Tabs of the United States Army

Earning the Tab (1:21)
Official Army video introducing and describing tabs in the U.S. Army

In the United States Army, tabs are cloth and/or metal arches that are worn on U.S. Army uniforms, displaying a word or words signifying a special skill. On the Army Combat Uniform and Army Service Uniform, the tabs are worn above a unit's shoulder sleeve insignia (SSI) and are used to identify a unit's or a soldier's special skill(s) or are worn as part of a unit's SSI as part of its unique heritage. Individual tabs are also worn as small metal arches above or below medals or ribbons on dress uniforms.[1][2]

Tabs are highly coveted in the U.S. Army.[3] Unlike medals – which are only worn on a soldier's garrison or dress uniform – tabs are worn on a soldier's combat uniform. Moreover, tabs are worn above a soldier's SSI which rarely include words as a part of their symbolism. It is unique in that it identifies an individual soldier's or a whole unit's special skill using words rather than images to symbolize a skill. For example, while any member of a special forces unit will wear the unit's SSI that includes an arrowhead, sword, lightning, and Airborne tab, only soldiers who have completed special forces training will have been awarded and wear an additional tab containing the words "SPECIAL FORCES" (i.e. the Special Forces tab) that is worn above the unit's Airborne tab.[1][2]

Some tabs are awarded to recognize an individual soldier's combat related skills or marksmanship and are worn by a soldier permanently. These tabs are also considered special skill badges and have metal equivalents that are worn on the soldier's chest of their Army dress uniforms. Other tabs recognize a whole unit's special skill and are considered to be part of a specific unit's SSI and are worn by a soldier only while they belong to that unit. The Jungle and Arctic tabs are unique in that while they are awarded to recognize an individual soldier's skill, it is only worn by soldiers while they belong to certain units. Similarly, tabs awarded at the state level by the Army National Guard can only be worn by soldiers while they are on state-level orders.[1][2][4][5]

  1. ^ a b c U.S. Army Regulation 670-1, Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia, Department of the Army, Army Publications Directorate, dated 26 January 2021, last accessed 13 March 2021
  2. ^ a b c DA Pamphlet 670-1, Guide to the Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia, Department of the Army, Army Publications Directorate, dated 26 January 2021, last accessed 13 March 2021
  3. ^ "Face of Defense: Army Officer Earns Rare Triple-Tab Triumph". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  4. ^ U.S. Army Heraldry / Tabs, The U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry, last accessed 13 June 2020
  5. ^ "USmedals.com". Retrieved 3 March 2018.