The Army has broadened eligibility for the shoulder sleeve insignia denoting service in hostile conditions, extending recognition to Soldiers who deployed to a set of countries between October 7, 2023, and June 24, 2025, across the U.S. Central Command and U.S. Africa Command areas of responsibility.
Under the change, Soldiers from the Regular Army, Army National Guard, and U.S. Army Reserve who served at least one day in the authorized window qualify for the insignia. The policy does not confer any pay or tax benefits, including hostile fire pay, imminent danger pay, or combat zone tax exclusion.
The countries covered are Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
Army officials said the update recognizes the risks and challenges troops faced in those locations during the specified period and reflects a commitment to acknowledge their contributions in those operational environments.
The shoulder sleeve insignia, commonly called the combat patch, identifies a Soldier’s wartime or qualifying operational service with a unit. Details of the change are available in an Army ALARACT message.
