Soldiers assigned to U.S. Forces Japan wait to receive new patches during a ceremony in the Officers' Club at Yokota Air Base, Japan, May 20, 2024. (U.S. Forces Japan)
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — Soldiers who serve with U.S. Forces Japan are sporting a new, colorful patch on their sleeves to indicate their unique association with the command.
USFJ revealed the patch during a Monday ceremony at this airlift hub in western Tokyo, where USFJ is headquartered.
The new design is a blue-bordered white disc featuring seven rays reminiscent of Japan’s rising-sun flag. It includes six stars and the silhouette of a torii, a traditional gate whose design is a familiar sight in Japan.
The red, white and blue represents the United States; the red and white also represents Japan, a USFJ spokesman, Air Force Maj. Thomas Barger, told Stars and Stripes by email Wednesday. The blue border represents the Pacific Ocean, the torii symbolizes unity and diplomacy, and the six stars signify each of the armed forces that are part of USFJ.
“The new patch signifying the Army Element of USFJ represents their mission in support of the U.S. Japan Alliance, with the Army members being part of the joint command composed of six U.S. uniformed services,” USFJ said in a Facebook post Tuesday.
USFJ is subordinate to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and helps plan and coordinate military exercises and resolve issues in common with their Japanese counterparts, among other responsibilities.
The commander of U.S. Army Japan, Maj. Gen. David Womack, presents soldiers with their new organization patches during a ceremony in the Officers' Club at Yokota Air Base, Japan, May, 20, 2024. (U.S. Forces Japan)
The commander of U.S. Army Japan, Maj. Gen. David Womack, presents soldiers with their new organization patches during a ceremony in the Officers' Club at Yokota Air Base, Japan, May, 20, 2024. (U.S. Forces Japan)
The commander of U.S. Army Japan, Maj. Gen. David Womack, led Monday’s ceremony at the Yokota Officers’ Club and applied the new patch to the sleeve of each soldier in attendance.
Soldiers assigned to USFJ previously wore the Joint Activities patch, which was shield-shaped and featured the U.S. coat of arms.
A former USFJ chief of staff, Army Col. Jeff Gottlieb, encouraged the command to apply for an exception to policy so it could issue a shoulder-sleeve insignia and distinctive unit insignia, ,which is worn on berets and dress uniforms, rather than continuing to wear the Joint Activities patch, Barger said.
The Army approved the request in April 2023.
USFJ then assigned a team led by Lt. Col. Matt Wright to work with the Army’s Institute of Heraldry at Fort Belvoir, Va., to design the new patch. They worked for about five months before finalizing the design.
After approving the design in fall 2023, USFJ ordered the patches and spent the following months waiting for them to be manufactured and shipped before setting a date for the patching ceremony, Barger said.
