ARMY APPROVES COMBAT PATCH FOR SOLDIERS WHO DEPLOYED TO ISRAEL AND TURKEY IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM
V Corps Release
Release Date: 03/15/2004
By Pfc. Michael J. Taylor 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade Public Affairs Office
GIEBELSTADT ARMY AIRFIELD, Germany -- The Secretary of the Army has approved the wear of the Shoulder Sleeve Insignia-Former Wartime Service, or combat patch, for Soldiers who deployed to Israel and Turkey from March 19, 2003 to May 9, 2003 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The old policy stipulated that Soldiers be deployed in the U.S. Central Command area of operations and be under the command of the CENTCOM commanding general to be authorized to wear the patch. Thus Soldiers who supported OIF as part of Joint Task Force Cobra in Israel and Task Force North as part of Army Forces-Turkey operated outside of the geographical boundaries of the CENTCOM area of responsibility and were not qualified to add the patch to their uniforms.
However, because these soldiers actively support ground combat operations against hostile forces during OIF in which they were directly or indirectly exposed to the threat of enemy action or fire, the new policy includes Israel and Turkey in its provisions.
Those soldiers who deployed to Israel or Turkey on training exercises or in support of operations other than OIF are not authorized the patch unless those exercises or operations became combat or support missions for OIF. Joint Task Force Cobra falls into this category, since it began as the Juniper Cobra 2005 training exercise, but soldiers remained in Israel to support OIF.
Now Soldiers who participated in Joint Task Force Cobra and Task Force North may wear the combat patch along with other troops who support OIF.
Soldiers should contact their personnel offices if they have questions regarding the wear of the patch.
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