USMC Helicopter Squadrons
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Embroidered
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Official US Navy VQ-3 Ironmen St. Patrick's Day Patch — Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 3 Embroidered Patch
Ironmen go green — VQ-3 celebrates St. Patrick's Day while keeping the nuclear link alive.
Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 3 (VQ-3), the "Ironmen," is one of the most critical yet least known squadrons in the United States Navy. Based at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, VQ-3 flies the Boeing E-6B Mercury airborne command post and communications relay aircraft as part of the Navy's TACAMO (Take Charge And Move Out) community. The Ironmen's mission is nothing less than ensuring the President of the United States and the Secretary of Defense can communicate directly with U.S. nuclear submarines, bombers, and missile silos during a nuclear conflict — the survivable communications link that underpins America's entire nuclear deterrent.
Established in 1968 from a detachment at NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii, VQ-3 has operated the EC-130G, EC-130Q, E-6A, and now the E-6B Mercury, trailing five-mile-long VLF antennas from orbiting aircraft to reach submerged ballistic missile submarines. The Ironmen operate under Strategic Communications Wing 1 and deploy aircraft on continuous operational patrols from Travis Air Force Base, California. This St. Patrick's Day edition brings festive Irish flair to one of the Navy's most serious missions.
Perfect For: VQ-3 Ironmen active-duty and veteran members, E-6B Mercury crews, TACAMO community personnel, Strategic Communications Wing 1 members, holiday-themed military patch collectors, and naval aviation enthusiasts.
Ironmen — green for the day, iron for the mission.
If you want to swap patches on/off gear, choose hook & loop (velcro). If you’re attaching permanently to uniforms or fabric, choose sew-on. If you want quick application on compatible fabric, choose iron-on / heat seal (when offered). Backing options are shown on the page and update based on the variant you select.
Size is shown on the product page and updates with the variant you select (example: 3"). If you’re mounting on a hat or small panel, choose smaller sizes; for plate carriers and display boards, larger sizes fit better.
If the product is officially licensed, it will say “Officially Licensed” in the title and/or in the product details. If it doesn’t, it’s still a legitimate product—just not part of a licensed program.
Yes. If you see a note like “bulk reruns available,” that means we can support group orders or reruns. If you don’t see it, contact us with the unit/squadron and quantity and we’ll confirm options.
Yes—custom solutions are available (patches, name tags, lanyards, apparel). Use the custom request page and include artwork, size, backing preference, and quantity.
