During the War on Terror, the US Army deprioritized training for jungle warfare. Now that its focus has shifted to the Pacific, that training is making a comeback.

As of last month, the United States Army approved the wearing of the “Jungle tab” as an official skill badge. The change was noted in a July 22 memorandum, signed by Jules W. Hurst III, Assistant Secretary of the Army Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Task & Purpose first reported.

Soldiers who were graduates of the Jungle Operations Training Center (JOTC) at Fort Sherman, Panama, between 1990 and 1999, when the school closed, or completed the JOTC course in Hawaii since 2013, can wear the tab if they were assigned to the United States Army Pacific area of responsibility.

Beginning last month, the tab is authorized for wear “Army-wide.” It is awarded to all graduates of the JOTC course that is conducted by the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii, and which spans 12 days, pushing soldiers both mentally and physically.

“Students learn the basics in land navigation, combat tracking, small unit tactics, knot tying, rope systems, and primitive survival skills in a jungle environment,” the Army explained.

A previous version of the tab featured the words “JUNGLE EXPERT.” The new version simply reads “JUNGLE.”

Why Do Army Soldiers Wear “Tabs”?

US Army soldiers wear several types of insignia to show an individual’s rank, job branch, and special skills. The skill type can include cloth patches, or metal badges in some cases, that denote completion of a specialized and often arduous training.

Current Army rules allow for the wearing of a maximum of three individual skill tabs at one time, positioned on the left shoulder above the unit patch—known as the “tower of power.” Only officially approved permanent skill tabs or unit tabs listed in the US regulations may be worn on operational and service uniforms.

Specialized skill tabs include, in order of precedence:

• The President’s Hundred Tab, a permanent marksmanship qualification awarded to the top 100 scoring competitors—military and civilian alike—in the annual President’s Pistol and Rifle Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio;
• The Special Forces Tab, which was created in 1983 to denote soldiers who completed the Special Forces Qualification Course;
• The Ranger Tab, awarded to those who successfully completed the 61-day Ranger School at Fort Benning, Georgia; and
• The Sapper Tab, awarded to soldiers who successfully complete the rigorous 28-day Sapper Leader Course at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

None of these qualifications are easy, and the tabs are highly sought after within the Army. The Jungle Tab is now the fifth permanent individual skill tab.

Soldiers who wish to wear the tab will need to submit a Personnel Action Request that includes proof of completion of the JOTC course to receive retroactive approval.

There’s a Lot of Jungle in the Indo-Pacific

Last year, the US military reestablished jungle training at the former Fort Sherman, now operated by the Panamanian military as the Aeronaval Base Cristóbal Colón, located at the northern end of the Panama Canal.

During the Vietnam War, Fort Sherman became the primary location for jungle survival skills training, in part because the site’s conditions have been described as the harshest in the world. It has been noted for its multiple layers of thick, towering vegetation that impact communications gear and night-vision equipment. It is also home to venomous snakes and other jungle creatures. Fittingly, the site earned the moniker the “Green Hell.”

The training in the Latin American country ended after the Panama Canal Zone was returned to Panama. Soon after, a combination of budget cuts and the launch of the War on Terrorism—in which the battlefields were overwhelmingly desert rather than jungle—led the Pentagon to shift its focus away from jungle warfare.

However, as the United States has pivoted back to great power competition in the Indo-Pacific, the need for specialized jungle training is seen as needed again. That could include a return to advanced jungle training in Panama, and more soldiers may soon be showing the skills they acquired on their sleeves.

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu has contributed to dozens of newspapers, magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

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