UNIFORMS AND INSIGNIA OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY
The uniforms for the officers and enlisted men of the United States
Army are made of blue cloth for wear on dress occasions and of
olive-drab colored material for wear on general service and field
service occasions, and in addition the officers have uniforms of white
linen or cotton duck for wear as a dress uniform in the tropics or
during hot weather.
The service uniforms of the olive-drab color are made of woolen cloth
or serge for cold weather and of cotton duck for hot weather, the
latter being usually known as “khaki” uniforms, though the regulation
color is of a somewhat darker shade than that universally known as
“khaki.”
[Illustration: _Copyright by Underwood & Underwood_
General Tasker H. Bliss, Chief of Staff, U. S. Army, and Major General
Hugh L. Scott, U. S. Army]
It is a general rule that the officers serving with the troops in
garrison or in the field must appear in the same style of uniform as
that prescribed for the enlisted men.
During peace times officers serving on detached duty or in the offices
of the Departments where there are no enlisted men on duty ordinarily
wear civilian clothes, but in time of war all officers and enlisted
men are required to wear the olive-drab service uniform at all times
except when the full dress and dress uniforms are prescribed for some
appropriate special occasion. Officers ordered on active field service
are required to carry with them only the service uniforms.
UNITED STATES ARMY OFFICERS’ UNIFORMS
Commissioned officers of the Army are required to have complete outfits
of service uniform (woolen olive-drab for temperate and cold weather
and cotton olive-drab or “khaki” for the tropics and hot weather),
dress uniform, full dress uniform, white uniform and special evening
dress uniform, and for wear on certain occasions in the evening a mess
dress uniform of blue and one of white is optional.
The occasions upon which these uniforms are usually worn are given in
the regulations as follows:
TABLE OF OCCASIONS FOR UNIFORMS
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OCCASIONS. UNIFORM.
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1. For habitual garrison wear at all Service uniform,
times when under arms, and until woolen or cotton
sundown when not under arms. depending upon
2. For duty in the field. the temperature.
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3. For ordinary wear after retreat by Dress uniform (in
officers not under arms. the Tropics and
4. For social uses before retreat. during hot weather
5. When off post, except that when in other places
riding or taking physical exercise the white uniform
the service uniform may be worn. may be worn).
6. When on duty with enlisted men for
whom dress uniform is prescribed.
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7. When on duty with enlisted men for whom Dress uniform
mounted dress uniform is prescribed. (mounted).
8. When riding off the reservation.
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9. State occasions at home or abroad.
10. When receiving the President of the
United States.
11. When receiving or calling officially
upon the President, sovereign or a
member of the royal family of another
country. Full dress uniform.
12. Ceremonies and entertainments when
it is desired to do special honor to
the occasion.
13. When full dress, dismounted, is
prescribed for enlisted men.
14. Special or official functions of a
general nature, when prescribed.
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15. When on duty with enlisted men for
whom full dress, mounted, is
prescribed.
16. Social or official functions of a
general nature when prescribed.
_On the following occasions when officers
are required to be mounted._
17. State occasions at home or abroad. Full dress uniform
18. When receiving the President of the (mounted).
United States.
19. When receiving or officially calling upon
the President, sovereign or a member
of the royal family of another
country.
20. Ceremonies or entertainments when it
is desired to do special honor to the
occasion.
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21. Social or official functions of a general
nature occurring in the evening.
22. For private formal dinners and other Special evening
private formal social functions dress uniform.
occurring in the evening.
23. For ordinary evening wear when desired.
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Blue mess dress
24. For private formal dinners and other uniform. In the
private formal social functions Tropics and at
occurring in the evening. other places in
25. For ordinary evening wear when desired. hot weather, the
white mess dress
uniform may be
worn.
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_In the Tropics._
26. Until sundown when prescribed.
27. For ordinary wear after retreat.
28. For official occasions, under arms, White uniform.
when prescribed.
_In the United States in warm weather._
29. For ordinary wear after retreat.
30. For social use after retreat.
31. When off the post, or reservation.
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Throughout the military and naval services of the United States when
officers of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps appear together in uniform
upon occasions of ceremony the following are the uniforms designated
for each of the three services:
------------+------------------------------------------------------
DESIGNATION | COMPOSITION OF UNIFORM FOR
OF +-------------+-------------------+--------------------
UNIFORM | ARMY | NAVY | MARINE CORPS
------------+-------------+-------------------+--------------------
Uniform A | Full dress |Special full dress,|Special full dress
| | or white special | (with full dress
| | full dress. | trousers if in
| | | line with troops),
| | | or white special
| | | full dress.
| | |
Uniform B | Dress |Undress, or white |Undress or white
| | undress. | undress.
| | |
Uniform C | Full dress |Evening full dress;|Special full dress,
| or evening | or evening full | or mess dress.
| dress. | dress without |
| | swords or belts, |
| | and with blue |
| | caps; or dinner |
| | dress. |
------------+-------------+-------------------+---------------------
_The service uniform_ consists of a single-breasted sack coat extending
to one-third of the distance from the point of the hip to the knee,
fitting tightly at the waist, with a standing collar, buttoned down the
front with a row of five army buttons of dull finish bronze, having
four patch pockets closed by pocket flaps buttoned with small size
army buttons of bronze, one pocket on each breast and one on each side
of the front below the waist, the shoulders having straps of the same
material as the coat extending from the shoulder seam to the base of
the collar secured with a small size bronze button at the collar end
(the insignia of rank are worn on these straps), and the sleeves being
trimmed with one row of half-inch braid three inches above the end of
the sleeve, the braid being black for officers of the General Staff
Corps and brown for all other officers; breeches of the same color and
material as the coat; tan leather shoes and tan leather strap puttee
leggings; the service hat, commonly known as the “campaign hat,” a
wide brimmed drab felt hat worn to a peak at the center of the crown
and having the officers’ hat cord around the base of the crown; or the
service cap, a bell-crowned cap of the same material as the coat with a
sloping visor of tan leather and a one-half inch tan leather chin strap
above the visor secured by a bronze button at each end of the visor.
Olive-drab woolen gloves are worn with this uniform when required.
For garrison wear a white shirt, collar and cuffs are worn with this
uniform, but in the field a flannel olive-drab shirt is worn.
[Illustration: _Copyright, Harris & Ewing, Washington, D. C._
U. S. Army officer Olive-drab service uniform]
[Illustration: _Copyright, Harris & Ewing, Washington, D. C._
U. S. Army. Officer, full dress uniform
_Rank_: Major, indicated by the three stripes in the sleeve decorations
_Corps_: Coast Artillery, indicated by the Corps insignia on the
sleeves below the knot decoration]
In garrison the saber is worn suspended by tan leather slings from a
tan leather waist-belt, but for war service in the field the saber
is worn with a wide tan leather belt having a suspender strap of tan
leather worn from the right shoulder diagonally across the body to
rings in the belt in front and in rear of the left hip. This belt was
recently adopted from the British Army and is known as the “Sam Browne”
belt. In the trenches and on ordinary duty in the field, officers of
the Army wear the pistol belt on which the service automatic pistol is
carried in a leather or webbing holster.
Insignia of dull bronze metal indicating the arm of the service or the
staff corps to which the wearer belongs are worn upon both sides of the
collar of the service coat and the insignia of rank in bright metal,
silver or gold according to rank are worn upon each shoulder strap of
the coat.
For certain drills and for service in the field the coat may be
dispensed with, in which case the olive-drab flannel shirt is worn and
the corps insignia and insignia of rank are then worn upon the collar
of the shirt.
The hat cord worn on the service hat by General Officers is a double
cord of gold bullion with acorns of the same material at the ends, and
that worn by other commissioned officers is the same except that it has
black silk intermixed with the gold.
Army Field Clerks and Field Clerks Quartermaster Corps wear hat cords
made of black and silver twisted strands.
Members of the Officers Training Corps undergoing training in the camps
provided for that purpose wear a hat cord made of red, white and blue
twisted strands.
The overcoat is worn with the service uniform when necessary.
Mounted officers wear tan boots, spurs and drab leather riding gloves
with the service uniform.
_The dress uniform_ consists of a dark blue cloth, single-breasted coat
extending to one-third of the distance from the point of the hip to the
knee; blue cloth trousers (the shade depending upon the rank and corps
of the wearer as later described); a bell-crowned cap, of dark blue
cloth having the coat of arms of the United States embroidered in gold
on the front of the crown at the center, with a sloping visor of black
patent leather and a chin strap of gold braid three-eighths of an inch
in width and eight inches long attached above the visor by a small gilt
Army button at each end of the visor; black shoes; white shirt, collar
and cuffs; and white gloves.
The dress coat for General officers (officers of the rank of General,
Lieutenant General, Major General and Brigadier General) is double
breasted with a standing and falling collar, two rows of buttons down
the front as follows: for a General twelve buttons in each row arranged
in three groups of four, for a Lieutenant General ten in each row
arranged in three groups, the upper and lower groups of three and the
central group of four, for a Major General nine in each row arranged in
three groups of three each, and for a Brigadier General eight in each
row arranged in groups of two; and the cuffs trimmed with three small
size gilt army buttons on each back seam. The collar has on each side
the proper insignia indicating staff corps, and on each shoulder there
is a shoulder strap four inches long and one and seven-eighths inches
wide with a border of raised gold embroidery three-eighths of an inch
wide, the field of the strap being of dark blue cloth and bearing the
stars indicating the rank of the General officer. These shoulder straps
are worn with one of the sides touching the shoulder seam of the sleeve.
The dress coat for all other officers is a single-breasted sack coat
of dark blue cloth, with a standing collar, closed in front by buttons
or hooks concealed by a fly, having a vertical opening on each side at
the hip six inches high, the collar, front edges, bottom edge of the
coat and the vertical side openings being trimmed with lustrous black
mohair braid one and one-half inches wide. On each shoulder a shoulder
strap of the same size as that described for General officers is worn,
the field of the strap being the distinctive color of the arm of the
service to which the wearer belongs and having the insignia of rank
embroidered upon it. On each side of the collar the corps insignia are
worn to indicate the corps or branch of the service to which the wearer
belongs.
The dress trousers for General officers (except Chief of Coast
Artillery, Chief of Engineers, Quartermaster General and General
Officers of the Quartermaster Corps) are made of dark blue cloth
without stripes or other trimming. For the General officers excepted
in the last sentence the trousers are of dark blue cloth trimmed down
the outer leg seams with stripes as follows:
_Chief of Coast Artillery._—Stripes of scarlet cloth one and one-half
inches wide.
_Chief of Engineers._—Stripes of scarlet cloth one and one-half inches
wide with a one-eighth inch piping of white cloth in the center of each
stripe.
_Quartermaster General and General Officers of the Quartermaster
Corps._—Stripes of buff cloth one and one-half inches wide.
For officers below the rank of Brigadier General the dress trousers
are of blue cloth with stripes of cloth one and one-half inches wide
down the outer leg seams, the color of the cloth for the trousers and
stripes depending upon the corps of the officer as follows:
_Officers having permanent appointments in the Staff Corps_ and
Departments (except Engineer and Quartermaster officers), dark blue
cloth without any stripes.
_Officers of the Engineer Corps._—Dark blue cloth with scarlet stripes
having a one-eighth inch piping of white through the center of each
stripe.
_Officers holding permanent appointments in the Quartermaster
Corps._—Dark blue cloth with buff stripes.
_Officers of cavalry._—Sky-blue cloth with stripes of yellow.
_Officers of Artillery._—Sky-blue cloth with stripes of scarlet.
_Officers of Infantry._—Sky-blue cloth with stripes of white.
The dress cap for General officers (except the Quartermaster General,
Brigadier Generals of the Quartermaster Corps and the Chief of Coast
Artillery) has a band of blue-black velvet one and three-quarters
inches wide, upon which is embroidered in gold a design of oak leaves,
and upon the visor there are two sprays of oak leaves embroidered
in gold. The dress caps for the Quartermaster General and Brigadier
Generals of the Quartermaster Corps and for the Chief of Coast
Artillery are the same as for other General officers except that the
cap for the Chief of Coast Artillery has the band of scarlet velvet
and that for the Quartermaster General and Brigadier Generals of the
Quartermaster Corps have the band of buff velvet.
The dress cap for Field officers (Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels and
Majors) of all branches is the same as that for General officers,
except that the band is decorated with two bands of gold lace braid
one-half an inch wide, one at the top and one at the bottom of the
band with a strip of cloth three-quarters of an inch in width between
the two gold bands, the color of the cloth being the distinctive color
of the arm of the service or staff corps to which the wearer belongs,
these distinctive colors being the same as those for the “facings” of
the uniforms.
When the saber is worn with the dress uniform the belt is worn under
the coat, with full dress slings.
The overcoat is worn with the dress uniform when necessary, and the
cloak, or blue cape, may be worn when the officer is not on duty with
troops under arms.
When mounted officers in dress uniform wear dress breeches of cloth of
the same color as their dress trousers and with the same stripes, black
boots, white leather gloves and spurs.
_The full dress uniform_ consists of a double-breasted coat of dark
blue cloth extending to about three-fourths of the distance from the
point of the hip to the knee, with a standing collar, two rows of
large gilt buttons down the front between the line of the collar and
the waist; epaulets or shoulder knots, as ordered, for General officers
and shoulder knots for all other officers; dark blue cloth trousers for
General officers, chaplains and officers holding permanent appointments
in the Staff Corps (except officers of the Quartermaster Corps),
and the same as dress trousers for all other officers; a chapeau or
the dress cap for General officers and the dress cap for all other
officers; black shoes; white shirt, collar and cuffs; white gloves;
full dress belt and saber.
The full dress coat for General officers (except the Chief of
Engineers, the Quartermaster General and the Brigadier Generals of the
Quartermaster Corps) has collar and cuffs of blue-black velvet, the
collar being ornamented with a band of oak leaves embroidered in gold,
and the cuffs having a band of oak leaves embroidered in gold near the
top. The full dress coat for the Chief of Engineers has a narrow piping
of scarlet velvet down the front, that for the General officers of the
Quartermaster Corps has buff collars and cuffs. The rank of the General
officer is indicated by the insignia of rank (the appropriate number of
stars) upon the cuffs.
The buttons on the front of the full dress coat for General officers
are arranged in groups as described for the dress coat.
[Illustration: _Copyright, 1908, by Brig. Gen. J. B. Aleshire,
Qr.-Master General, U. S. A._
U. S. Army. Officers’ winter uniforms]
[Illustration: U. S. Army Officers
1. Insignia worn on caps
2. Full dress belt clasp
3. Service buttons (Except for Engineers)
4. Service buttons, Engineers]
The full dress coat for all officers below the rank of Brigadier
General (except officers of Engineers and officers holding permanent
appointments in the Quartermaster Corps) has two rows of large size
gilt army buttons down the front, nine in each row equally spaced,
two rows of one-half inch gold lace braid around the collar, one at
the top and one at the bottom, with the distinctive color of the
“facings” of the corps, department or arm of the service filling the
space between the two rows. Officers of Engineers have a narrow piping
of scarlet cloth down the front of the full dress coat and officers
holding permanent appointments in the Quartermaster Corps have this
piping of buff cloth and also cuffs of buff cloth two and one-half
inches deep. For all officers below the rank of Brigadier General the
full dress coat has one row of one-half inch gold lace braid around the
sleeve two and one-half inches from the bottom and above this the gold
braided designs indicating the rank of the wearer. These ornamentations
are in the form of three loops, one large vertical loop with two
smaller horizontal loops below it. The insignia indicating the corps,
department or arm of the service to which the wearer belongs are worn
in the angle at the bottom of the knot.
These knots are made up of from one to five rows of gold soutache braid
one-eighth of an inch wide, the number of rows of braid indicating the
rank of the wearer.
When mounted all officers wear the breeches described for dress
uniform, black boots, white leather gloves and spurs.
_The white uniform_ consists of a single-breasted sack coat of white
duck of the same general design as the blue dress coat but trimmed with
white braid and having straps of the same material as the coat upon the
shoulders reaching from the shoulder seams to the base of the collar,
white trousers and a white cap. The insignia indicating the corps,
department or arm of service are worn upon the collar of the coat
in bright metal and the insignia of rank are worn upon the shoulder
straps. The white cap is of the same design and description as the
dress cap except that the crown is made of white duck and the band is
of white braid.
_The special evening dress uniform_ consists of a dark blue cloth coat
cut on the lines of the civilian evening dress coat, having regulation
gilt buttons and the sleeves decorated as described for the full dress
coat; trousers of dark blue cloth for officers of cavalry, artillery
and infantry and full dress trousers for all other officers; white
shirt, collar and cuffs; black silk necktie; white evening dress
waistcoat with regulation gilt buttons; the dress cap; and black shoes.
_The blue mess uniform_ consists of a dark blue mess jacket cut like
the special evening dress coat but without tails, the collar and lapels
being faced with silk of the color of the “facings” prescribed for
the corps, department or arm of the service and the sleeves trimmed
as described for the full dress coat; dress trousers for officers of
infantry, cavalry, artillery, quartermaster corps and engineers, and
full dress trousers for all other officers; white or blue waistcoat
with small regulation gilt buttons; dress cap; white shirt, collar and
cuffs; black silk necktie; and black shoes.
_The white mess uniform_ consists of a white mess jacket cut on the
same design as the blue mess jacket but with the sleeve trimmings of
white braid; white waistcoat; white trousers; white shirt, collar and
cuffs; the white cap; and white shoes.
_The overcoat for officers_ is a double-breasted ulster of olive-drab
cloth extending to about ten inches below the knee (overcoats reaching
to the knee only are authorized for field service), with pleated back
and a wide rolling collar, buttoning to the neck, with two rows of
large flat horn buttons of the same color as the coat, five in each
row, having a pocket with vertical opening on each side at the waist.
The rank of the wearer is indicated by the trimmings on the sleeves.
The overcoat for General officers has a band of black mohair braid
one and one-quarter inches wide around the sleeve two and one-half
inches above the end and another band of black mohair braid one-half
of an inch wide placed one and one-half inches above the lower band.
The overcoats for officers below the rank of Brigadier General have
the ornamentations indicating rank as shown by the accompanying
illustrations. For officers of the General Staff Corps the bands of
black braid below the sleeve knot are seven-eighths of an inch wide.
[Illustration: U. S. Army. Officers’ overcoat sleeve braiding (in
black) indicating rank
1. All General Officers 2. Colonel 3. Lieutenant Colonel 4. Major]
[Illustration: U. S. Army. Officers’ overcoat sleeve braiding
indicating rank
Black braid for all except Second Lieutenant
1. Captain 2. First Lieutenant Second Lieutenant (brown braid)
3. Field clerk 4. Lieutenant Colonel, General Staff Corps]
_The cape for officers_ is of dark blue cloth, extending to the knee,
with a blue-black velvet rolling collar, lined with cloth depending
upon the corps or arm of the service as follows:
General officers and officers of the Staff Corps
and Departments (except Quartermaster
General) Dark blue.
Officers of the Quartermaster Corps Buff.
Officers of Infantry Light blue.
Officers of Artillery Scarlet.
Officers of Cavalry Yellow.
Chaplains Black.
_The chapeau for General officers_ is a cocked hat of black silk plush,
having on the right side a rosette of black silk five inches long and
three inches wide with a strip of gold lace in the center, the coat of
arms of the United States being embroidered upon the upper end of the
strip. Over the center of the chapeau two black ostrich plumes extend
from front to rear, and there are gold bullion tassels at the front and
back.
_Aiguilettes_ of braided gold cord three-sixteenths of an inch in
diameter are worn by officers of the General Staff Corps, officers of
the Adjutant General’s and Inspector General’s Departments, officers
of the Bureau of Insular Affairs, aides-de-camp, regimental adjutants,
adjutants of Artillery Districts, the Adjutant of the Military Academy
at West Point, and Military Attaches at American Embassies and
Legations in foreign countries.
_Full dress belts_ for Major Generals are of red Russia leather with
three stripes of gold embroidery, for Brigadier Generals of black
webbing, for Field Officers (Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels and Majors)
of black enamel leather with one wide stripe of gold lace, for officers
holding permanent appointments in the staff corps and departments below
the rank of major (except Engineers) of black enamel leather covered
with a wide stripe of gold lace interwoven with three narrow stripes of
black silk, for officers of Engineers the same but with gold stripes
interwoven with three narrow stripes of scarlet silk, and for officers
of cavalry, infantry and artillery below the rank of major the same
but with the gold stripes interwoven with three narrow stripes of silk
of the distinctive color of the arm of the service, cavalry yellow,
infantry light blue and artillery scarlet.
A _sash_ of buff silk is worn by General officers, the one for
Brigadier Generals being worn around the waist over the belt and the
ones for all Generals of higher rank being worn across the right
shoulder under the epaulet or shoulder knot and diagonally across the
body to the left side at the waist and terminating in heavy tassels
which hang below the belt.
_Epaulets_, worn by General officers with full dress uniform, are of
gold with heavy gold fringe. On the top is the coat of arms of the
United States and the stars indicating rank.
_Shoulder knots_ worn by all officers with full dress uniforms are
five and one-half inches long and two and one-half inches wide, made
of plaited gold cord and bearing the insignia of rank upon the upper
surface.
_The sword for officers of the Army_ is a saber with a slightly curved
bright steel blade, a half-basket hilt with the guard of bright steel,
and an ebony grip. The scabbard is of bright steel with two plain bands
and rings for attaching the saber to the slings.
_The saber knot_ worn on the hilt of the saber for attaching the sword
to the wrist, for wear with full dress uniform is of heavy gilt cord
ending in a gilt braided acorn for General officers and for other
officers a strap of flat gold braid with a row of black silk interwoven
in it near each edge; and for wear with service uniform it is made of
plaited leather cord ending in a leather tassel.
INSIGNIA OF RANK AND CORPS
The rank of an officer of the Army is indicated in two ways, first, by
insignia of rank placed upon the epaulets and shoulder knots worn with
full dress uniform, upon the shoulder straps worn with dress uniform,
upon the cloth shoulder straps of the service coats and white coats
and upon the collar of the olive-drab flannel shirt when it is worn
without the coat; second, by the insignia upon the sleeves of the full
dress coat, the special evening dress coat, the overcoat and the blue
and white mess jackets, this braiding being of gold on the full dress
coat, special evening dress coat and blue mess jacket, black upon the
overcoat and white upon the white mess jacket.
The insignia of rank referred to above for the various ranks of
officers, as shown in the illustrations, are as follows:
_General_—Four silver stars.
_Lieutenant General_—One large silver star and two smaller
ones, one on each side of the larger star.
_Major General_—Two silver stars, one inch in diameter.
_Brigadier General_—One silver star, one inch in diameter.
_Colonel_—A silver spread eagle, three-quarters of an inch
high and two inches from tip to tip of wings.
_Lieutenant Colonel_—A silver oak leaf, one inch high and one
inch wide.
_Major_—A gold oak leaf, one inch high and one inch wide.
_Captain_—Two silver bars, one inch long and one-quarter of an
inch wide.
_First Lieutenant_—One silver bar, one inch long and
one-quarter of an inch wide.
_Second Lieutenant_—One gold bar, one inch long and
one-quarter of an inch wide.
_The insignia of rank upon the sleeves_ of the full dress coat, special
evening dress coats, and blue mess jacket, are as follows:
_General_—A band of oak leaves in gold at the top of the cuff
and four silver stars below the band.
_Lieutenant General_—A band of oak leaves in gold at the top
of the cuff and one large silver star and two smaller silver
stars, one on each side of the large star, below the band.
_Major General_—A band of oak leaves in gold at the top of the
cuff and two silver stars one inch in diameter, below the
band.
_Brigadier General_—A band of oak leaves in gold at the top of
the cuff and one silver star one inch in diameter, below the
band.
_Colonel_—A gold band one-half of an inch wide around the
sleeve with a knot of three loops, one large loop placed
vertically and two smaller loops placed horizontally at each
side below the large loop, the knot being placed above the
gold band, the dimensions of the knot being height eight
inches and width six and three-quarters inches. The knot
for the rank of colonel is composed of five rows of braid
one-eighth of an inch wide spaced one-quarter of an inch
apart. The insignia indicating the corps, department or arm
of the service is worn in the center of the space formed
by the lower curves of the knot and the gold band around
the sleeve. For chaplains this insignia is a Latin cross of
silver.
_Lieutenant Colonel_—The same as for a colonel except that the
knot is composed of four rows of braid.
_Major_—The same as for a colonel except that the knot is
composed of three rows of braid.
_Captain_—The same as for colonel except that the knot is
composed of two rows of braid.
_First Lieutenant_—The same as for a colonel except that the
knot is composed of one row of braid.
_Second Lieutenant_—There is no knot, the one-half inch band
of gold braid around the sleeve with the insignia indicating
the corps, department or arm of the service being the only
ornamentation on the sleeves.
[Illustration: U. S. Army. Officers’ shoulder straps worn on blue dress
coats
1. General 2. Lieutenant General 3. Major General
4. Brigadier General]
[Illustration: U. S. Army. Officers’ shoulder straps worn on blue dress
coats
1. Colonel 2. Lieutenant Colonel (Silver leaf) Major (Gold leaf)
3. Captain
4. First Lieutenant 5. Second Lieutenant]
The sleeves of the white mess jackets have the same insignia to
indicate rank and corps as those of the full dress coat but the band
around the sleeve and the knot are made of white braid.
The rank of General officers is indicated on the overcoat by silver
stars placed between the two bands of black braid on each sleeve.
_The corps, department or arm of the service_ to which an officer
belongs is shown in two ways; first, by the color of the “facings,” or
distinctive color trimmings of the uniform, and second, by the insignia
of the different corps, departments and arms of the service worn upon
the collars and also upon the sleeves of the full dress coat, special
evening dress coat, mess jackets and overcoat.
_Facings._—The facings or distinctive colors for the various corps,
departments and arms of the service are as follows:
_General Officers_ (except the
Quartermaster General and Brigadier
Generals of the Quartermaster Corps) dark blue.
_Quartermaster General and Brigadier
Generals of the Quartermaster Corps_ buff.
_Adjutant General’s Department_ dark blue.
_Inspector General’s Department_ dark blue.
_Judge Advocate General’s Department_ dark blue.
_Quartermaster Corps_ buff.
_Ordnance Department_ black piped with scarlet.
_Signal Corps_ orange piped with white.
_Medical Corps_ maroon.
_Corps of Engineers_ scarlet piped with white.
_Cavalry_ yellow.
_Artillery_ scarlet.
_Infantry_ light blue.
_Chaplains_ black.
The insignia to designate the corps, department or arm of the service
to which an officer belongs, as shown in the illustrations, are made of
bright metal, gold or silver according to the corps, for blue and white
uniforms and dull finish bronze for service uniforms. They are worn on
the sleeves of the full dress coat, special evening dress coat, blue
mess jacket and white mess jacket, and on each side of the collars of
the dress coat, service coats and olive-drab flannel shirt.
The bright metal insignia are as follows:
_All officers._—The letters “U. S.” in Gothic design, five-eighths
of an inch high, each letter followed by a period, are worn on each
side of the collar of the dress and service coats. For officers of
the Reserve Corps the letter “R” is added and for officers of the
Volunteers the letter “V” is added. These letters are of gold except
for officers of the Engineer Corps who wear them in silver.
[Illustration: U. S. Army. Officers’ insignia indicating rank
Shoulder straps worn on the olive-drab service coats and the white coat
1. General 2. Lieutenant General 3. Major General 4. Brigadier General]
[Illustration: U. S. Army. Officers’ insignia indicating rank
Shoulder straps worn on the olive-drab service coats and the white coat
1. Colonel 2. Lieutenant Colonel (Silver Leaf), Major (Gold Leaf)
3. Captain. 4. First Lieutenant (Silver Bar), Second Lieutenant (Gold
Bar)
5. Field Clerk]
_General Staff Corps._—A gold five-pointed star one and a quarter
inches in diameter surmounted by the coat of arms of the United States
in gold and enamel.
_Corps of Engineers._—The letters “U. S.” of silver and a turretted
castle of silver.
_Chaplains._—A silver Latin cross.
_Adjutant General’s Department._—A gold shield one inch high.
_Inspector General’s Department._—A sword and fasces of gold, crossed
and surmounted by a gold wreath with the inscription “Droit et Avant”
in blue enamel on the wreath.
_Judge Advocate General’s Department._—A sword and pen crossed and
surmounted by a wreath, all of gold.
_Quartermaster Corps._—A sword and a key crossed on a wheel surmounted
by an eagle, in gold except the rim of the wheel which is in blue
enamel set with thirteen gold stars.
_Medical Corps._—A caduceus of gold.
_Medical Reserve Corps._—The same surmounted by the letters “R. C.” in
bronze.
_Sanitary Corps._—The same surmounted by the letters “S. C.”
_Dental Surgeons._—The same surmounted by the letters “D. C.” in bronze.
_Acting Dental Surgeons._—The same in silver with gold letters.
_Ordnance Department._—A flaming spherical shell of gold.
_Signal Corps._—Two crossed signal flags with a vertical torch at the
center, all of gold.
_Cavalry._—Two sabers of gold crossed with the number of the regiment
in the angle above them.
_Field Artillery._—Two field guns of gold crossed with the number of
the regiment in the angle above them.
_Coast Artillery._—Two gold cannons crossed, surmounted at the center
by an oval of red enamel with a gold projectile point up.
_Infantry._—Two gold rifles crossed with the number of the regiment in
the angle above them.
_Philippine Scouts._—The same as for infantry but with the letter “P”
in the angle above the crossed rifles.
_Porto Rico Regiment._—The same but with the letters “P. R.”
_Aides-de-camp._—A shield of the United States surmounted by a spread
eagle of gold, the stripes of the shield red and white and the field
blue enamel with gold stars, the number of which correspond to the rank
of the General officer upon whose staff the aide-de-camp is serving.
_Regimental Staff Officers._—Regimental adjutants and quartermasters
have the devices of the insignia of the Adjutant General’s Department
or of the Quartermaster Corps respectively in the angle below the
insignia of their arm of the service.
_Veterinarians._—An insignia consisting of a caduceus surcharged with
the letters V. C.
_Assistant Inspectors_ of small arms practise for regiments of the
Organized Militia wear the insignia of the arm of the service to which
the regiment belongs with the number of the regiment above it and a
bursting shell below it.
_Officers’ Buttons._—The design for Engineers is an eagle with the
motto “Essayons” above a fort and rising sun, and for other officers it
is the U. S. coat of arms.
[Illustration: U. S. Army. Officers’ collar insignia indicating arm of
the Service, Corps or Department
1. All officers of the Regular Army 2. All officers of the National Army
3. All officers of the Reserve 4. All officers of the National Guard
5. Quartermaster Corps 6. Signal Corps
7. Inspector General’s Department 8. Judge Advocate General’s
Department]
[Illustration: U. S. Army. Officers’ collar insignia indicating arm of
the Service, Corps or Department
1. Adjutant General’s Department 2. General Staff Corps
3. Medical Corps 4. Sanitary Corps
5. Veterinary Corps 6. