If you spend any amount of time looking at embroidered military patches you're probably familiar with groupings of colored bars sometimes seen on these patches. But do you know what they mean? Many people don't. That's why we've put together this simple explanation to help clear things up for you.
The first thing you need to know is the purpose behind the color bars. Before they were seen on embroidered patches they were sewn onto the uniforms of active servicemen and women. They are an easy way to identify any number of things using a very small area of uniform material; something that's important when you consider the total number of decorations that could end up on uniform throughout the soldier's lifetime. If the military used embroidered patches and medals for all of their designations a career soldier could easily run out of uniform space. Thus, the use of color bars was born.
For embroidered patches used after military service is concluded, the color bars signify the same things. They also add an extra measure of flair and integrity to the military patches in question. Although there are plenty of military themed embroidered patches without the color bars, those that do have should be reserved for use by individuals who actually earned the colors.
Service Bars
One of the main uses for the color bar is to denote time served or a specific geographic location. For example, a patch commemorating Vietnam War service might include a color bar with green on the edges and alternating bars of yellow and red in the middle. Someone serving with the United Nations might have an added blue and white striped bar as well. Sometimes these patches will include text denoting the service being honored while other times you'll see just the bars themselves. Displaying the color bars on their own allows veterans a way to communicate with one another privately.
Citation Bars
Citation bars are another example of what we're talking about. They serve the purpose of honoring the soldier for outstanding service in one area or another. One of the most popular citations most of us are familiar with is that of the Purple Heart; a medal that often becomes a prized possession stored in a display case where it's preserved for future generations of a soldier's family. But the soldier himself might purchase an embroidered patch to sew on a uniform or a jacket as a means of displaying his citation. That patch will probably include the purple and white color bar.
Indicator Bars
Finally, indicator bars are used to denote a soldier who has served under a specific unit or been given a specific task. For example, the military equivalent of a SWAT team may include a black bar on its patches. There are different indicator bars for all sorts of specialist units and functions. They are used on military patches less commonly than service bars and citation bars, but they are used nonetheless.
