Raiders earn combat patch

Photo By 1st Sgt. Luisito Brooks | Soldiers of 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division observe their battalion motto and "Keep up the fire" during their patching ceremony, Nov. 11 on Joint Security Station Nasir Wa Salam, on the western outskirts of Baghdad.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

11.11.2009

Story by Sgt. Bryce Dubee 

4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division

BAGHDAD, Iraq — All across western Baghdad, Soldiers from the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division took time, Nov. 11, to make an adjustment to their uniform; adding the distinctive Indianhead patch of the 2nd Inf. Div. to their right sleeves.

The Shoulder Sleeve Insignia-Former Wartime Service, commonly known as the "combat patch" is authorized for wear right sleeve of the uniform by Soldiers to denote their participation in combat operations.

Roughly 4,000 troops from Fort Lewis based brigade combat team arrived in Iraq in the beginning of September, conducting operations across western Baghdad and north, to include the city of Taji. Of those Soldiers, approximately 1,200 received their first combat patch on Wednesday.

"This patch is never coming off of this uniform," said Pfc. Jason Jerome, an Aniston, Ala. native assigned to 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment. "I'm really proud of it."

Units within the brigade all held their own patching ceremonies with Soldiers amassing in front of rows of Stryker armored vehicles, around a large metal anvil and even at a nighttime bonfire.

At a small ceremony held in front of the brigade headquarters, Soldiers representing every battalion received their patch from Col. John Norris, the brigade commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey Huggins, the brigade command sergeant major.

"It is, indeed, my honor to stand amongst you heroes, put your combat patches on, and welcome you to a very, very elite club," said Norris, after the ceremony.

Spc. Niomi Wright, a Portland, Ore. native from 4th Brigade's personnel office said that it felt "surreal" to actually be in Iraq and receive her patch.

"It's exciting. I never thought I'd actually deploy," she said.

Pfc. Joel Pasqualucci, from Placentia, Calif., said he feels that earning the patch will help in his military career, as a sign of experience.

"I think it represents everything that you're doing here," he said. "It's [not just] a patch."

• Date Taken: 11.11.2009
• Date Posted: 11.14.2009 02:13
• Story ID: 41575
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