Officially known as a Shoulder Sleeve Insignia-Military Operations in Hostile Conditions (SSI-MOHC) insignia, this shoulder patch comes in two basic versions: a subdued version worn on the Army Combat Uniform (ACU) and a colored version worn on the Army Green Service Uniform AGSU. It was also worn on the old Army “Greens” uniform that was completely replaced by the blue Army Service Uniform in 2015.
Two types of subdued patches are offered: OCP is for ACUs made with the Operational Camouflage Pattern, while UCP is for now-obsolete ACUs made with the Uniform Camouflage Pattern. The color patch is worn on either the left or right shoulder of the AGSU, depending upon whether the patch is for the wearer’s current unit or a former unit that qualified as having experienced Military Operations in Hostile Conditions; this classification replaced the old “Former Wartime Service,” or FWTS.
The U.S. Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention patch was approved on 12 October 2007. Fifty-four stars placed in the border of a triangle allude to the fact that the Army National Guard has organizations in fifty states, three territories, and the District of Columbia.
A Minute Man in the center of the triangle stands ready to come to the aid of country and neighbor, much like the Army National Guard and its dual State and Federal missions. The triangle itself signifies protection and alludes to the ARNG Recruiting and Retention function of providing and maintaining military strength for national defense.
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Army National Guard (ARNG) Recruiting and Retention ID Badge