Report Post »  
    • loriann12
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 5:22pm

      The hardest part of being a veteran was getting over the fact that the man who was running for President in 2008 wanted to destroy our country. I was in denial for a while, because, the man is my commander in chief. I felt like such a traitor for not supporting whoever won. In the past I didn’t care who won, I was a bit disappointed if it was a Democrate, but I believed they loved our country just a different way. The more I researched into this man, the more dangerous I felt he was. some of the things I’ve been screaming about for 3 years are finally being brought to light. Next, I want to know why he isn’t traumatized by the I n dones ia n Kil lings of 1965-66 the continued through 69 when he was there? D3ad bodies hanging in the streets…

      Report Post »  
    • bobbiejean
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 8:47pm

      Right with you, McNamara!

      Report Post »  
    • marvinsaunders69
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 8:50pm

      Thank you. And you are welcome. If I could reenlist I would do it tomorrow. You can get one for $8.50. The link is: http://www.rangerjoes.com/Patch-Call-Sign-P3088.aspx

      Report Post »  
    • Honest_E
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 9:28pm

      Love it!

      Report Post » Honest_E  
    • Gumbercules
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 11:51pm

      And have it include the ” :) ” on it, too!

      Report Post » Gumbercules  
    • david3755
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 7:49am

      Roger that!! excellent call sign.

      Report Post »  
    • Bridgetdaddy
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 7:55pm

      That should be the call sign for all of us!

      Report Post »  
  • bdandsl
    Posted on June 6, 2012 at 1:10pm

    Thank you all and God Bless.

    Report Post » bdandsl  
  • reboard
    Posted on June 6, 2012 at 1:00pm

    Name, Rank, and Serial Number. Anything more is aiding the enemy.

    Report Post »  
    • JackMurphyRGR
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 1:02pm

      Soldiers have not been issued serial numbers in decades. What is your frame of reference on this topic? Have you been to SERE school?

      Report Post »  
    • Vietvet1
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 4:34pm

      About August of 1968, I had to change my Army Serial Number in for my SSN. Not all services did the change at the same time. I had a US Suffix and then went RA… but that is another story. All I can say is that the use of both numbers helped me lose over 50 pounds in 8 weeks…Jenny Craig be damned LOL

      Report Post »  
    • nuttyvet
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 7:54pm

      I went to SERE… don’t know why I just said that… felt like sharing I guess. I’m a dork.

      Report Post » nuttyvet  
    • re2020
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 9:10pm

      @ JACKMURPHYRPR- You should be tried for treason for providing military information. Yes, everyone is impressed with your knowledge but it is horrendous that you would place your ego over our brothers in harms way. You are educating the enemy with information as to how to outfit a uniform. In theater, threats are sometimes in our uniforms. If their uniform is not appropriate they can be identified as foe. You need to remove this post immediately and apologize for your offense. And, I am suspicious that you don’t understand what @REBOARD meant by serial number. Are you sure you were in the US military?

      Report Post »  
    • JackMurphyRGR
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 12:41pm

      re2020, pump your breaks. Your comment is as ignorant as it is full of false bravado. I decoded a callsign that is for a specific ODA whose SOP has changed by this time. The information is essentially void as is your concern. The enemy sees our troops everyday so this is hardly a secret from them. Because you lack context and experience it is news to you and this is why you see it as a “secret”. My name is Jack Murphy and the rest of my military information can be found here: http://sofrep.com/usasoc/jack-murphy/ Feel free to contact the president of the Ranger Regiment Association or the Special Operations Association. Both of them can verify that I am who I say I am. Now if you truly feel that I have committed treason than I ask you do the right thing. Contact the FBI immediately which is what should be done when someone commits treason. Let‘s see if your mouth is writing checks that your ass can’t cash.

      Report Post »  
    • tangonine
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 4:35pm

      RE2020 I count jack as a close associate if not a friend, and your comment is so out of bounds it’s ridiculous. Drink less, post less, and do us all a favor.

      Report Post »  
  • pavnvet
    Posted on June 6, 2012 at 12:45pm

    @ Lazlo. Obviously you are not a veteran. No self respecting veteran would denigrate another’s service. Every person that served gave something, some gave everything.

    Report Post » pavnvet  
    • loriann12
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 5:26pm

      My husband gave 20 years to the United States navy, but works with a viet nam vet who tells him all the time that he‘s not a real veteran because he didn’t serve during war time. He was off shore at Grenada, and in every conflict between 1981-2001. I sometimes feel a little like I’m not a “real” vet, having only served 4 years, but he keeps telling me as a sub hunter during the cold war, I was at the tip of the spear….I just roll my eyes.

