real question <American BDU Insignia Badge>

[scott]

i deserved that... (deleting the "me introducing myself post")
but heres the follow up

on an american bdu...
when sewing a rank or insignia badge on collars (or a combat inf or air assault badge for that matter)

do you fold the excess fabric under like with name tapes? otherwise if you cut it the material frays...

is there another solution?

[Yuxi]

Originally Posted by scott

i deserved that... (deleting the "me introducing myself post")
but heres the follow up

on an american bdu...
when sewing a rank or insignia badge on collars (or a combat inf or air assault badge for that matter)

do you fold the excess fabric under like with name tapes? otherwise if you cut it the material frays...

is there another solution?

Fold the edges in. But if your not qualified for those badges, and your not a historical re-enactor, I highly suggest you do not add military patches that signify either a rank or a unit unless it has been actually earned.

[scott]

thanks for the tip, i wish i could wear this one in the field

but it is for a re-anactment

[Kedirkin]

Post subject: real question

As opposed to a fake question?

More descriptive subject header next time please.

Thx.

KD

[scott]

sorry about that, wont happen again

but i just had a thought about badges and such and its not meant to offend at all...

but if i was to wear a bdu with a combat inf badge and special forces arrowhead how is that different from a guy that dresses like a swat officer? a police officer should earn that uniform, as should a canadian soldier wearing cadpat

isnt military simulation just that? a role playing in which if im playing a 10th mountain sniper, i should be able to wear the appropriate rank and skill badges?

folk wearing stars and medals are of course out of the question since they impede realism, but if patches and unit badges increased realism, shouldnt they be welcomed?

by all means tell me if you disagree, just a friendly grea related debate

scott

[Bravo One-Six]

Its been a while since this has been brought up.. so its a good discussion topic (if someone can find the previous one... you can add the link)

As an historical airsofter trying to push towards a reenacting end of things, I feel that wearing unit patches should only be done if you know something about the unit. I used to have unit patches on my uniform but pulled them since *I* don't feel I have enough knowledge (not as much as I'd like) about the units.

I discussed this with Cyclic once (He's CF and a guy I feel has a good head for these things) if he thought that it would be offensive for me to wear rank and unit patches. He said that as long as its solely confined to airsoft that it should be ok. You wouldn't wear it outside on the street as it would be the equivalant of you announcing you are from that unit. Same thing goes for rank chevrons.

If you want to wear a 10th mtn sniper rank and skill badge, i think you should know a lot about them to start with. That way, if and when someone ASKS you.. you can actually tell them about it, preserving the memory of the men who served in that unit. Otherwise, you might just be copying it for Look Cool Factor, which is less desireable.

[MadMorbius]

We wear US rank specifically to avoid any complications associated with the laws put in place after the War Measures Act.

[scott]

thanks meat, couldnt agree with you more (knowledge= realism)

im confused about the laws put in place after the war mesures act...
special powers to the police and suspension of the bill of rights, and obviously not in effect right now, but is it actually against the law to wear canadian insig.?

course, im loosely prohibited by the us army (in ar-670-1) from even owning any distintive army badge

but as far as i can tell theres no similarity to say, impersonating a police officer

[Yuxi]

Scott, the overwhelming consensus among real soldiers, especially SF ones (from other boards, not this one) is that it is extremely offensive to them for anyone wearing unit/merit badges that have not been earned, those badges are earned through blood, sweat, and determination, not a few dollars at a surplus store, Im not telling you what to do, but I would urge you not to wear the badges. Believe it or not, much of the bad name airsoft has among real soldiers very much comes from the fact that people wear real badges as it if was nothing, especially in regards to the Special Forces badge.

Yuxi

[midgetspy]

Playing the devils advocate:

If the badges are so sensitive, why do they leave 'em on the clothing when it's sent back and turned into surplus? Wouldn't the person who earned it want to keep it?

Nic

[Yuxi]

Originally Posted by midgetspy

Playing the devils advocate:

If the badges are so sensitive, why do they leave 'em on the clothing when it's sent back and turned into surplus? Wouldn't the person who earned it want to keep it?

Nic

The governments too cheap/busy to deal with removing those badges at times. Quite frankly, the government doesnt give a shit, its the ACTUALL soldiers bureaucrats who care.

[midgetspy]

I know, but the government doesn't rip the clothes off the soldiers' backs without warning, the soldiers hand them in themselves - I meant that they could take the badges off before they did so.

Nic

[Yuxi]

Originally Posted by midgetspy

I know, but the government doesn't rip the clothes off the soldiers' backs without warning, the soldiers hand them in themselves - I meant that they could take the badges off before they did so.

Nic

They could, but theres a few issues.

1. They dont all expect their BDUs to become surplus stuff, or airsofters to brandish them.

2. Its real profesional soldiers that really care, not run of the mill join the military to go to college.

If there is any doubt of what I am saying, go to any real military forum, or forums frequented by military personel, ask this question, or talk about
how you wear unit patches, and I can GURANTEE you will get a earful.

Try SOCNET or Lightfighter, and the fireworks will really come out.

[midgetspy]

1. Whatever they do, if the unit badges are so special why would they want anybody to have them except the unit members?

2. The run of the mill soldiers would likely not be in any type of special unit with a badge, correct?

It's not that I don't believe you, it just seems that for something so preventable it's odd that they get so mad about it.

Nic

[ILLusion]

1. The badges aren't special to the government. They are special to the soldiers.

2. You don't need to be in a special unit to get rank or unit badges. You just won't get "special unit" badges.