The military has a rich history of identifying servicemembers by their uniforms. In many ways, the uniform that a veteran wears signifies who they are based on what they have accomplished during their service with the US military. Therefore, understanding the proper placement of military patches and why it matters is important for veterans. Without these patches in the correct place, the service member might be misidentified and viewed incorrectly in the eyes of the US military.

Helps Identify and Represent the Individual

Because everyone within the military service wears uniforms, it can be confusing trying to remember the names and identities of individuals over time. One way around this is through the uniform. Not only does it list your name, but everything you have accomplished during your time in the service, from the day you enlist until you retire. At base commissaries and exchanges, you can find these military unit patches for sale, as they are available so service members can keep their uniforms updated at all times.

Details Branch of Service and Assignments

Your branch of service and the command you are with should be listed on several parts of the uniform. This helps identify whose leadership you are a part of, along with your personal identification, all of which is wrapped up in the uniform.

Communicates Rank of Member

One of the most important identifiers of a uniform is rank. This is important because no matter what branch of service you fall under, rank is universal throughout the military. This means that the level of respect given to someone in a higher position by someone subordinate to that rank is the same across the board.

The uniform is the single most important part of a military veteran’s career, outside of their activity and the job that they perform. Their entire life is shown through the uniform that they wear to work every day, as they add patches to it as they progress through their career. The proper placement of military patches and why it matters signifies the identity of the person behind the uniform and what they have accomplished in their time in service.