More casually referred to as a “unit patch” or a “shoulder patch,” the Shoulder Sleeve Insignia – Military Operations in Hostile Conditions insignia (SSI-MOHC) is an embroidered unit insignia denoting the unit or organization the wearer currently serves in or a unit or organization the wearer serves/served in that meets the requirements in AR 670-1 for having been part qualifying military operations. (Previously the patch was designated SSI-FWTS, with the second part of they hyphenation standing for “Former Wartime Service.”)
The patch is available in a nonsubdued (color) version and two subdued versions, one based on the current Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP) and the discontinued (as of 2019) Universal Camouflage Pattern. Nonsubdued patches are currently authorized for wear on the Class A Army Green Service Uniform (ASGU); they were previously worn on the now-discontinued (as of October 2015) old Class A Army Green Uniform. The subdued OCP patch is worn on the Army Combat Uniform and other utility uniforms manufactured in OCP, while the UCP patch is a legacy only suitable for old UCP-based uniforms and not for active-duty wear.
If the insignia is that of the wearer’s current organization, it is worn on the wearer’s left sleeve as a Shoulder Sleeve Insignia, or just SSI. If the insignia is one of an organization or unit that the wearer served in that meets all the criteria in AR 670-1 indicating military operations in hostile conditions, it is worn on the right sleeve. (MOHC criteria is detailed in pages
42-45 of Chapter 21-18 of the January 2021 edition of AR 670-1, pages 42-45.) Subdued insignias use a hook-and-loop (Velcro) attachment; nonsubdued insignias are sewn onto the sleeve.
All Soldiers are required to wear an SSI denoting their current unit, but there is no requirement to wear an MOHC insignia. On the other hand, the same insignia may be worn on both sleeves if the soldier’s current unit also meets the criteria for MOHC, the same insignia may be worn on both sleeves.
Related Items75th Ranger Regiment, 1st Battalion Combat Service ID Badge (CSIB)75th Ranger Regiment, 1st Battalion Beret Flash and Oval