TANK GUNNERY PATCHES RIDE AGAIN?

It appears that some U.S. Army units have begun wearing tank gunnery patches again. The current patches are quite different from the previous patches. None of the patches that have surfaced have the year on the patch, and no year tabs have come to light that were worn with these patches. Also, the vast majority of these patches do not identify which vehicle or weapon system crews were eligible to wear the patch. And, no "Support" patches have come to light. Finally, none of these patches use the "traditional" tank gunnery patch shape that was adopted in the early 1960s.

Many of these patches are being awarded by maneuver battalions assigned to the 1^st Cavalry Division, which is stationed at Fort Cavazos (formerly Fort Hood).

Figures 1 to 4 illustrate patches issued by the 1^st Cavalry Division at Fort Cavazos. The patches in Figures 5 and 6 do not identify the specific battalion that issued these patches, but they were probably worn by units assigned to the 1^st Cavalry Division.

Figure 1

1^st Bn, 5^th Cavalry (2^nd BCT, 1^st Cav Div) Superior TCQC(?) patch. U.S. made, embroidered on twill with a merrowed edge. This patch also exists in "Qualified" and "Distinguished."

Figure 2

2^nd Bn, 5^th Cavalry (1^st BCT, 1^st Cav Div) Distinguished TCQC(?) patch. U.S. made, embroidered on twill with a merrowed edge. I do not know if this patch was issued in other versions, such as "Qualified."

Figure 3

1^st Bn, 8^th Cavalry (2^nd BCT, 1^st Cav Div) Qualified Crew. U.S. made, all embroidered with a merrowed edge. I do not know if this patch was issued in other versions.

Figure 4

1^st Bn, 8^th Cavalry (2^nd BCT, 1^st Cav Div) Distinguished Crew. U.S. made, all embroidered with a merrowed edge. This patch also exists in "Qualified" and "Superior."

Figure 5

__ Bn, 8^th Cavalry Superior Crew. U.S. made, embroidered on twill with a merrowed edge. This patch was also issued in "Distinguished." I do not know if any other versions of this patch exists.

Figure 6

__ Bn, 9th Cavalry Distinguished Crew. U.S. made, embroidered on twill with a merrowed edge. This patch also exists in "Qualified" and "Superior."

Figure 7 is the one patch that was definitely not worn at Fort Cavazos. This patch was issued by the 3rd Bn(M), 7th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Div, at Fort Stewart.

Figure 7

3rd Bn(M), 7th Infantry (3rd Inf Div) "Killer Crew" – Bradley Fighting Vehicle qualification patch(?). U.S. made, embroidered on twill with a merrowed edge. I do not know if this patch was issued in other versions.