      Report Post »  
    • MastrSSG
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 9:21pm

      You tell him we’ve lost more good men during the Cold war than every conflict combined in the last 15 yrs. The Cold war lasted from 45-91. Then we had the Gulf war. Serving in “peace time isn’t” a guarantee you aren’t going into combat. I saw a great deal of combat in my time a lot more than you might expect. The U.S was in Afghanistan in 79-80-85 we were in Chad in 86 defending them against Libya’s invasion(Toyota war) Germany, Africa, Central America, South America, Israel, Lebanon, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Zaire, ……. there isn’t a place on earth we haven’t had some soldier standing for America at some point in our recent history. Just because you didn‘t see it splattered all over CNN or NBC doesn’t mean it didn‘t happen nor does it mean American soldiers didn’t die or get wounded for America. American Soldiers have been defending our nation for over 235 yrs in Peace and in War time. So I don’t really want to hear the BS about who should be counted as a vet or not. Frankly I served as a 300f1 or 18-D with the 5th Group for many years I’ve seen combat that would shake the most hard core soldiers to their core. I’ve had to live through the loss of many good friends who were highly decorated including several Purple hearts, Bronze stars, Silver Stars, etc. No one in Uniform Special Forces or leg unit is immune to getting killed in combat at any time.

      Report Post » MastrSSG  
    • Midnightvista
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 1:26am

      I am a Veteran. I did not serve in war-time…I was in right after VietNam ended. I have had the honor of meeting and becoming friends with members of the Warrior Watch Riders and the Patriot Guard Riders. Many of them are VietNam Veterans. When I tell them I am a Veteran, but not one like they are, the constant response is, “Did you wear the uniform of your Country? Did you sign a bland check that included giving your life for your Country?” To which, of course, the answer is, “Yes.” Their response is, “Then you are every bit a veteran as I am.” I believe they were gracious. I know I wore the uniform of my Country and I am willing to do whatever I have to perserve our freedoms and liberties, but I am not in the same class as the VietNam Vets or any Vet who saw battle. I find it hard to believe that the VietNam Vet you are referring to would say something so horrible, unless he did not see battle either. Our VietNam Vets are a great group of people who suffered dearly at the hands of their own Countrymen. I don’t believe that guy is a real vet who saw battle.

      Report Post »  
    • katgirl
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 5:17am

      RE2020 – Your idiotic post incensed me to the point that I’ll write w/o trying to be overly gentle as I usually do. You are so full of manure that I can‘t believe they haven’t quarantined your city. Listen up couch-jockey-wannabe, do you think someone with Jack’s training and credentials would allow himself to post classified or sensitive material for personal gain? Anyone civilian or military who has had access to such material is conditioned to the point where it’s second nature not to reveal anything of that nature. I’d guess anyone with an IQ over two digits would figure that out. That’s forgivable. The part which convinces me that you are one waste of space wannabe puke is that rather than connecting it to some movie you saw and insulting his honor and integrity, you should be thanking him for who he is and what he’s done as some of the few true force-multipliers out there protecting your sorry ass. He has been able to get in a group that 99.99% of you out there could not come close to – then it gets harder. If I were you, I’d stick my head in a microwave oven as penance.

      Oh have a nice day.

      Report Post »  
  • MeMadMax
    Posted on June 6, 2012 at 12:36pm

    I like my “callsign” its nice and simple: MM3.

    It means bada$$ Navy Engineer.

    “We don’t sweat the load, we carry it!”

    Report Post » MeMadMax  
    • MONICNE
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 2:09pm

      No one asked me, but I saw this tee shirt being worn by a MM3 SS* in Saratoga (Ballston Spa) NY

      THE SHAFT IS AFT

      *Machinist Mate Third Class Submarine Specialist (Nuclear Power)

      Report Post » MONICNE  
    • Fubared
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 5:24pm

      Something about rather having a sister in whore house in Rosey Rhodes as opposed to a brother in the navy…Encinomom knows all about aft shafting I bet.

      Report Post »  
  • Tombstone
    Posted on June 6, 2012 at 12:36pm

    15T3F.. Ret

    Report Post » Tombstone  
  • wpatte2454
    Posted on June 6, 2012 at 12:35pm

    Lets just say your team is using night vision on a mission and all hell break loose and you might loose coms with some people and soon the enemy and you are mixed together that call sign sure would come in handy then trust me when I tell you there is a several valid reasons why they would wear that.

