TANK   GUNNERY   PATCHES   IN   CONUS

            U.S. Army units in the Continental United States ("CONUS") were generally slow to adopt qualification patches. There was one exception, however – the 5^th Infantry Division(Mech) at Fort Carson, Colorado. The "5^th Mech" was wearing a TCQC patch by 1967 and reportedly was wearing these patches as early as 1964. See Figure 1.

In 1970 the 5^th Infantry Division(Mech) was reflagged as the 4^th Infantry Division(Mech) as part of the drawdown of the Army following the Vietnam War.

4^th Infantry Division(Mech)

            By 1972 the 4^th Infantry Division(Mech) was wearing TCQC patches. That year its patch was based on the Division shoulder patch, with Armor branch insignia and "TCQC" added. When worn by the 2^nd Bn, 34^th Armor a tab was added that identified the Battalion. I do not know if the Division's other Armor Battalions wore such tabs.

            The Division then adopted a different TCQC design during the period 1973–75. The distinguished version of the 1973 patch has an attached tab that reads "Distinguished 1973," whereas the 1974 and 1975 patches have a separate tab. See, e.g., Figure 2.

            However, in 1974 a new design appeared that the 4^th Infantry Division(Mech) apparently used through 1981 (with a slightly different design issued in 1982). This patch featured a unique type of construction – black felt fused to thin twill olive drab cloth. Another unusual thing about this patch was that it was only manufactured as a Distinguished patch. For soldiers who only achieved a Qualified rating, the "Distinguished" tab was cut off the patch with a pair of scissors before the soldier sewed the patch onto his uniform. As far as I am aware, the 4^th Infantry Div(Mech) and a National Gaurd unit, the 1^st Sqdn, 194^th Cavalry(See Reserve Component Units article, Figure 9) were the only units that used this approach. See, e.g., Figure 3.

            I have not seen tabs for any of the 4^th Inf Div(M)'s tank battalions other than the 1^st Bn, 77^th Armor. I do not know if the "Tank Gunnery Support" tab was worn by the other tank battalions in 4^th Inf Div(M). The ASMIC TCQC catalog erroneously identifies this patch for the 1–77 Armor, when it was actually issued by HQ, 4^th ID(M). It is unclear why there are two different 4^th Infantry Division(Mech) TCQC patches for 1974 and 1975.

            In addition, the 1^st Bn, 77^th Armor issued its own TCQC patch at some point. See Figure 4.

            The 4^th Infantry Division(Mech)'s cavalry squadron, the 1^st Sqdn, 10^th Cavalry, issued qualification patches in 1975 and 1976. See, e.g., Figure 5.

            Beginning in 1976, the 4^th ID issued a similar division-level patch for scout vehicle crews. This same basic patch was worn through at least 1978. These patches were presumably worn by the 1^st Squadron, 10^th Cavalry, and the scout platoons assigned to the Division's tank and mechanized infantry battalions.

            The 4^th Infantry Division(Mech) also issued qualification patches to Redeye teams and Ground Surveillance Radar crews at some point, probably in the late 1970s. See, e.g., Figure 6.

Unlike most U.S. Army units, which discontinued using qualification patches around 1983, the 4^th ID issued TCQC patches in at least 1984, 1986, and 1987. See, e.g., Figure 7.

In addition, it appears the 3^rd Brigade, 4^th Infantry Division(Mech) issued qualification patches to its scouts, tank crews, and mortar crews while the Brigade was stationed at Fort Carson during the late 1990s.

Fort Hood, Texas

            The Army's biggest concentration of armored units was at Fort Hood, Texas. During the 1960s through the 1980s there were two armored divisions stationed at Fort Hood, along with III Corps headquarters and supporting units.

            Fort Hood is unique in that both of the divisions there used the same basic design for their gunnery patches and issued the same array of patches: TCQC, mechanized infantry squad, howitzer section, air defense artillery, and an enigmatic patch that featured crossed sabers and Army aviator wings. This suggests it was issued to scout helicopter crews, and possibly other helicopter crews within air cavalry units. See, e.g., Figures 9-11 (Figure 8 has been deleted).

