Morale Patches...?

[UH60guy]

Here's the Army Aviation not-so-secret for wearing morale patches. Velcro to your flight helmet. CAP version- I'm sure you can get some velcro tape from Wal Mart and stick it to your David Clarks for use in the aircraft. What makes this solution great is that the regs don't get into headsets, and it's done through velcro so you can easily remove it if you need to be serious (VIP transport, public relations, etc).

I'd conservatively estimate 85%* of Army pilots have (at a minimum) a fun meter pegged out on their flight helmet


*note, coincidentally, 85% of statistics are also made up on the spot.


Again, and I stress this, it really depends on the situation. Morale patches pretty much by definition are breaking regulations, or at least the spirit of them (uniformity). You really need to assess what you're doing, the situation, the appearance you present, and how you can handle the repercussions when you invariably get told to knock it off.

[Pulsar]

While morale patches are fun, they shouldn't be used on the CAP gear like 24hr pack and such.  I have a couple but they are stuck to my top of my car or a jacket I wear in civilian clothes.  Wear this on a uniform or military item you will be told to take it off.  I did this once as a young dumb Amn three years ago; never again.  I am just going to leave this link here that talks about items like this, such as KCCO. 

http://www.cadetstuff.org/you-are-only-as-sharp-as-your-creases/#more-747

I really like this article!

really?...I really, really, really,really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really like it and others...

[Phil Hirons, Jr.]

I can't find an image of my other favorite.

Mission Base (or Staff) done up in Dunkin' Donuts font & colors.

[FlyTiger77]

I have misplaced my "PowerPoint" ranger tab that I wore under the flap of my shoulder sleeve in Iraq. 

[NIN]

Here's the Army Aviation not-so-secret for wearing morale patches. Velcro to your flight helmet. CAP version- I'm sure you can get some velcro tape from Wal Mart and stick it to your David Clarks for use in the aircraft. What makes this solution great is that the regs don't get into headsets, and it's done through velcro so you can easily remove it if you need to be serious (VIP transport, public relations, etc).

I'd conservatively estimate 85%* of Army pilots have (at a minimum) a fun meter pegged out on their flight helmet

Back in the bad old days of P/NVS-5s and "beaucoup velcro" on the SPH-4 to help hold it on or balance it out, I kept more than a few things velcro'd to the back of my bonedome.

State flag
"You call, we haul"
"Chinooks haul above all"
I even had an embroidered version of the old "He ain't heavy, he's my brother" shirt with a -47 hauling a -60 (the natural state of the UH-60 in the mid 1980s)

[Eclipse]

I have the fun meter one in both versions (high and low).

I designed one I thought was cool, but haven't found a vendor that will make them since
they are a riff on a corporate logo.

I have to mea-culpa big-time to Ace Browning on all the grief I gave him regarding the HD-GTM patches about copyright, etc.,
though he hasn't been around since April of last year.

http://captalk.net/index.php?topic=5571.0

So, mea culpa.

I can't find an image of my other favorite.

Mission Base (or Staff) done up in Dunkin' Donuts font & colors.

[Brad]

Apparently the US National Reconnaissance Office is not adverse to the idea of off-the-wall patches, morale or actual unit-wise...



http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2013/12/06/nothing-is-beyond-our-reach-nro-new-logo-claims/

[TexasCadet]

While morale patches are fun, they shouldn't be used on the CAP gear like 24hr pack and such.  I have a couple but they are stuck to my top of my car or a jacket I wear in civilian clothes.  Wear this on a uniform or military item you will be told to take it off.  I did this once as a young dumb Amn three years ago; never again.  I am just going to leave this link here that talks about items like this, such as KCCO. 

http://www.cadetstuff.org/you-are-only-as-sharp-as-your-creases/#more-747

I have an American flag on my 24-hour pack, and I am debating on whether to put a name tape on it. While an American flag is not a morale patch, what actually defines a "morale" patch?