    MSG P
    USA Retired

    Report Post »  
  • ESSAYONS
    Posted on June 6, 2012 at 12:21pm

    12 Bravo A/326 Sapper Eagles

    Thank you all for your service. GOD Bless and Protect the USA

    Report Post »  
  • Bombgod1
    Posted on June 6, 2012 at 12:08pm

    55D then 89D with 93B Secondary

    Report Post » Bombgod1  
  • schroeder123
    Posted on June 6, 2012 at 11:50am

    Oh yea. That’s what I want to wear if I get caught by the enemy. Sniper. They would take the sniper fist and torture him.

    Report Post » schroeder123  
    • JackMurphyRGR
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 11:58am

      They would have to go through an entire Ranger company to get to you. This isn‘t ’Nam.

      Report Post »  
    • JackMurphyRGR
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 12:01pm

      Also, I‘m pretty sure that the actual sniper rifle ID’s the soldier as a sniper more so than a callsign patch with inch and a half letters. Just saying.

      Report Post »  
    • @leftfighter
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 12:23pm

      What JackMurphyRGR said.

      Especially the second post.

      Report Post » @leftfighter  
    • COFemale
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 12:29pm

      I could be mistaken, but I believe these patches are on velcro pad, so could be pulled off in event of capture given enough time. Snipers can be up to a mile away, so likelihood of getting captured is low.

      Report Post » COFemale  
    • Sinclare
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 1:07pm

      Something tells me looking at the sniper rifle would be easier to figure out than the patch. :) Just sayin’

      Report Post »  
    • SUNTZU
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 3:38pm

      In my day ,when we went outside the wire..We had
      Camo BDU and the only thing on them were the
      POCKETS

      Report Post » SUNTZU  
  • Kinnison
    Posted on June 6, 2012 at 11:05am

    As the cognoscente know, Marine MOS numbers are completely different from the Army’s, and we don’t put radio call signs together like the Army does either. Force Recon is just as bad as Delta, Ranger or SF. Same hymn, different pew. Here‘s to the guys who didn’t make it home…

    Report Post »  
    • ishka4me
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 11:36am

      the reason ? who knows but sure there is some reason. A few things that i always wondered about as an 11c in the light infantry with 81 mm mortars was why we had to rub brake fluid on the kevlar coating of our humvees to make them look shiny. I would think it gives the enemy an adavantage . Another observation of the same humvees was the entire humvee was kevlar, the tires had packets thatwould inflate with some type of goo if shot, but the doors of the vehicle where soldiers sat were a thin rubber plastic. We wee issued cold weather gear but never allowed to use them even in very cold weather but still had to pack them and carry them around. I think i could go on and on of all the dumb things we did every day on pretty much every aspect of military life that even your entry level soldiers would quickly form the opinion that it was stupid. Glad to see this tradition continues. also one thing that a few may remember was at Jmp school the Black Hats made you go to the boot black where they put some kind of shiny paint/wax combo on your boots to pass daily inspection , that crumbled off by the end of the day and after 3 weeks it ruined your boots not to mention the God awful smell that remained. It has been a long time and if i sat back and thought about it for a while i could write a book about these things

      Report Post »  
  • Tayper
    Posted on June 6, 2012 at 10:55am

    Remembering D-Day and Thank You

    Report Post »  
    • VRW Conspirator
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 10:40am

      YES Tayper…

      I heard NOTHING on the news..not even the Blaze or Glenn on radio….June 6th 1944 D-day…78 years ago…I was kinda bummed when I grew up and learned that it was supposed to be June 4th but the fog stopped the invasion… June 4th is my birthday…June 5th my aunt and uncle were born..opposite sides of the family tree… not that any of that is important…

      but HOOYAH to those that fought and died and never were buried on home soil… Lincoln had it right in the Gettysburg Address…the beaches of Normandy were consecrated USA soil by the blood our nation spilt there…..

      I cry every time I think that our schools and our society don’t even blink on December 7th and June 6th any longer….September 11th was only 10 years ago and it is already forgotten as well…SHAMEFUL

      Report Post » VRW Conspirator  
  • Socrates
    Posted on June 6, 2012 at 10:53am

    I do not know how I went 25 years as a 19D (Recon Scout) in the Army without my call sign on my shoulder and still got the job done? Hmm…I think these gee wiz guys play to many video games.

