<P> Shoulder sleeve insignia were often designed with intricate designs including bright colors, when created . Because these bright colors and designs risk standing out when a soldier is in combat or in hiding, the shoulder sleeve insignia in its color form was commonly only worn on the dress uniform, when a soldier is not in combat . However, with the retirement of the Army Green Uniform in 2015, the full - color SSI has been replaced with a CSIB instead . For combat uniforms, "subdued" versions have been created for wear on the battlefield . </P> <P> "Full color" SSI were only worn on the green "Class A" uniform and on the OG - 107 during the late 1950s and early 1960s . Formerly, full color SSI were also worn on the "full color" (white letters on black or dark blue material) Military Police brassard, worn by MPs while wearing the green "Class A" service uniform or while wearing subdued field uniforms (BDU or DCU) in a garrison environment . However, with the ACU, the MP brassard was replaced by a rectangular patch made of fabric or infrared - reflective material, reading "MP". </P> <P> The subdued version of the SSI created for the Battle Dress Uniform (BDU) features patches that are primarily olive, dark brown and black, to match the BDU . In general, this version is obsolete because the Army phased out the BDU in the late 2000s in favor of the Army Combat Uniform (ACU). </P> <P> The subdued version created for the Desert Camouflage Uniform (DCU) is primarily tan and "spice" brown, to match the uniform's design . This version is also obsolete, as the Army phased out DCUs in favor of ACUs . </P>

When do you get your unit patch in the army