thedrifter
07-26-07, 07:10 AM
People often talk about seeing the ‘warrant officers in training’ or ‘underwater snipers’ on Marine Corps installations — the ones with red cloth sewn into their camouflage trousers and covers.
The red patches are a uniform distinction given to Marines assigned to landing support companies around the Marine Corps. The tradition of wearing the patches on the utility uniform trousers and cover dates back to World War II, according to 1st Sgt. Jason N. Perry, the company first sergeant for Landing Support Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 3, 3rd Marine Logistics Group.
During the Pacific island-hopping campaign of the war, commanders had trouble distinguishing between landing support and infantry Marines on the beaches, Perry said. The mix-up caused confusion that often resulted in landing support Marines getting thrown on front lines. This led to serious breakdowns in the flow of supplies and gear.
During the Korean War, landing support personnel wore a 1- inch by 1-inch red patch on their cover, a 1-inch by 3-inch patch on each leg and a 1-inch by 1-inch patch on the back of their utility tops to remedy the problem, he said.
The red patch was taken off the utility tops after the Korean War but continued to be worn on the trousers and cover. Today, the tradition of wearing the red patches continues and serves as a source of pride for Marines assigned to landing support companies, said Perry.
The patches also make the Marines of Landing Support Company stand out in Garrison as well as in a combat zone, he said.
“I don’t have to look very hard to try and find my Marines,” Perry said. “You look at a crowd of Marines, and all you see are a bunch of green cammies, but as soon as I see the red patch on the leg or on the cover, I know that those are my Marines.”
That visible distinction brings with it a certain reputation that the landing support Marines are expected to uphold , said Cpl. Todd D. Ernst, a squad leader with the company.
“Since it makes those who wear it stand out, we have to hold ourselves to a higher standard,” Ernst said. “We take pride in everything we do, be it work, (physical training) or field day.”
Cpl. James L. Green, a landing support specialist with the company, joked about common misconceptions people not familiar with landing support Marines often have about the meaning of the red patch.
“Our dedication is exactly what you would expect from ‘underwater snipers,’” he joked.
But jokes aside, the red patch’s significance means more to landing support Marines than what most people might realize, Ernst explained.
“It’s something that most of us take great pride in wearing,” he said. “It’s not just a piece of material on our cammies.”
The red patches are a uniform distinction given to Marines assigned to landing support companies around the Marine Corps. The tradition of wearing the patches on the utility uniform trousers and cover dates back to World War II, according to 1st Sgt. Jason N. Perry, the company first sergeant for Landing Support Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 3, 3rd Marine Logistics Group.
During the Pacific island-hopping campaign of the war, commanders had trouble distinguishing between landing support and infantry Marines on the beaches, Perry said. The mix-up caused confusion that often resulted in landing support Marines getting thrown on front lines. This led to serious breakdowns in the flow of supplies and gear.
During the Korean War, landing support personnel wore a 1- inch by 1-inch red patch on their cover, a 1-inch by 3-inch patch on each leg and a 1-inch by 1-inch patch on the back of their utility tops to remedy the problem, he said.
The red patch was taken off the utility tops after the Korean War but continued to be worn on the trousers and cover. Today, the tradition of wearing the red patches continues and serves as a source of pride for Marines assigned to landing support companies, said Perry.
The patches also make the Marines of Landing Support Company stand out in Garrison as well as in a combat zone, he said.
“I don’t have to look very hard to try and find my Marines,” Perry said. “You look at a crowd of Marines, and all you see are a bunch of green cammies, but as soon as I see the red patch on the leg or on the cover, I know that those are my Marines.”
That visible distinction brings with it a certain reputation that the landing support Marines are expected to uphold , said Cpl. Todd D. Ernst, a squad leader with the company.
“Since it makes those who wear it stand out, we have to hold ourselves to a higher standard,” Ernst said. “We take pride in everything we do, be it work, (physical training) or field day.”
Cpl. James L. Green, a landing support specialist with the company, joked about common misconceptions people not familiar with landing support Marines often have about the meaning of the red patch.
“Our dedication is exactly what you would expect from ‘underwater snipers,’” he joked.
But jokes aside, the red patch’s significance means more to landing support Marines than what most people might realize, Ernst explained.
“It’s something that most of us take great pride in wearing,” he said. “It’s not just a piece of material on our cammies.”