United States Army Mountain Class A Tab

Criteria: The Mountain Tab is a part of the shoulder sleeve patch of the U.S. 10th Mountain Division and the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain). The 10th Mountain shoulder patch consists of a white-bordered powder keg. The powder keg is in blue and, superimposed on it are two red bayonets crossed so as to form the Roman numeral “X”. The bayonets represent the Infantry and the numerical designation of the Division.

United States Army Tabs are patches displaying a word or words that are worn above the shoulder patch that identifies the unit to which the soldier belongs. These tabs are uniquely valued in the Army because images rather than words are traditionally used for the symbolism of the shoulder patch worn to identify a soldier’s unit. It is only to identify an individual soldier’s or a whole unit’s special skill that an additional shoulder patch is worn that uses words rather than images to symbolize this skill.

Some tabs are awarded to recognize an individual soldier’s skill or marksmanship and are worn by a soldier permanently. These tabs are also considered badges and have metal equivalents that are worn on the soldier’s chest if their uniform does not have a place for shoulder patches (e.g. Army Service Uniform). Other tabs recognize a whole unit’s special skill and are considered to be part of a specific unit’s shoulder sleeve patch and are worn by a soldier only while they belong to that unit.