Arctic A Tab - Blue / White Lettering

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

Criteria: The Arctic tab is given to soldiers stationed in Alaska as part of the 11th Airborne Division. The Arctic tab are to be worn directly above the Airborne tab. Previously, the Arctic Tab was an award given to soldiers who complete Alaska's 11-day Cold Weather Leaders Course. Dimensions are 2-1/4” inches in length and 9/16 inch in width with 1/4” White letters.

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.