A new military patch has been approved for U.S. Army soldiers with elite jungle warfare expertise. It’s named the Jungle Tab, an official skill tab of the Army that represents a formal recognition of jungle warfare as a definitive skill across the entire military division.
“Tactics and training techniques required to fight, survive and win within the harsh jungle environment are deserving of recognition,” Army Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans, and Training, Sgt. Maj. Christopher Kohunsky, said in a statement.
The Army has authorized the gold and black tab that simply reads “Jungle” for any current active, Reserve, and National Guard soldiers who successfully graduated from the grueling Jungle Operations Training Course.
The JOTC is a 12- to 18-day program taught in Hawaii and Panama that trains service members in survival, tracking, land navigation, and small-unit tactics within dense triple-canopy jungles. Graduates who pass the grueling course earn the official permanent U.S. Army Jungle Tab.
Retroactive eligibility is additionally approved for former service members who completed unit-level jungle training at the JOTC in Fort Sherman, Panama, from 1990 to 1999, or at the Hawaii-based jungle course following Sherman’s closure.
“Those who overcame the ‘Green Hell’ of the Panama jungle course or the rigorous Hawaiian rainforest can now wear the elite Jungle Tab,” Sgt. Maj. Kohunsky said.
The Panamanian-based JOTC operated during the majority of the Cold War and beyond, and was nicknamed “the Green Hell” for training thousands of soldiers in dense jungle heat and humidity, including many who served during the Vietnam War.
Today, the JOTC continues on Oahu, Hawaii, conducted at the 25th Infantry Division’s Lightning School. The new tab is a symbol of the training and a badge of completion.
“The Jungle Tab is an official skill tab, like the Sapper Tab, Special Forces Tab or Ranger Tab,” Kohunsky explained. “It will appear on the uniform immediately after the Sapper Tab and before the President’s Hundred Tab, proving mastery of jungle survival fundamentals.”
Eligible soldiers would have to claim their tab by submitting a Personnel Action Request with proof of training. Requests must be routed to the first battalion commander or above in the chain of command, and include supporting documentation such as a graduation certificate, certificate of training, unit orders, or a student record demonstrating completion of a qualifying course.
Once approved, the Army will update the soldier’s official record to reflect the special skills badge.
Veterans seeking retroactive award of the Jungle Tab must submit evidence of their eligibility, such as deployment, temporary duty, or mobilization orders validating their attendance and completion of JOTC.
Army officials are finalizing the official policy and procedures for the presentation and wear of the Jungle Tab, which will be among the latest revisions of the Army’s “Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia” policy.
Military badges are official awards used by the armed forces to show skill, job training, combat experience, or specific duties. Each branch, such as the Army, Navy, and Air Force, has its own unique set of pins and insignia on service and dress uniforms.
Main Types of Military Badges are:
- Combat Badges: Show that a service member has taken part in active ground fighting or direct battle, like the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) or the Combat Action Badge (CAB).
- Skill and Occupation Badges: Mark completion of elite training courses or high proficiency in fields like parachuting (jump wings), aviation, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), or pathfinding.
- Identification Badges: Point out specific current assignments or special duties, such as recruiter, honor guard, or staff positions.
- Marksmanship Badges: Display expert, sharpshooter, or marksman qualification with various weapons.
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