In the United States Army, tabs are cloth and/or metal arches that are worn on U.S. Army uniforms, displaying a word or words signifying a special skill. On the Army Combat Uniform and Army Service Uniform, the tabs are worn above a unit's shoulder sleeve insignia (SSI) and are used to identify a unit's or a soldier's special skill(s) or are worn as part of a unit's SSI as part of its unique heritage. Individual tabs are also worn as small metal arches above or below medals or ribbons on dress uniforms.U.S. Army Regulation 670-1, Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia, Department of the Army, Army Publications Directorate, dated 26 January 2021, last accessed 13 March 2021DA Pamphlet 670-1, Guide to the Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia, Department of the Army, Army Publications Directorate, dated 26 January 2021, last accessed 13 March 2021
Tabs are highly coveted in the U.S. Army. Unlike medals – which are only worn on a soldier's garrison or dress uniform – tabs are worn on a soldier's combat uniform. Moreover, tabs are worn above a soldier's SSI which rarely include words as a part of their symbolism. It is unique in that it identifies an individual soldier's or a whole unit's special skill using words rather than images to symbolize a skill. For example, while any member of a special forces unit will wear the unit's SSI that includes an arrowhead, sword, lightning, and Airborne tab, only soldiers who have completed special forces training will have been awarded and wear an additional tab containing the words "SPECIAL FORCES" (i.e. the Special Forces tab) that is worn above the unit's Airborne tab.
Some tabs are awarded to recognize an individual soldier's combat related skills or marksmanship and are worn by a soldier permanently. These tabs are also considered special skill badges and have metal equivalents that are worn on the soldier's chest of their Army dress uniforms. Other tabs recognize a whole unit's special skill and are considered to be part of a specific unit's SSI and are worn by a soldier only while they belong to that unit. The Jungle and Arctic tabs are unique in that while they are awarded to recognize an individual soldier's skill, it is only worn by soldiers while they belong to certain units. Similarly, tabs awarded at the state level by the Army National Guard can only be worn by soldiers while they are on state-level orders.U.S. Army Heraldry / Tabs, The U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry, last accessed 13 June 2020
Individual tabs There are currently four permanent individual skill/marksmanship tabs authorized for wear by the U.S. Army. Only three skill tabs may be worn at one time. A soldier wearing three tabs is said to have achieved the "tower of power" in military slang. Prior to the creation of the Sapper tab, this required a soldier to earn both a Special Forces tab and Ranger tab as well as serve in a unit with an Airborne tab or Mountain tab as part of its SSI.Tower of Power, everything2, by TerribleAspect, dated 8 June 2003, last accessed 30 August 2020
Special Forces
The Special Forces tab is a service school qualification tab of the U.S. Army, awarded to any soldier completing either the Special Forces Qualification Course, or the Special Forces Detachment Officer Qualification Course. Soldiers who are awarded the Special Forces tab are authorized to wear it for the remainder of their military careers, even when not serving in a Special Forces command. The Special Forces tab can be revoked by the Chain of Command for significant violations of conduct considered contrary to the high standards expected of a Special Forces soldier (for example, DUI conviction or other forms of misconduct).
The Special Forces tab was created in 1983 and is an embroidered arch patch worn on the upper left sleeve of a military uniform. The cloth tab is wide and is teal blue with yellow embroidered letters.Army Regulation 600-8-22, Section 8-49.
Ranger
The Ranger tab is a qualification tab authorized upon completion of the U.S. Army's Ranger School by a member of the U.S. military, civilian personnel, or non-U.S. military personnel. The Ranger tab was approved by the Chief of Staff, Army, on 30 October 1950.
The full color tab is worn below the shoulder seam on the left sleeve of the Army green coat. The subdued tab is worn below the shoulder seam on the left sleeve of utility uniforms, field jackets and the Desert Battle Dress Uniform (DBDU). The full color tab is long, wide, with a yellow border and the word "RANGER" inscribed in yellow letters high. The subdued tab is identical, except the background is olive drab and the word "RANGER" is in black letters.U.S. Army Heraldry, Tabs, Ranger Tab, The U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry, last accessed 13 June 2020
Sapper
The Sapper tab is a qualification tab which is authorized for graduates of the U.S. Army's Sapper Leader Course. The Sapper tab was approved by the Chief of Staff, Army, on 28 June 2004. The Sapper tab can be revoked by the Engineer Commanding Officer of Ft. Leonard Wood, MO for misconduct, or not upholding the standard as an Engineer. Any requests will be processed through USASC.Sapper leader course pamphlet section III, US Army US Army
The full color tab is worn below the shoulder seam on the left sleeve of the Army green coat. The subdued tab is worn below the shoulder seam on the left sleeve of utility uniforms, field jackets and the desert battle dress uniform (DBDU). The full color tab is long, wide, with a red border and the word "SAPPER" inscribed in white letters high. The woodland subdued tab is identical, except the background is olive drab and the word "SAPPER" is in black letters and the desert subdued tab has a khaki background with the word "SAPPER" in spice brown letters.U.S. Army Heraldry, Tabs, Sapper Tab, The U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry, last accessed 13 June 2020
President's Hundred
The President's Hundred tab is a marksmanship tab which is authorized for soldiers who qualify among the top-scoring 100 competitors in the President's Match held annually at the National Rifle Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio. This is a permanent award which will stay with the individual; there is no annual requirement to maintain the President's Hundred tab."President's Hundred Tab", The Institute of Heraldry, last accessed 5 September 2026
On 27 May 1958, the National Rifle Association of America requested the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel's approval of a tab for presentation to each member of the "President's Hundred." The NRA's plan was to award the cloth tab together with a metal tab during the 1958 National Matches. The cloth tab was approved for wear on the US Army uniform on 3 March 1958.
