Just received a operators cap the other day and was looking at morale patches. Any good suggestions for a college civvie like me that doesn’t give the facility the reason to strip search me, or doesn’t encroach on the great honor of our currently serving men and women, and those who didn’t make it home?
Why not get an American Flag patch? When I see people actually wearing the “morale patches” I immediately think douche bag.
POG’s, FOBits, and many civilians love morale patches for some reason, maybe they put catnip in them?
I’m sure you could also get a patch with your college mascot on it. Just don’t be the civilian walking around with any type of reference to being a “pork eating infidel crusader ninja”.
Wearing patch of your blood type is also stupid, if need blood, they check your type prior no matter what your patch says.
…this whole topic of patches makes me cringe(can you tell?)
Dude, wtf? You don’t like my SPECIALFORCESNAVYSEALRECONAIRFORCENINJAPJ tab or patches?
You can put a NRA patch on it and see what response you get on campus. Then you can set them straight on the protection of the 2nd Amendment. A lot of college students and faculty are real big on freedom of speech,freedom of expression,tolerance,etc. as long as it’s their point of view. If yours is different from theirs,you can bet they’ll be as close minded as the people they claim they despise.
That patch so went out of style back in '04 
Here is what I wear when I am hiking among the Tree Huggers and Leave No Trace Nazis that seem to populate the outdoors these days…
Nah,they actually take that as a compliment! Something that says, “Made of 100% Genuine Canadian Baby Harp Sealskin”. That usually puts them into cardiac arrest! :sarcastic:
Well, my college does offer a backpacking course to trek through the Tennessee mountains. I know the professor pretty well and she would probably ask me where I got it so she can get one.
Dave L: I see a lot of operators wear the flag on their caps, and to me that is their right of passage and not mine. I have considered, however, the 13 star American flag, since I’m a history major.
Or I could actually see who the Terrorist/Jihad-U students are on my campus by wearing the Infidel, in Arabic, patch. Thought?
I’m not Dave L, but IMO displaying the flag with honor isn’t something that needs to be earned. Then again, I have OD and tan BCM low-viz flag hats that I frequently wear - I happen to like how they fit.
Nah dude, you are an American right? You have every right to wear a flag on your hat as someone who is slaying the Haj.
BTW, where are you seeing all these “operators” wearing US Flag-patched hats?
…although I have to admit low-viz 13 star flag patches have a certain appeal.
Nothing wrong with a flag hat. Im a civilian and I have an OD low vis flag hat and it is literally the only hat that doesn’t make me look like Les Miles. Maybe stay away from an IR reverse flag patch so it doesn’t look like you’re trying too hard, but other than that, go with it.
At the end of the day, as long as you’re not running around acting like a d- bag, nobody will think you are one regardless of what’s on your head.
Personally, my only real gripe is when guys wear über-tactical crap or logos/insignia to which they have no real personal connection.
A U.S. flag is always an appropriate choice in my view.
AC
Considering the view of the residents of certain parts of the planet, wearing an ‘Infidel’ patch would be as accurate a representation of yourself as wearing a flag patch, when you think about it…
On a different note, the Gadsden Flag (‘Don’t Tread On Me’) is perfectly appropriate these days.
Pat
Only thing that bugs me about reverse flag patches is people wearing them incorrectly. If you put it on your right shoulder, then OK.
Reverse flags on a hat, chest, or left shoulder: douche nozzle.
Notwithstanding the fact that it often seems to be co-opted by a myriad of contemporary causes (some better, some worse), I agree. As a historic symbol of our nation at a time when freedom was still regarded as precious – and anything but assured – Gadsden sends a clear and timeless message.
AC
I didn’t really want to post in this thread but it’s keeps popping up on the front page and I’m bored so what the hell.
Personally I think the “hilarous” morale patches with like a magnet next to a dog turd are about the dorkiest thing to come along in the last 5 years. Same for blood-type patches. That stuff reminds me of the fat guys that at the gun shop that love to quote Black Hawk Down. I’ve rarely seen an actual team guy wearing them. If you want to put a patch on your hat go with an American Flag or don’t tread on me or something generic. NRA patch is not a bad idea.
Side note: Anyone claiming to be an “operator” and wearing a cool guy hat most likely isn’t. Most team guys guys know better than to draw attention to themselves. If someone’s walking around with a morale patch hat and claiming to be SF etc. he’s probably a support guy poser at best.
I’m glad I saw this thread because I have pondered the same questions… I own a bunch of hats with Velcro fronts and I have purchased a variety of patches. I find that none of them look good or feel appropiate for the exception of the American Flag.
I’m not in the Military or a Contractor but I own a Arch’Teryx Combat jacket and a OTTE Gear DK Jacket that have velcro on the sleeves that beg for Morale patches. I put the American Flag, MagPul logo, Molon Labe and Guns and Coffee patches on them but I don’t wear these to the grocery store because I’m sure people will think I’m over the top :rolleyes:. I wear these jackets to the range and carbine class where like minded people wont judge and think I’m a Douchebag… If I want to tone it down they come off easily:D
Yea, its probably smart to reserve that type of outerwear for the range especially if you CC. You don’t really want to bring unnecessary attention to yourself by wearing a big TAD jacket with zippers and flags all over it with your operator hat looking like you just stepped out of a blacked out suburban. A low profile is definitely a good thing in public.
I actually get questions when I wear a Magpul T-Shirt… But friends and family know who I am and what I do so Fuck everyone else.