Squadron Patches

Within the United States Air Force pilot training programs, there are multiple classes a year, filled with about 30 student (“stud”) pilots. Each class builds a connection with their classmates through trust, teamwork, hardships, and fun times. Based on these experiences, each class gets to design a patch that represents their time together. I had the honor and privilege of helping these young “studs.”

The patch designs featured below were created during my professional career for various squadrons in accordance with their experience during their time in training. The patches were also required to include the planes that are flown during their training (the T-6 and the T-38), as well as their class number and all flags of the students’ respective countries that made up their class.

Patch Designs

Who: Various Squadrons at Sheppard Air Force Base for the ENJJPT Program.

When: 2020-2022

How: Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, and Procreate

Patch for the 23-01 Class

The following design was created for the 23-01 Class. They asked for their patch to be based on the infamous movie Forrest Gump.

Patches for the 21-04 Class

The following design was created for the 21-04 Class. Although all classes are comprised of various countries, this class entered training during 2020 when all traveling was paused. As a result, they were the only class comprised of only American members. To represent this unique turn of events, they decided to go all out on the American theme and requested a patch based on the Presidential Seal.

The final patch design for 21-04 based on the Presidential Seal:

The original image of the modern-day Presidential Seal, for reference:

The Second Patch Design for 21-04

Towards the end of 21-04’s training, the worldwide pandemic began to subside. As traveling opened up between countries, a few British members were added to their class. In order to include their new classmates, they decided to create a new patch that was based more on British values. Since the original patch was based on the American Presidential Seal, they decided to base the new one on the seal for the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister.

The final patch design for 21-04 based on the Prime Minister seal:

The original Seal of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, for reference:

Another Patch Design Option for 21-04

During the trial-and-error of creating ideas for an “all American” patch design, the class asked me to create one based on the image below.

The patch design for the skull idea:

For their patch, they asked for the image below to have an added oxygen flight mask to make it more unique to their experience as pilots. It also had to have less detail than the original image in order to be printed properly on the desired patch material.

The FAIP Patch

This patch was created for the First-Assignment Instructor Pilots (FAIP*) at ENJJPT. They wanted a patch that combined the “Air Education & Training Command” patch with their 89th Flying Training Squadron patch to wear for fun on Fridays.

*FAIPs are the pilots assigned to be instructor pilots for their first assignment as soon as they graduate pilot training.

An image of the 89th Flying Training Squadron patch:

An image of the Air Education & Training (AETC) Patch:

The images above were provided by the client.

The finished patch for the FAIPs at ENJJPT:

AETC Version of the FAIP Patch:

FAIP Patch with the words changed to “Air Education & Training Command” for the other pilots who wanted to wear this patch design but aren’t FAIPs:

Name Tag Patches

These name tag patches for designed for the 23-03 Class, with reverse color schemes for each of the two flights within the class.

The theme of these name patches was based on their class theme and class patch, which incorporated elements from the Baywatch movie about lifeguards.

The “PILOT” text is a placeholder for each pilot’s name.

One of the students in this class decided to have a design created for future students in their flight. So he asked me to help him clean up the design that he mocked-up.

The client’s design mock up to be cleaned up before sending to the embroidery company.

The cleaned-up image I created for the client.

Mock-Ups:

  • 21-04 Patch: PVC Material

  • 21-04 Patch: Sticker

  • 23-01 Patch: PVC Material

  • 23-01 Patch: Sticker

  • 23-01 Patch: Embroidered Material

  • FAIP Patch

  • AETC Version of FAIP Patch

  • Name Patches for 23-03 Class Flights

  • Name Patches for Future 23-03 Flights