A full-color embroidered tab of yellow long and high, with the word "President's Hundred" centered in high green letters. The metal replica is wide.
Jungle
The Jungle Expert badge was often worn by graduates of the Jungle Operations Training Center (JOTC) at Fort Sherman until the school became inactive in 1999. The badge was authorized for wear by soldiers assigned to U.S. Army South who graduate from JOTC but the badge was never recognized Army-wide.
In 2013, JOTC was reopened in Hawaii and the Jungle Expert badge was revitalized as a tab which is authorized for wear by soldiers who complete the course and are assigned to the U.S. Army Pacific area of responsibility and or units who fall under their operational control. Today, the revitalized tab simply reads "Jungle" and is awarded to graduates of the JOTC course conducted by the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii and the Army Security Cooperation Group–South in Panama.Welcome (Back) to the Jungle, Infantry Online, Benning.armuy.mil, by COL Brian S. Eifler, dated Jan-Mar 2014 edition, last accessed 16 July 2016TAMC combat medic named honor grad at 25ID 'Jungle School', www.army.mil, by Leanne Thomas, dated 7 September 2018, last accessed 23 February 2020Not for the faint hearted: Tripler's Chief Judge Advocate graduates executive jungle school, www.army.mil, by SGT Natalie Kintz,, dated 23 January 2020, 23 February 2020Eighth Army Soldiers authorized wear of arctic, jungle tabs, Army.mil, by Kenji Thuloweit, dated 17 May 2020, last accessed 6 January 2022"Army unit created for Afghanistan will now run jungle school in Panama", Task and Purpose, by Jeff Schogol, dated 29 January 2026, last accessed 6 March 2026
On 1 August 2026, the Army changed the status of the Jungle Tab to an official skill tab—similar to the Ranger, Sapper and Special Forces—tabs according to a spokesman from the U.S. Army Office of Public Affairs."US Army officially authorizes Army-wide wear of the Jungle Tab", US Army, by Army Public Affairs, dated 7 August 2026, last accessed 12 August 2026
Governor's "#" (National Guard)
The Governor's Twenty tab is a state-level National Guard award, created in 1968, that is awarded to the top 20 shooters in a state. However, award criteria vary from state-to-state. For example, within the Texas Military Forces, only eight guardsmen are presented this award for rifle, eight for pistol, two for sniper, and two for machine gun each year. Texas guardsmen compete against other Texas guardsmen who have already received the award; thus, there may be one or two new recipients of this award each year. As of July 2014, 14 states have authorized the awarding of the Governor's Twenty tab.Texas National Guard Marksmanship Program, Governor's Twenty , Texas National Guard, updated 4 Aug 11, last accessed 13 Nov 11TXSG Team Wins First Place In 2009 Texas Adjutant General’s Combat Pistol Sustainment Exercise Competition, Texas State Guard, by Maj. J. Michael Spraggins, dated 7 May 7, last accessed 27 June 2022Governor's 20 Sniper Competition 2014, Texas Military Forces, dated 12 January 2014, last accessed 19 January 2014Earning the Governor's Twenty Tab , By CPT Andrew J. Czaplicki, dated 7 August 2014, last accessed 10 January 2015
In the Missouri National Guard and Arizona National Guard, the top twelve guardsman selected to represent their state at the Winston P. Wilson Rifle and Pistol Championships are awarded the Governor's Twelve tab (for Missouri) or Governor's Dozen tab (for Arizona). These tabs are worn on the upper-left sleeve of the ACU below individual tabs and above unit and honor guard tabs. The Missouri National Guard also awards a Governor's Twelve Ribbon that accompanies the tab which is worn on dress uniforms; any guardsman who earns the award more than once wear Hawthorn Cluster Devices on top of the ribbon.Tabs and Badges a Measure of Marksmanship , Missouri National Guard, dated 14 December 2010, last accessed 18 May 2014National Guard Devices, by Eric Bush, last accessed 18 May 2014Arizona National Guard's top marksmen awarded Governor's Dozen, Army.mil, by SGT Wesley Parrell, dated 15 April 2016, last accessed 5 February 2017
In the Iowa National Guard, the top ten rifle and/or pistol shooters from the state's Army and Air Force guard units that compete at the Iowa Governor's 10 Shooting Competition are awarded the Governor's Ten ("X") tab. Prior to 2008, the Governor's Ten tab was awarded to the top five pistol shooters and top five rifle shooters. Today, the rifle and pistol scores are combined so only the best 10 overall shooters earn the tab.Top Iowa marksmen train fellow Red Bulls, Afghans at Torkham Gate, Defense Video and Imagery Distribution System, by Staff Sgt Ryan Matson, dated 11 March 2011, last accessed 28 February 2015
Because these awards are state-level awards, soldiers and airmen under Title 32 status (state control) are authorized to wear them; soldiers and airmen under Title 10 status (federal control) are not.
Ranger Challenge (Army ROTC)