[Eclipse]

Neither a flag or a nametape, nor any other CAP insignia would be consider "morale patches" - those are generally some
sarcastic / ironic / satirical take off on a real patch, and frankly I don't really see any issue with putting whatever you
want on your gear, since it's equipment, not uniform.

[a2capt]

A space shuttle crew mission patch could be looked as an "approved" morale patch.

Something that a group of you can share a common bond over, usually with a bit of humor.

The items in this thread are great examples, actually.

[GroundHawg]

Neither a flag or a nametape, nor any other CAP insignia would be consider "moral patches" - those are generally some
sarcastic / ironic / satirical take off on a real patch, and frankly I don't really see any issue with putting whatever you
want on your gear, since it's equipment, not uniform.

On 12/08/13 I agreed with Eclipse. I can now retire to Belize as I know the apocalypse is upon us...

[gruntmp]

I really miss my "Suck Meter" patch right now!

[ol'fido]

I want a "Mickey Mouse Meter" patch for uniform threads.

[UWONGO2]

Here's an example right off a guard unit's website:

http://www.161arw.ang.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/101117-F-1646D-035.jpg (sorry, this photo is HUGE, broadband definitely required)

Notice the guy on the right. Guess which airline he works for 

[PHall]

Here's an example right off a guard unit's website:

http://www.161arw.ang.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/101117-F-1646D-035.jpg (sorry, this photo is HUGE, broadband definitely required)

Notice the guy on the right. Guess which airline he works for 

Well considering he's in the AZ ANG at Phoenix-Sky Harbor, it's not surprising at all.

Morale patches are banned from wear by AFI 36-2903, but that never stopped anybody in my unit.
You just have to be smart on when you wear them.

[sarmed1]

.....

Morale patches are banned from wear by AFI 36-2903, but that never stopped anybody in my unit.
You just have to be smart on when you wear them.

I know this may come as a shock to most people in CAP; but there are about as many instances and as many people that violate the US Military's uniform regulations everyday.  The somehow misguided belief that "this kinda crap wouldnt fly in the "Real Military"  is over rated.  The same BS lines are used there.
a-My commander said it was authorized and he's a Col and you're not.
b-This is how my unit does it
c-I have always wore it/wore it here/wore it this way-and no one has ever said otherwise.
d-That's more of a guideline than a rule
e-Its the field
f-This is about practical, not about parades.
g-I have a profile.

and the list goes on.....

Sorry.... just a soap box moment.  The bandwagon thought:  is you know the rules, if you break them, dont be act all hurt when you get called out on them; morale patches are no different.... (and dont get your picture in the paper while you are doing it...)

mk

[sarmed1]

That being said I have quite a number that come out to play depending on the situation; military or civilian...
Fun meter (both directions), BS meter (redlined), FNG, paramedic, and secret squirrel (I used to have a SG1 patch that was known to show up on occasion, but cant seem to locate it any more)

mk

[Shuman 14]

That being said I have quite a number that come out to play depending on the situation; military or civilian...
Fun meter (both directions), BS meter (redlined), FNG, paramedic, and secret squirrel (I used to have a SG1 patch that was known to show up on occasion, but cant seem to locate it any more)

mk

http://www.stitchsloft.com/loft/sg-1-patch/

There you go! 

[Eclipse]

CAP is part of SG-6.

[UH60guy]

Nerd alert:

Though I wasn't in their unit, every now and then the other pilot in my UH-60 downrange would be from the Charlie Company "Vipers." I had a Battlestar Galactica viper pilot patch I adorned on the rear velcro of my flight helmet for such occasions.



The rest of the time, since we were in the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, "Pegasus," I had a Battlestar Pegasus patch on the back.

On the front, I had a NASA "meatball" logo patch given to me by a NASA WB-57 pilot and former astronaut I met while overseas. Though I wore it with pride, somehow the NASA patch never did help me get accepted into the Space Shuttle door guner or ISS death ray operator program.