JUNGLE EXPERT!?

[bob]

There used to be 3 separate courses for the Arctic Expert. Basic Military Mountaineering Course Summer and Winter, and then the Inland Waterways course. The Inland Waterways course was removed in the early 90's.
I'm not sure, but I think the BMMC moved from Black Rapids to Ft. Drum.
I was at Wainwright and went to Black Rapids, but went back to Bragg and everyone I knew that went to BMMC went to Drum.
Used to be a special skill identifier 'Echo.' But that is gone now.
Not an easy course, very physical with the morning PT consisting of hunping straight up the hill and straight back down fully loaded. The Donnely Dome climb was alot tougher than you'd think.
I passed that climb and was invited to the winter phase, but unfortunately there was no winter phase that year (or something like that) with Greely shutting down and all. Friggin' base realignments and downsizing....

[pgpd2134]

Hey fellow 04 trooper. The ship on the Jungle Expert patch is that of the explorer Vasco Balboa, not a pirate. Balboa discovered what eventually became the third world Republic of Panama, which is why his boat's on the patch.
How do I know this trivial crap? Spent two years w/2nd 187th PIR at Ft. Kobbe. Learned a lot about Panama and JOTC that way. Went through Green Hell too many times to remember. JOTC, PLDC, and BNCOC all at Sherman, along with quite a few aggressor missions for visiting JOTC students and jumps into Gatun DZ.

The patch was never officially approved by DOD for wear, at least not during the period of 1983-1987. Those of us who earned it wore it on our jungle fatigues in Panama and Division, but usually not on our class As. Only "PX rangers" did that. They didn't go to the school anyway.

[pgpd2134]

Yup, the feel good liberal mentality infected the management of the Army as well. Hence the issued berets. Back in the day you had to earn the right to wear one.

[blackflagg509]

Hey fellow 04 trooper. The ship on the Jungle Expert patch is that of the explorer Vasco Balboa, not a pirate. Balboa discovered what eventually became the third world Republic of Panama, which is why his boat's on the patch.
How do I know this trivial crap? Spent two years w/2nd 187th PIR at Ft. Kobbe. Learned a lot about Panama and JOTC that way. Went through Green Hell too many times to remember. JOTC, PLDC, and BNCOC all at Sherman, along with quite a few aggressor missions for visiting JOTC students and jumps into Gatun DZ.

The patch was never officially approved by DOD for wear, at least not during the period of 1983-1987. Those of us who earned it wore it on our jungle fatigues in Panama and Division, but usually not on our class As. Only "PX rangers" did that. They didn't go to the school anyway.

A friend of my mom's had a son who was Panama bout a year or two before me; saw a pic of him once and he was wearing the Jungle Expert patch in his class A's. Then during my 7 month stint over in legland he was still there; got busted for burning a Piss Test like so many did. Betcha he never told his parents that was the reason why he lost rank in the Army.

[RedFalcon]

When I was at JOTC in '94, another pvt and myself were detailed by a cadre staff sergeant to unload a truck one afternoon. When we were finished, the sergeant pulled a stack of jungle expert patches from a desk drawer and handed each of us one. I had mine framed with my JOTC certificate.

The certificate is still good even though the frame broke and a few of my certificates were water stained during moving... I'll try and scan it. It's a nice one.

[RedFalcon]

[Brasso]

They changed the reg so that NOTHING can be worn on the BDU's except US Scare Badges & Terror Tabs!!
No more JE, Recondo, Foreign JW, etc.

"SALSA"

[JP43]

Yeah, I earned the same patch in Panama in 1970, was not allowed to wear it in the 82d at the time.

[VB]

Yeah, I earned the same patch in Panama in 1970, was not allowed to wear it in the 82d at the time.

I got mine in '75 and we were allowed to wear them then.

[dixierat]

I got mine in '75 and we were allowed to wear them then.

Got mine in '74. We were allowed to wear them on fatigues but not our dress uniforms.

[abnfoto]

Just my $0.02...but the Jungle Expert Patch actually was converted to be either South Com's unit patch or USARSO...or some such nonsense...at least that was what was told to me when I was down there in 88-90...
and green hell was fun......ooppps...I lied...the only fun part was the finish line...
....
But anyway that was what I was told about the jungle expert patch and why it was not authorized...and if anybody is wearing it after 88..they were wrong...(unless of course they are retired...or vets who earned it...)

[Zimmy]

I know the guys in italy who went were wearing it in '88.

[Greenhat]

Got mine in '74. We were allowed to wear them on fatigues but not our dress uniforms.

Same here. '82

[Feetasshead]

I have much respect for the mofos who operated regularly in Panama. I was there on a mini JOTC vacation in 96 and I was freaking tired of black palm and pulling guard at night to keep teh vampire bats away.
The land nav there was a sumbitch from what I hear.
Fuck the bats, monkeys and black palm.

[Mortarman11c]

Earned it in january 85. Sewed it on my Jungle fatigues left pocket. They had a clear plastic pocket to put the colored patch in for wear on the class A's. Worn thru the button and hung below the pocket top.

We were authorized to wear them at least in the 2/505th up until October 85. Same time the Jungle fatigues went away......