Shoulder sleeve insignia

Shoulder sleeve insignia (SSI) are embroidered cloth emblems worn on U.S. Army uniforms, primarily on the upper left sleeve, to identify the wearer’s current unit of assignment and lineage. When worn on the right sleeve, the insignia denotes prior participation in designated hostile conditions. Before the introduction of the current term, the right-sleeve version was officially designated Shoulder Sleeve Insignia – Former Wartime Service (SSI-FWTS); this designation was superseded by SSI-Military Operations in Hostile Conditions (SSI-MOHC) to reflect updated Department of the Army terminology. Informally, it is also known as a "combat patch". It signifies prior participation in combat or designated hostile environments with the represented unit. Authorization to wear SSI depends on the soldier’s unit and is governed by Department of the Army uniform regulations (such as Army Regulation 670-1), which specify the conditions under which patches may be worn.