Another unusual thing about these patches is that, with the exception of the TCQC patches, they only exist in "Expert" versions. By contrast, the 1^st Cavalry Division issued TCQC patches in "Qualified," "Expert," and "Distinguished" versions, and the 2^nd Armored Division issued TCQC patches in "Qualified," "Superior," "Expert," and "Distinguished" versions. As far as I am aware, the 2^nd Armored Division was the only unit that issued four levels of TCQC patches. I do not know the hierarchy of these patches but if I had to guess, it would be: Qualified, Superior, Expert, Distinguished.

            It appears these patches were first worn in 1976 or 1977, and were in use through the late 1970s or early 1980s. Most of these patches did not have the year on them and it does not appear that there were tabs issued that stated the year. However, some 1^st Cavalry Division TCQC patches included "1977" or "1978." See, e.g., Figure 9(above).

             There were only a handful of battalions at Fort Hood that issued their own gunnery patches. In the 1^st Cavalry Division: (1) the 1^st Bn, 81^st Armor wore TCQC patches in 1974, see Figure 12; (2) the 1^st Bn, 7^th Cavalry issued "Distinguished" TCQC patches in 1975, see Figure 13, and "Superior" TCQC patches in 1978; and (3) the 1^st Sqdn, 9^th Cavalry issued M551 Sheridan TCQC patches, apparently in the mid or late 1970s. See Main Article, Figure 9.

            In addition, the 1^st Bn, 13^th Armor purchased 1972 TCQC patches, but supposedly these patches were never worn because a new battalion commander prohibited their use. See Figure 14.

             In the 2^nd Armored Division, the 1^st Bn, 67^th Armor issued qualification patches to drivers of their M520 "Goer" 8-ton cargo trucks. See Figure 15.

As discussed above, this unit also apparently issued a TCQC patch in 1973. See Figure 8 (above).

Fort Knox, Kentucky

             Fort Knox, Kentucky, was the home of Armor branch until 2011, when the Armor School moved to Fort Benning. There are surprisingly few gunnery patches that are known to have been worn at Fort Knox.

             During the Cold War the 194^th Armored Brigade was stationed at Fort Knox. There were two armor battalions, an armored cavalry troop, and an air cavalry unit (initially a squadron, later a troop) assigned to the 194^th, along with a mechanized infantry battalion, field artillery battalion, and other units.

             The 5^th Bn, 33^rd Armor issued TCQC patches in 1976 that had the year on the patch. See Marque (patches at the top of this website's homepage). There are also qualification patches from this unit that lack the year and may have been issued in other years, probably with a tab that stated the year and level of qualification. See, e.g., Figure 16.

             The 4^th Bn, 37^th Armor issued qualification patches in at least 1977. See, e.g., Figure 17.

The 4–37 Armor also issued a "Support" patch in 1977.See Marque (patches at top) on this website's homepage.

             Finally, the 2^nd Sqdn, 6th Cavalry was stationed at Fort Knox and supported the Armor School. Troop G issued a qualification patch in 1977. See Figure 18.

This is a rare patch that was issued by a troop that was assigned to a squadron.

            As far as I am aware, none of the training units at Fort Knox that trained tankers and scouts issued qualification patches to their trainee vehicle crews.

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3^rd Armored Cavalry Regiment

             The 3^rd Armored Cavalry Regiment moved to Fort Lewis, Washington, from West Germany in 1968. Four years later it was transferred to Fort Bliss, Texas, where the Regiment remained until 1996. Regimental Headquarters issued TCQC patches in at least 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, and 1974. See, e.g., Figure 19.

It does not appear any qualification patches were worn in the 3^rd Cav in 1975. Beginning in 1976, each squadron issued its own patches, a practice that continued through approximately 1983. See, e.g., Figures 20–22.

Other Units & Installations

             The 5^th Infantry Division(Mech)(-) was reactivated in 1974 at Fort Polk, Louisiana. The Division issued TCQC patches beginning apparently in 1976 and continuing through at least 1983. See, e.g., Figure 23.

The only other qualification patch that the 5^th ID was definitely known to have issued was a mechanized infantry patch, but I have heard the Division also issued patches to scout vehicle and M551 Sheridan crews. As far as I am aware, none of the units assigned to the 5^th Infantry Division(Mech)(-) issued their own qualification patches.