Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Patches and WaidHistory office plays key role in OCP emblem-to-patch conversion
                        
                        
                        Jack Waid, a historian at Air Force Materiel Command Headquarters, explains the significance of heraldic symbols during a Lunch-and-Learn Lecture on Emblems and Patches at AFMC headquarters. (Air Force photo by Marisa Alia-Novobilski)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        PatchesHistory office plays key role in OCP emblem-to-patch conversion
                        
                        
                        Air Force heraldry was displayed for attendees at a recent History Office Lunch-and-Learn Lecture on Emblems and Patches at AFMC headquarters (Air Force photo by Marisa Alia-Novobilski)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

History office plays key role in OCP emblem-to-patch conversionPublished Sept. 5, 2018
                    
                    By Marisa Alia-Novobilski
                    
                    
                    Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs
            **WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFNS) --**Longstanding military conventions, often overlooked despite their significance, were the topic of a recent history-focused lunch-and-learn lecture at Air Force Materiel Command headquarters.
Since early recorded history, warring tribes often carried banners or flags marked with emblems to represent factions and motivate their warriors to fight for the cause. It is to this historical tradition that we can trace the evolution of military emblems and patches, said AFMC historian Jack Waid, during an in-depth look at the relevance and importance of heraldic symbols to airpower today.
“Organizations use visible, enduring symbols to promote spirit de corps, morale and a sense of heritage,” said Waid. “Air Force heraldry in the form of emblems and subsequently patches give Airmen a connection to the past and the motivation to live up to the proud lineage from which they come.”
As the Air Force begins transitioning from the current Airman Battle Uniform to the Operational Camouflage Pattern, there is a renewed focus on emblems and patches across Air Force units, said Waid, as Airmen will once again be able to wear unit patches on their sleeves. Patch wear was phased out when the ABU was deployed in 2007.
“Since ABUs did not authorize the wearing of patches, as new units were established, emblems became second thought,” said Waid. “Now that patches are again authorized, units with emblems are scrambling to put together packages so they can convert these to patches for wear. It’s keeping us busy.”
A key point that units need to understand, said Waid, is that just because a unit has an emblem, it does not automatically mean that they are authorized a patch to wear.
“The AFI (Air Force Instruction) clearly defines what is and is not a unit. Major commands, centers, wings, groups and squadrons are units, but directorates, divisions, branches, detachments and operating locations are not,” said Waid. “Units have an official lineage and history, and it is the lineage that determines eligibility for a unique emblem and patch design.”
Emblems and patches are completely separate entities maintained by different Air Force offices as well.
“Most people think an emblem is a patch and a patch is an emblem; this is incorrect. Our office deals with emblems, but once it is converted to cloth to become a patch, it becomes the property of the A1 (Office of Personnel) uniform office,” said Waid. “A unit’s history and lineage goes with an emblem whereas a patch is a wearable symbol of pride, history, warrior spirit and honor.”
With more than 311 units across AFMC and nearly two-thirds either lacking an emblem or possessing one that does not meet Air Force standards, the history office is working diligently to manage the internal OCP conversion workload in conjunction with The Institute of Heraldry and Air Force Office of Personnel while protecting unit lineage and honors. TIOH has a prioritized unit list for emblem to patch conversions, with units at bases receiving the OCP uniforms first at the top.
For the initial uniform roll-out, Air Force MAJCOM, centers and wings will see patches first, with groups and squadrons a possibility in the future.
“It is important to make sure the time-honored Air Force unit patch returns to the uniform properly so that units can display their heritage with pride,” Waid said.
AFMC organizations can contact their wing or center history offices with specific questions regarding their unit emblem as well as patch authorization. AFMC History Office processes official heraldry requests through the Air Force Historical Research Agency in conjunction with TIOH.
Specific Air Force guidance can be found in AFI 84-101, *Historical Products, Services and Requirement* and AFI 84-105, *Organizational Lineage, Honors and Heraldry*.heritage 



Air Force 



Air Force Materiel Command 



AFMC 



patches 



AF 



Historical 



Air Force Base 



OCP 



emblems 



Jack Waid 



AFI 84-101 



AFI 84-105 



The Institute of Heraldry 



Air Force Office of Personnel 



Wright Patterson AFB 



uniform

Related Links
        Air Force transitions to a single combat uniform
            
            The Institute of Heraldry Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fight
                    
                    SecAF Kendall AFA Warfare Symposium Q&A: Reoptimizing for Great Power CompetitionInnovation
                AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalists
                    
                    Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in HawaiiMAJCOM News
                Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander emphasizes five focus areas during AFA Warfare Symposium
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil