Patches & Insignia
Our military patches and insignia let you mark your gear, show your branch and add personality to a bag, cap or plate carrier. This collection holds more than ninety Rothco items, from full-color flag patches to polished rank pins.
- U.S. flag patches: embroidered iron-on/sew-on flags, hook-back American flag patches and PVC flag patches with hook backing.
- Rank and officer insignia: polished enlisted pins from Private First Class to First Sergeant, plus officer insignia from 2nd Lieutenant to Brigadier General stars, and an Official U.S. Made Embroidered Rank Insignia for Sergeant.
- Branch insignia and pins: U.S. letters insignia, the Marine Corps Eagle, Globe and Anchor, a USMC cap pin, an officer's infantry pin, a USAF pilot wing pin and "scrambled eggs" visor patches.
- Round service patches for the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, a POW-MIA patch and a 9th Corps patch.
- Morale patches: Don't Tread On Me, Molon Labe, Come and Take It, Sheep Dog, crossed rifles, skull and knife, zombie and many more, in embroidered and PVC versions.
- Security and police patches, including reflective and PVC hook-back versions and a security patch sized for an operators cap.
- Patch tools: a hook and loop patch book for storage, Patch Attach, a ribbon mount and an insignia attachment kit for ECWCS liners.
Assorted bags of G.I. and subdued military patches make good starter sets for collectors.
A note for service members: DA PAM 670-1 lists exactly which insignia go on the Army combat uniform, and novelty morale patches aren't on that list. The U.S. flag insignia goes on the right shoulder and is not sewn on. Read the guide below before adding anything to your uniform.
How to Choose Military Patches
Start with where the patch will go. That decides the backing, size and material you need.
Hook-Back vs. Sew-On vs. Iron-On Patches
- Hook-back patches stick to loop panels on caps, packs, plate carriers and uniform sleeves. You can swap them in seconds.
- Sew-on patches are the most permanent and suit jackets, bags and vests where you won't swap the patch.
- Iron-on patches are quick to apply to cotton and denim, but stitching around the edge helps them last through washing.
Embroidered vs. PVC Military Patches
Embroidered patches have a classic, textured look. PVC patches are molded rubber: they resist water, mud and fading, and wipe clean, which suits packs and outdoor gear.
Metal Insignia and Pins
Polished pins are for display, shadow boxes, dress hats and civilian pride. A ribbon mount holds ribbons in a neat row, and the patch book keeps a collection organized.
Military Patches and Army Uniform Regulations
Paragraph 4-5 of DA PAM 670-1 lists the insignia authorized on the Army combat uniform: badges and tabs, brassards, grade insignia, headgear insignia, shoulder sleeve insignia, the nametape and U.S. Army tape, and the full-color U.S. flag or tactical flag insignia. Morale patches aren't on that list, so they don't belong on the uniform. Paragraph 4-7 also bars blood type, medic, combat lifesaver and allergy patches from the combat uniform.
U.S. Flag Patch Rules
Paragraph 21-19 places the flag on the right shoulder. The right-sleeve flag is the reverse-side version, with the star field forward so the flag appears to fly as you move. The full-color flag is red, white and blue and about 2 by 3 inches. The subdued tactical flag is worn when the commander directs under tactical field conditions. Soldiers do not sew either flag on the uniform.
Unit Patches, Rank and Nametapes
- The current unit shoulder sleeve insignia goes on the left sleeve hook-and-loop pad and is not sewn on (para 21-17).
- The combat patch goes on the right sleeve pad, below the flag, and is not sewn on (para 21-18).
- Enlisted Soldiers wear subdued grade insignia centered on the uniform's hook-and-loop pad (para 21-7).
- The nametape and U.S. Army tape use black block letters on a camouflage background matching the uniform (para 21-25).
- Badges must be all sewn or all pinned; if you sew badges, the nametape, Army tape and grade insignia must be sewn too (para 4-8).
Air Force and Other Services
Air Force OCP nametapes and U.S. Air Force tapes are embroidered in spice brown thread, and the flag patch goes on the right sleeve. The Navy and Marine Corps have their own insignia rules.
Where Military Patches Do Belong
Morale and flag patches look right on backpacks, range bags, plate carriers, caps and airsoft kit. They also make good gifts and challenge-coin-style trades. Airsoft teams often use matching patches to tell sides apart, and a blood type patch on a range bag or plate carrier can help medics in training, even though it is off-limits on the Army combat uniform.
Collecting and Displaying Insignia
Rank pins, branch insignia and unit patches make meaningful shadow box pieces for a retirement or a family member's service. Mount them on felt, keep them out of direct sun, and label each one with the years and unit it represents.