Patchcollector Posted February 23, 2016 Share #1 Posted February 23, 2016 Howdy all,Here is the sellers pic of a badge I recently acquired.I've never seen one,not sure how it was worn(cap,pocket,etc..),and don't even know the size of it yet.I seem to recall that this is associated with the "Jungle" School in Panama,but am not certain of that. Any additional info on this badge would be much appreciated. Thanks! Link to post Share on other sites
firefighter Posted March 5, 2016 Share #2 Posted March 5, 2016 I have one like yours only slightly different in the enamel. Mine has no maker marks.Ive had it for about the last 20 years. Link to post Share on other sites
Patchcollector Posted March 5, 2016 Author Share #3 Posted March 5, 2016 I received mine a few days ago.It's much larger than I thought it would be.Looks kind of "rough" too.I'm wondering if these were'nt locally produced in Panama. Link to post Share on other sites
firefighter Posted March 5, 2016 Share #4 Posted March 5, 2016 I always thought the same too. But the school is at Ft Benning, unless they had a local detachment.Mine isn't rough like yours but doesn't appear U.S. made. Link to post Share on other sites
Patchcollector Posted March 5, 2016 Author Share #5 Posted March 5, 2016 The School was in Panama until the 1980's,IIRC Link to post Share on other sites
firefighter Posted March 5, 2016 Share #6 Posted March 5, 2016 I was always told Benning. But i just googled it and it was till the early 90s. Cool. Makes more sense about my badge now. Link to post Share on other sites
Patchcollector Posted March 5, 2016 Author Share #7 Posted March 5, 2016 According to info I found online,the School left Panama in December 1984. Link to post Share on other sites
firefighter Posted March 6, 2016 Share #8 Posted March 6, 2016 According to info I found online,the School left Panama in December 1984. Yes, 1984. I was looking at something else. Link to post Share on other sites
Patchcollector Posted March 7, 2016 Author Share #9 Posted March 7, 2016 Mine isn't rough like yours but doesn't appear U.S. made. "Rough" probably was'nt the best choice of words.What I was trying to say was that the badge has that "theatre made" appearance.It may have been cast,maybe even sandcast. Link to post Share on other sites
firefighter Posted March 7, 2016 Share #10 Posted March 7, 2016 I didn't mean rough as in beat up. Just the appearance of it being not well finished, yes theater made. But I would think most of their badges were theater made? Very cool badge and like I said, only one ive ever seen besides mine. Link to post Share on other sites
firefighter Posted August 27, 2016 Share #11 Posted August 27, 2016 I finally dug mine up. Link to post Share on other sites
firefighter Posted August 27, 2016 Share #12 Posted August 27, 2016 I just noticed mine has INSTRUCTOR,. Maybe yours was worn by students? Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk Link to post Share on other sites
gwb123 Posted August 27, 2016 Share #13 Posted August 27, 2016 Howdy all, Here is the sellers pic of a badge I recently acquired.I've never seen one,not sure how it was worn(cap,pocket,etc..),and don't even know the size of it yet.I seem to recall that this is associated with the "Jungle" School in Panama,but am not certain of that. Any additional info on this badge would be much appreciated. Thanks! This is not the Jungle Expert course in Panama. The Spanish "Commando y Estado Mayor" translates (per Google) as "Command and Staff". Background on the US Army School of the Americas: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/soa.htm It is now the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, still at Fort Benning, and is apparently quite controversial due to the activities of some of its graduates. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Hemisphere_Institute_for_Security_Cooperation Link to post Share on other sites
Patchcollector Posted August 27, 2016 Author Share #14 Posted August 27, 2016 Nice badge FF,and thanks for the info GWB.Yes while doing some research a few months back I learned that the "School Of The Americas" has among it's graduates Manuel Noriega,and that there are allegations from some that the Institute teaches "torture and murder".It was "expelled" from Panama in the 80's. In the Institutes' defense,it has replied that "its curriculum includes human rights, and that "no school should be held accountable for the actions of its graduates." Link to post Share on other sites
checkit Posted October 25, 2018 Share #15 Posted October 25, 2018 Here's another example - 2" diameter, vaulted, unmarked, die cast but still fairly well-made. The collector note that came with it included "Only awarded to Latin students". Don't know if that is true, but if Latino graduates wore this badge on their respective country's uniform, that might explain the many theater-made variations. Link to post Share on other sites
firefighter Posted October 30, 2018 Share #16 Posted October 30, 2018 Here's another example - 2" diameter, vaulted, unmarked, die cast but still fairly well-made. The collector note that came with it included "Only awarded to Latin students". Don't know if that is true, but if Latino graduates wore this badge on their respective country's uniform, that might explain the many theater-made variations. temp.jpg Nice badge. Makes sense it would be a graduation badge Link to post Share on other sites
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