US Army Approves Force-Wide Wear of the Jungle Tab
The Department of the Army has given the green light for soldiers across the entire force to wear the Jungle Tab, a move that formally recognizes troops who have trained and mastered the demanding skills needed to operate in dense, tropical terrain. The announcement, released by Army Public Affairs, extends the honor to qualified soldiers throughout the Active Duty, Reserve, and National Guard components.
Who Qualifies for the Jungle Tab
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| U.S. Army photo by Spc. Richard Morgan |
Under the new authorization, any current soldier who has graduated from the Jungle Operations Training Course is eligible to wear the tab. The Army has also opened the door to former service members, granting retroactive eligibility to those who trained at the jungle school once located at Fort Sherman, Panama, during the 1990s, as well as those who completed the successor course established in Hawaii after the Panama site shut down.
A Legacy Tied to "Green Hell"
The jungle course in Panama earned a fearsome reputation over decades, training generations of soldiers—including many who went on to serve in Vietnam—in the punishing heat and humidity of true rainforest conditions. Sgt. Maj. Christopher Kohunsky of HQDA G-3/5/7 spoke to the significance of finally recognizing that legacy, noting that troops who endured what became known as the "Green Hell" of the Panama jungle course or the rigorous Hawaiian rainforest can now wear the elite Jungle Tab, and that the tactics and endurance required to operate in such an unforgiving environment merit formal acknowledgment.
Although the original Panama-based course closed at the end of the 1990s, the Army never abandoned jungle-specific training. The mission shifted to Oahu, Hawaii, where the 25th Infantry Division's Lightning School now runs the course. Today's version spans 12 days and builds soldiers' capabilities in areas such as dismounted movement through thick vegetation, navigating without modern aids, tracking, and broader survival and tactical skills unique to jungle warfare.
Where the Tab Fits on the Uniform
The Jungle Tab now joins the ranks of the Army's other recognized skill tabs, standing alongside distinctions like the Sapper Tab, the Special Forces Tab, and the Ranger Tab. According to Kohunsky, its placement on the uniform has already been determined—positioned just after the Sapper Tab and ahead of the President's Hundred Tab—reflecting its status as proof that a soldier has mastered the fundamentals of jungle survival.
How Current Soldiers Can Apply
Active-duty, Reserve, and National Guard members who qualify can begin the process by filing a Personnel Action Request through the Integrated Personnel and Pay System - Army, attaching documentation that proves they completed the training. Acceptable proof includes items such as a graduation certificate, a training completion certificate, unit orders, or an official student record.
Requests don't go straight through automatically—they must first pass through the soldier's chain of command, specifically requiring sign-off from a battalion commander at the rank of lieutenant colonel (O-5) or higher. Once that approval is granted, the Army will update the soldier's personnel file to formally reflect the new skill badge.
The Process for Veterans
Veterans hoping to claim retroactive recognition face a slightly different path. Because many left service years or even decades ago, they'll need to produce alternative forms of proof, such as old deployment orders, temporary duty orders, or mobilization paperwork that confirms they attended and completed the Jungle Operations Training Course during the eligible window. Rather than routing through a current unit, these veterans are directed to submit their documentation to the Awards and Decorations Branch at the U.S. Army Human Resources Command, headquartered at Fort Knox, Kentucky.
Formal Policy Still Being Finalized
While the authorization is now in effect, the Army has indicated that the fine print is still being written. The Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1, is currently working to formalize the specific procedures governing how the tab is approved, awarded, and worn. Once complete, those details will be folded into updated versions of two key Army regulations: AR 670-1, which governs the wear and appearance of uniforms and insignia, and AR 600-8-22, which covers military awards more broadly.
What It Means
For thousands of soldiers—and veterans whose jungle training predates today's standardized recognition—the change closes a long-standing gap between the difficulty of the course and the formal credit given for completing it. What was once an internally understood mark of toughness within niche units now carries the same institutional weight as some of the Army's more storied skill badges, visible on uniforms Army-wide.
Source: Army Public Affairs