Talk:172nd Infantry Regiment (United States, 1982-present)

Military history: North America / United States

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The article states:

"3-172 IN (MTN) currently wears the 86th IBCT shoulder sleeve insignia (SSI), however, the battalion has a somewhat unique SSI history.

From the unit's inception in 1982, until the formation of the 86th IBCT in 2007, the battalion wore the First Army insignia with "Mountain" tab as its SSI. This was originally only temporarily authorized, but as time passed no further provision of SSI for the organization was made. This is a debated and controversial unit insignia as it is almost completely unknown amongst the senior leadership of the United States Army. Many soldiers incorrectly believe that the 10th Mountain Division and the 86th IBCT are the only units ever authorized to wear a Mountain tab.

There are numerous veterans of OIF and OEF who are authorized to wear the First Army insignia with "Mountain" tab as a "combat patch" (SSI-FWTSI). The only known proof of authorization for wear of the First Army insignia with Mountain tab for members of 3-172 IN (MTN) hangs framed in the unit's home Armory in Jericho, VT."

This is completely untrue. Department of the Army policy states that Airborne and Mountain tabs are integral parts of a unit patch and can not be added if a subordinate unit is Mountain or Airborne. Thus, the First Army patch is not authorized the tab. Additionally, no units involved in the occupations of Afghanistan or Iraq have been authorized to adopt the mountain tab. Following its return from a tour in Afghanistan, members of the 4th requested the tab to be added to their patch because they had operated in mountains and the request was denied by DA. For further clarification contact Bonnie Henning at The Institute of Heraldry at (703) 806-4972 or bonnie.s.henning.civ@mail.mil or bonnie.henning@us.army.mil VilePig (talk)