Proposed Cyber Command patch spurs resentment

[CommunityEditor]

Cyber Command’s new emblem can’t officially be anointed until the new command is stood up this October, but the one in the works replicates the former Strategic Air Command’s patch.

Only “minor modifications” have been made to the SAC emblem to create AFCYBER’s design and “bring it up to current Air Force emblem standards,” according to service documents.

“By assuming the lineage of the Strategic Air Command, cyber-warriors demonstrate the ability to project strength and achieve global effects with the inclusion of the cyberspace domain, with air and space,” according to lineage and heritage records.

But it’s that striking similarity to Strategic Air Command’s patch has started a controversy. Former airman that served under SAC have posted on multiple Internet blogs their displeasure of the almost identical designs.

“I respect the fact that our “cyber warriors” are a critical asset in our force structure, but in my opinion they should wear a patch of their own design, not one lifted from a previous generation,” said retired Col. Ron Thurlow via email.


Article: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/20...rpatch_031408/

NO originality ,where does the patch reflect the mission and enviroment where these cyberwarriors will operate?. Leave the SAC patch alone and create a new distinct one.

It makes no sense to use the SAC patch as the AF Cyber patch. First, let the SAC legacy be remembered as it is. It was an important part of our AF history, but it does not reflect what is to come with the AF Cyber Command. Cyberpsace is its own domain. So the patch should reflect the qualities and charateristics of a cyberspace fighting domain. The background could be black with green 1's and 0's moving vertically to reflect the binary nature of the digital age. The gauntlet can be a symbol of cyber defense. The gauntlet can hold three lighting bolts to represent cyber attack. You can position the gauntlet to seem as if it is slamming its fist onto the background of the patch and have radio waves emanating from it to represent the electromagnetc spectrum that AF Cyberspace operates in. But what ever we do, let's make sure it passes the common sense test. The current SAC copy-cat patch does not properly represent the mission of AF Cyberpace Command.

I find it disrespectful and slapping a tradition in the face. I can't help but wonder why these people can't be a little more original instead of STEALING an honored symbol of our past

It's interesting to read the AFCYBER picked to take SAC heritage and they try to explain that on their site:

http://www.afcyber.af.mil/library/fa...t.asp?id=11770

I would think they'd want to build upon the C&I heritage that already exists and the AFCA patch looks like a better one to evolve a design from:

http://public.afca.af.mil/library/history/index.asp

I know AFCYBER is much more than C&I and that is probably the reason they want to take on something bigger than just a C&I agency to claim as their heritage. However, why not just start your own then since the SAC heritage just doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

See... this would be better:

I cannot say for sure what the new Cyber Command emblem should look like, but I DO know that it should not be stealing from SAC. I noticed a post on here that shows the AF Communications Agency emblem and I would have to agree that Cyber Command's emblem should more closely resemble that than anything else.

Reviving the hearaldry of SAC into a totally unrelated new command is an insult to what AAC stood for. When General "manly man fighter pilot" McPeak chose to remake the Air Force in his own image, he eliminated SAC as being obsolete and forced bomber pilots to play second fiddle to fighter pilots in his newly minted ACC or "ack" as many former SAC and TAC veterans referred to it. Retire the all of the SAC hearaldry and let the computer geeks come up with something original.

This is wrong. The Cyber CC should come up with their own design. Makes no sense...

Absolutely horrible idea. As a SAC Trained Killer myself it is a cheap ripoff from one of the greatest organizations the Air Force EVER had. Curtis LeMay is rolling over in his grave.......