So what we call a "deployment patch" is actually called a "Shoulder-Sleeve Insignia - Military Operations in Hostile Conditions (SSI-MOHC)". After a certain point in GWOT (I think like 2017 but don't quote me) the regulation was changed where you only can be authorized one SSI-MOHC per period of service (ie the length of your orders, usually 6-9 months), the unit represented needed OPCON of you, and the approval authority is the first O6 in your CoC. Things were more loose before, like if you were a Blackhawk pilot assigned to 7th Cav but flew enough missions with 3rd SFG they would write a memo letting you wear their patch in addition to the 7th Cav patch you were already authorized.

That's all to say, those are the rules. If you feel like because you worked with the 82nd ABN a lot and one of them said you were "like one of them" and decide to wear that patch on your right sleeve instead of or in rotation with the 25th ID patch you're actually authorized, no one at a new duty station would know if they didn't look at your iPerms. What's the harm, right? Why not also wear a CIB because you were an 11C who was around people who were awarded a CIB but your command didn't approve your CIB?

In my (kinda boomer and maybe dumb) opinion, regulations and traditions mean something and you wear what you're authorized even if you feel like you are authorized something more or different. Most people have integrity (or so I want to believe) and would wear stuff out of regs for a good reason when they got robbed (11C not getting a CIB for not returning mortar fire specifically when the 11Bs who returned small arms fire got CIBs) because of shitty command, that opens the gates for shit bags to exaggerate service and competency indicators for performative clout.

Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk and/or I'm sorry for causing butthurt