    Report Post » Socrates  
    • Melvin Spittle
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 11:06am

      I would not care what any one thinks. If it works, it works. My only observation is that the enemy recon can see it too and would soon connect the dots and add to their intel picture regarding unit details.

      Report Post » Melvin Spittle  
    • JackMurphyRGR
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 11:12am

      The entire Special Operations community is playing to many video games? I think the video games are replicating what Special Operations does, not the other way around. Your comment is beyond silly. If you’d like to retract it now we can just leave it in the past and pretend it never happened.

      Report Post »  
    • Watermain
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 12:00pm

      Didn’t need a patch…the radio antenna made an adequate aim point. Welcome home, brothers.

      Report Post » Watermain  
    • palmkris
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 12:11pm

      I’m sure many things have changed since your day. For one thing the military units of today are working off the experience of fighting a war on multiple fronts for the last twelve years. No other war in U.S. history lasted that long. There are soldiers with multiple tours who have never known peace time. You don‘t look old enough to have fought in Vietnam so I’m going to assume the most action you saw was during training. Out of those 25 years, you spent 10 working as a recruiter (probably in some stripmall). I wouldn’t exactly call you an expert in what works in a wartime environment, although if you want to sell me a vacuum cleaner I‘m sure you’re more than qualified.

      Report Post »  
  • Shellback
    Posted on June 6, 2012 at 10:50am

    Thanks for all of your service, but as a sub sailor I do have to point out that it was all “shore duty”.

    Report Post » Shellback  
  • Griffin06
    Posted on June 6, 2012 at 10:40am

    Granted I’m just a lowly MP, but I’ve never heard of anyone putting their call-sign on their shoulder, not even SF. Seems pretty dumb to me, and pretty unnecessary, since SF teams are usually pretty small.

    Report Post »  
    • JackMurphyRGR
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 11:00am

      What Special Forces teams did you work with and when? Special Forces, Rangers, SEALs, and many others often use callsign patches.

      Report Post »  
    • 666Sucks
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 11:52am

      Griffin 06 I was an MP 76 – 99 as well, this sounds crazy! See my below comment!

      Report Post » 666Sucks  
    • Griffin06
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 10:26pm

      Jack, I had to coordinate with a few different SF groups in 2007-2008 in Iraq, as well as last year in Afghanistan. I am NOT going to mention specific groups here. And in full disclosure, not all of those coordinations were pleasant ones. A lot of times, their normal practices didn’t mesh well with our SOPs, SOPs that exist for a reason. They work in one world, we work in another, and even though we are all on the same side, with the same “big picture” goals in mind, sometimes those differences created conflict. But from my perspective, this just doesn’t seem like a good idea. There is one scenario where I can see it, but it’s not one that I like, and it‘s not something I’m going to bring up here (nothing sinister, just a professional disagreement). I’ve got several friends who are SF-types, and most of them are “quiet professionals”, including a crusty old Master Sergeant that taught a snot-nosed young cadet a lot. But I’ve also known several that were arrogant jack-asses who thought they were above the rules.
      Triple-6, always good to hear from a brother MP. Of the troops!!

      Report Post »  
    • Griffin06
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 10:42pm

      And to avoid any confusion, my “arrogant jack-ass” reference was not a shot at Jack. It was a shot at the specific, aforementioned arrogant jack-asses. No need to read anything more into it than that, folks.

      Report Post »  
    • JackMurphyRGR
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 12:43pm

      Thanks for elaborating Griff. SOF and conventional units can work together but in my experience, both parties really have to want to make it work. I’ve had both good and bad experiences as well.

      Report Post »  
  • Fubared
    Posted on June 6, 2012 at 10:37am

    Quick, somebody send 0 his POS patch.

    Report Post »  
  • TWO BITS
    Posted on June 6, 2012 at 10:33am

    Thanks for the information. I only deciphered the sniper patch.
    I especially want to express my gratitude to all who have served! We would be lost without you!

    Report Post » TWO BITS  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on June 6, 2012 at 10:28am

    For all of you who serve or have served:

    Thank You.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • brother_ed
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 11:48am

      I’ll second that!

      THANK-YOU!!

      May God bless America and the men and women who keep her free.

      Report Post » brother_ed  
    • pamela kay
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 1:44am

      Amen, SNOWLEOPARD.

