Emblems Vs Patches: What’s the Difference?
Department of the Air Force (DAF) heraldry connects us to our long and storied past. Organizations need enduring symbols in the form of emblems to promote esprit de corps, morale, and a sense of heritage. Some people use the terms “emblem” and “patch” interchangeably; however, the two products are vastly different from one another. This post seeks to explain how they differ.
An “emblem” is an officially approved symbolic design portraying the distinctive history, mission, and general function of an organization. The carefully selected design elements, vibrant colors, and mottos composing a heraldic emblem help to tell the story of the respective establishment or unit. It is an important, enduring, and abiding portion of the organization’s heritage that connects past, present, and future unit members. An emblem, governed by DAFI 84-105, is represented and recorded by official colored artwork, approved and maintained at the Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA).
United States Air Force (USAF) emblems consist of either a shield or disc shape, depending on the echelon of the organization. The design may contain three or less elements, one of which may be a complex element. The colors in the design cannot exceed six and Ultramarine Blue and Air Force Yellow must be incorporated into each emblem design. Any directional element must face “dexter”, the bearer’s right side, which is the position of honor. The emblem must be original, distinctive, dignified, in good taste, and be non-controversial.
Distinct from USAF emblems, United States Space Force (USSF) emblems consist of a greater variety of shapes that include triangular, delta, octagonal, or oval type shapes. Each Field Command (FLDCOM) and its subordinate units will depict a unique border color specific to that FLDCOM. These border colors include Steel for Space Operations Command, Golden Yellow for Space Systems Command, Cannes Blue for Space Training and Readiness Command, and Silver Gray for Component Field Commands and units not assigned to a FLDCOM. The design may contain four or less elements, two of which may be complex elements. USSF elements can face any direction given the omnidirectional nature of operations in the space domain.
The first Air Force emblems were introduced during the fledgling United States Army Air Service (USAAS) era with emblems such as the iconic 94th Fighter Squadron’s “Hat in the Ring” and the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron’s “Cave Man” design. The United States Space Force follows a similar tradition with only slightly different emblem requirements. Some of its first emblems depict elements of deltas, constellations, and mythological creatures.
On the other hand, a “patch”, as it is known in the USAF and USSF, is a uniform item governed by DAFI 36-2903. An organizational patch is a manufactured reproduction of the official emblem that can be affixed to a uniform. It represents the official emblem in embroidered form for the USAF and in Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) form for the USSF. Along with leather patches, embroidered USAF patches have been in use since before WWII. The Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP) version of a USAF patch, generated by The Institute of Heraldry (TIOH), converts the official emblem colors to Spice Brown, Bagby Green, Black, and Olive Drab for wear on the current USAF uniform. The USSF PVC patch is a revolutionary new form adopted specifically for the new Service that markedly differs from the USAF embroidered patch.
PVC boasts better and more vibrant depictions of the unit’s emblem than the embroidered form, but the patches produced in the PVC form pose greater design challenges and require costlier manufacturing equipment. For both embroidered and PVC patches, TIOH provides a manufacturing drawing as a deliverable in the final emblem package sent to AFHRA (it is important to note that some patches, whether embroidered or PVC, do not depict heraldic emblems; these include morale patches, graduate patches, and directorate patches. DAFI 36-2903 governs the authorization of these types of patches).
Official emblems and patches serve an important, but distinctly different role within the DAF. As discussed, an emblem is the officially approved symbolic design of an organization. A patch, on the other hand, may represent an official emblem, but it can also represent a morale, graduate, or directorate patch for uniform wear. For this reason, the interchangeable use of “emblem” and “patch” often generates confusion.
