While it is true that shoulder sleeve insignia (SSI) were largely used by U.S. Marines ground unit troops during World War II as a way to differentiate from Army Units and that they were considered no more useful after the end of the war, being eliminated on January 1, 1948, there are exceptions to this. As specified in page 160, point 7006 of the USMC Uniform Regulation (publicly released in 2018), officers can wear “no more than two CNO-/CMC-approved unit/squadron patches.” Additionally, on point 7016 concerning SHORE PARTY DESIGNATION, it says “Per the commander’s direction, 0481 and 0402 Marines assigned to units possessing a landing support mission are authorized to wear red patches on the utility uniform”. Therefore, while units no longer communicate their branch through SSI patching as they did during WWII, there are still circumstances in which patches are worn in order to identify Marine soldiers with their unit.
As anyone who has served in the Marines knows, clear communication and identification are essential for success in any mission. This is especially true during landings, when confusion can quickly lead to disaster. To help avoid mix-ups, the USMC established the use of red patches to distinguish Marines in support units from those in the infantry. This way, everyone knows where they are supposed to be and what their role is. The red patches are also prescribed in the MARINE CORPS UNIFORM REGULATIONS as follows: “Per the commander’s direction, 0481 and 0402 Marines assigned to units possessing a landing support mission are authorized to wear red patches on the utility uniform.” By following these simple regulations, we can help ensure that our troops are always operating at peak efficiency.
The United States Marine Corps is always looking for ways to improve the armor and protection of its officers. In 2020, the Marines began testing the third generation of bulletproof vests. The first generation of plate carriers used by the Marines was called the Modular Tactical Vest (MTV). This one was supplanted in 2011 by the Scalable Plate Carrier (SPC) used during the Afghanistan War. Each new version is lighter, more comfortable, and more effective than its predecessor. The latest generation of plate carrier being tested by the Marines is even more advanced, offering greater protection and flexibility for those who wear it into combat.
E-8 is the eighth enlisted paygrade in the United States Marine Corps, with two distinct ranks: first sergeant and master sergeant. As a first sergeant, you would serve as a senior enlisted advisor, assisting the commanding officer in matters of discipline, administration, and the morale and welfare of the unit. As a master sergeant, you would provide technical leadership as an occupational specialist in your specific Military Occupational Specialty (MOS). Each rank requires different levels of experience, knowledge, and expertise, but both are essential to the success of any Marine Corps unit.
We haven’t found general regulations for the design of the patches that identify the wearer of bullet proof jackets or vests so far. However it seams to be a standard to include the following information:
1.- The military corps you belong to. This goes some times in the upper left and some others on the lower right corner.
2.- Blood type: this is by far the most critical information needed and it goes almost always in the upper right.
3.- Rank: commonly goes on the lower left corner.
4.- Last Name: usually put on the lower right corner of the desing.
Flak patches are tipically made as embroidered patches with rectangular shape and displaying a seal in the middle, can be your corps shield a logo or some other icon.
As there are endless possible Marine Patches designs, each one with its particular meaning we will limit the answer to the significance of the rank patches used by the enlisted soldiers and worn on both left and right sleeves, centered between the elbows and the shoulders. The following chart can help:
Image Source: Medals Of America Blog
Learn more about Ranks directly in the Official Website of the US Marine Corps
Regarding the meaning of the marine corp symbol:
The Latin motto “Semper Fidelis” translates to “Always Faithful” and refers to the Marine Corps’ commitment to both country and fellow Marines. The emblem on the Seal, which consists of an eagle, a globe, and a anchor, symbolizes the key values of the Marine Corps: excellence in all that they do, global reach, and a steadfast commitment. The Eagle represents the readiness of Marines to defend the United States at any time and place, while the Globe highlights their ability to deploy anywhere in the world. Finally, the Anchor serves as a reminder of the Marines’ unwavering dedication to their fellow Marines and country.