Airborne Class A Tab - Blue / White Lettering

United States Army Airborne Class A Tab - Blue / White Lettering

Criteria: The Airborne Tab is a part of the shoulder sleeve patch of all U.S. Airborne units. Airborne forces are military units, usually light infantry, set up to be moved by aircraft and dropped into battle. Thus they can be placed behind enemy lines, and have an ability to deploy almost anywhere with little warning. The tab is worn immediately above and touching the shoulder sleeve insignia. The tabs are 2 1/2 inches long and 11/16 inch wide. The letters are 5/16 inch high.

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.