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Shoulder patches are used to identify membership in a particular unit. They were first approved on 19 October 1918, and the 81st Infantry Division was the first unit authorized to wear one.
Patches were originally produced by sewing or gluing pieces of cloth together. This method was predominant until the 1920's. At that time they were commericially produced by embroidering a design onto to a piece of fabric. Most patches where embroidered on a piece of khaki or olive drab material.
During the 1950's patches were embroidered
on backing cloth that was the same color of
the background of the patch. This method
allowed manufacturers to reduce the thread
count required to make the patch. In 1957,
patches were made with Army Green (AG)
borders to match the new issue uniform.
The 1960's introduced some dramatic changes
to the shoulder sleeve patch. Patches were
made of nylon cloth and thread. The switch
to nylon enhanced the patche's design appearance
and added longevity to it. Nylon endures instense
heat better than cotton or rayon.
In 1966 the Army began issuing subdued patches in which the entire design was produced only in black and olive drab colors. Subdued patches are worn on combat and field uniforms.
In 1968, the US Army Institute of Heraldry, which controls the design and manufacture of all insignia, required that a merrowed border be used on all army patches. This is a heavy stitched edge which can be easily identified by the trailing edge or pig tail from the merrowed border that is usually glued or taped to the back of the patch.
It took almost 20 years for all army patches,
beret flashes, tabs and background ovals to
conform to this requirement.
A Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (SSI) may be authorized for organizations listed in paragraph 28-16, AR 670-1 and for other organizations with at least 500 military assigned. A request for SSI should include a copy of the permanent orders activating the unit and a mission statement if the unit is TDA. TIOH will prepare a proposed design and forward it to the unit for concurrence. After the unit commander approves the design, TIOH will prepare a manufacturing drawing and authorization letter for the insignia.
TIOH will provide the commander instructions on how to obtain the insignia through local purchase procedures. Recently approved SSI are not in the supply system.
Resupply of SSI should be obtained through the supply system if they are in stock. SSI not in the supply system may be obtained through local purchase procedures.
Information Courtesy of The Institute of Heraldry!! | 
