Trailblazer Soldiers don new unit patch

  • Published
  • By Spc. Tamika Dillard
  • 3rd MEB PAO
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  Nearly a year to the day of activation, the 3rd Maneuver Enhancement Brigade Soldiers stood before Col. Barry K. Williams, 3rd MEB commander and Command Sgt. Maj. Charlie Lane to don their new Trailblazer patch Nov. 10, at the Buckner Physical Fitness Center on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

The new patch replaced the U.S. Army Alaska patch, which the unit had worn since its activation.

The Trailblazer patch is a teal pile bearing a silver gray sword, point up, below a stylized outline of a mountain, above three stars, one each cobalt blue, scarlet and green.

"Gold is emblematic of excellence and high achievement," Lane said. "Teal blue represents the multifunctional nature of our organization.

The stylized mountain outline symbolizes Denali and Alaska, which is our current location.

The upright sword represents the warrior ethos reflected by all of our Soldiers in this brigade.

The three stars, cobalt blue, scarlet, and green are for the pillars of this great command: Chemical, Engineer, and Military Police Corps."

As Soldiers stood at the position of attention, Williams loudly pronounced, "Brigade, change patch."

Trailblazers across the gym floor simultaneously brought their right hands across their bodies, replacing the United States Army Alaska patch with the newly designed and approved Trailblazer patch.

"It has been an honor and a privilege to wear the USARAK patch," said Spc. Oscar Gaston, human resource specialist, who helped design the brigade's official coin.

Though he said he's proud to wear the new patch, Gaston noted that the unit's history and success is forever intertwined with that of USARAK.

See more 3rd MEB photos at www.flickr.com/photos/usarak.