      Report Post » pamela kay  
  • Vietvet1
    Posted on June 6, 2012 at 10:09am

    We called it “Eleven Bush” or “Eleven Charles” if you played with mortars… I was ADA .. Air Defense Artillery… I was on Quad 50′s and we were attached to Dusters ( Twin 40mm Pom-Poms on a tank body). No enemy aircraft made it as far south as we were so we used them for anti personnel and vehicles. Was always good to “reach out and touch someone”…

    But be this as it may…we were always told that when push comes to shove… cook, clerk, mechanic… instantly became a Rifleman when the need arose. I still have booney hats that still have Nam dirt in them.. would divorce my wife if she washed them. My son used my last pair of “blue bleached” jungle fatigues to train for the Police Force… and if I look hard enough I can find a pair of “self made” suede jungle boots I wore. Oh and I still have the P-38 that opened my last can of C-Rats in Nam on my keychain and it will still open a coffee can quite well. We all have memories and nomenclatures. IEDs to the Sandbox Vets were Boobytraps to Nam Vets.Different name same damage and intent. We had MARS and they have the Internet… same intent. War is the same just the years change… Oh as far as Identity on the battlefield… look at the Civil War uniforms and check the colors… they marked who was who on the uniform… nothing new… different method, same intent.

    Report Post »  
    • Deceived and Disgusted
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 11:05am

      Thank you for the insight of then vs. now and the Nam reflection.

      Report Post »  
    • Bum thrower
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 2:07pm

      My call sign was M (Mike) 18; had several prefixes, and an ‘unofficial’ call sign too; used grease pencil to write others on my trouser leg; we’ve come a long way…….since the ‘nam.

      Report Post »  
  • MOS 11B
    Posted on June 6, 2012 at 9:34am

    I was also 11B as my handle points out!
    I was Light Infantry,we were called Ground Pounders
    or 11 Bang-Bang & were referred to as the Tip of Spear.

    Report Post »  
    • Texas Chris
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 9:54am

      13F here with a reclass to 11B.

      Report Post »  
    • Warthog Fixer
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 10:32am

      Did 9 years Army as a 13F2P, been Air Force for the past 10 as a 2A373. I gotta admit, I miss jumpin out of airplanes and blowin stuff up, but my knees sure don’t!

      Report Post » Warthog Fixer  
    • gpk
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 10:58am

      I was 11D.

      Report Post »  
    • dawghowse
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 11:22am

      11B3V also 19D, 31M, 00R

      Report Post » dawghowse  
    • Bombgod1
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 12:04pm

      Or a “crunchy” Thats the sound you make when you get ran over by a tank.

      Report Post » Bombgod1  
    • enough_liberal_BS
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 1:02pm

      11B 88-90, 95B for Gulf War then 12B til 96 and out.

      Report Post »  
    • Rock Storm
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 1:09pm

      13F2P for 5 years for me with secondaries in both 11B and 63B

      Another name for the Infantry is The Queen of Battle or my favorite……..grunts…..and as a good 11B friend told me one day ‘You can’t take a dump without a grunt’.

      Thanks to all of the Vets, past and present.

      Rock of the Marne

      Report Post » Rock Storm  
  • lielyle
    Posted on June 6, 2012 at 9:33am

    field artillery

    13B30 bomb thrower (6 BAG)

    Report Post »  
    • Kafir-Islamsux
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 10:25am

      Field Artillery lends dignity to what otherwise would be a vulgar brawl…

      13A with a 53A secondary.

      Report Post » Kafir-Islamsux  
  • 666Sucks
    Posted on June 6, 2012 at 9:29am

    Why does this bother me? Why are we putting large visible numbers on our special operators (SO) and telling the world, looky here, this is a special ops soldier? Why are we identifying to the world exactly what each SO is, who is a leader,who is a highly trained sniper? Why is all this now being leaked to the press? When I was in combat, we stopped all saluting so that we didn’t expose leaders to snipers. Why do the Chinese now have a mirror of our F 22. Why did we give the Soviets all the Serial Numbers to all the Nukes we sold to Britain? Why are 4 star generals who know exactly what Marxists are coming out and endorsing our Marxist Dictator in Chief? Folks, we have HUGE problems in the DOD! Our troops are being set up for failure! With a president like Obama, WHO NEEDS ENEMIES!?!? Finally a sign of hope, thank God America is waking up and we defeated the socialists of Wisconsin! But is it too late?

    Report Post » 666Sucks  
    • JackMurphyRGR
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 11:08am

      Take a deep breath. Everything is okay. Callsign patches are to help members within the ground assault force to ID each other. If you read through what I actually wrote I mentioned that we moved away from the actual job titles such as “SNP” and adopted a alpha-numeric system. Callsign patches are something that was adopted by the Special Operations community, give these guys some credit, they know what they are doing. This was not “leaked” to the press. I published this on my blog about a year ago and then re-posted it on SOFREP.com about a week ago. Pictures of Special Operations troops wearing callsign patches have been open-source basically since the beginning of the war. I just gave a little context to what they are for. Check your sources, find citations for the information you repeat, and make no assumptions.

      Oh, yeah. This also has nothing to do with Obama, no matter how much you might want it too.

      Report Post »  
    • 666Sucks
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 11:45am

      Well maybe I’m getting old or out of date, but we used to have a CEOI that changed daily and had to be burned when finished, it was classified Secret. When I went into East Germany, we had to remove all identifying patches from our uniforms, why? We used to call that OPSEC! The DOD has been infiltrated by Communists (they used to be our enemy, in fact my dad died defending America from Communists), see Collin Powell and others who endorse Obama. You are our priceless heros, beware the Normalcy Bias!

      Report Post » 666Sucks  
    • rawmilker
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 12:28pm

      Agreed 666, this is on a need to know basis & the general civilain/world population doesn’t need to know.

      We Marines don’t wear all those patches, it kind of tacks up the uniform…USMC Infantry 0311/0331

      Today is D-Day, God Bless those Army troopers that stormed Normandy…we salute you bave warriors!

      Report Post » rawmilker  
  • bandi9
    Posted on June 6, 2012 at 9:21am

    cool. my son just got out and is in the Ranger 3rd Battallion. some bad ass dudes

    Report Post »  
    • rangerp
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 9:29am

      bandi9

      Congrats to your son. He is a very find unit, and not better place to start a career in the military.

      Report Post » rangerp  
    • rangerp
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 9:45am

      Wow, I sure fat fingered that one. Meant to say –

      Congrats to your son. He is in a very fine unit, and no better place to start a career in the military, than the Ranger Regiment..

      Report Post » rangerp  
    • Balrog28
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 10:56am

      The good-ole USofA needs more like your son.

      Thank you for serving son of Bandi9!

      Report Post » Balrog28  
  • RushEcho2
    Posted on June 6, 2012 at 8:41am

    From loyal Americans, “Thank You for your service; God bless you!”

    Report Post » RushEcho2  
    • CK1911
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 9:20am

      Ditto that, especially our snipers

      Report Post »  
    • astrodude
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 5:33pm

      AFSC J30150 – Aircraft Radio Repair Tech-F4C.. 12th TFW, first F4C wing in AF. The 12th supported the 555th, 556th and 557th F4C squadrons in ‘Nam. Trouble was, our wing was still flying subsonic F84Fs in ‘62 during Cuban missle crisis. Only armament was .50 machine guns and 2.75 rockets. Thankfully, push didn’t come to shove. BTW AMAZING_GRACE, general was a brevet rank Custer held in the Civil War. His permanent rank was colonel. In retrospect, he was a poor tactician. Another round for all those who have served.

      Report Post » astrodude  
  • Valley Forge Guns Owner
    Posted on June 6, 2012 at 8:38am

    Why is this a story, I was a 15E, these are called MOS numbers, military occupational specialty numbers, glad I wasn’t a 11B (Infantry Man) or as we called them “11 Bullet Catchers”.

    Report Post »  
    • LazloWhoopingcough
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 9:15am

      “What did you do in the war Grandpa?”

      “Well, Timmy, I replaced glow pugs on Cox model airplane engines. The horror. The horror.”

      Report Post »  
    • pavnvet
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 9:16am

      I was an 11B in Vietnam. We called it 11 Bang-Bang.

      Report Post » pavnvet  
    • JackMurphyRGR
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 11:10am

      It’s only a story because there are many people out there who never served in the military and have no idea what an “MOS” or a “Callsign” is. Not everyone has our background so you have to understand that I didn’t publish this story to intentionally talk down to military vets but to help enlighten civilians who have an interest in military special operations units.

      Report Post »  
    • nonofmybiznez
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 3:38pm

      I was thinking this was TMI and whoever didn‘t know what it was didn’t have a need to know. Thanks for clarifying that you wanted to enlighten the unenlightened. Arrrugh!

      Report Post » nonofmybiznez  
    • edmundburk
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 7:22pm

      From a former 45B to ALL our servicemen past and present….HOORAH!! BTW, for those of you that were Combat Arms please respect the service of those of us who were service support.

      Report Post » edmundburk  

Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In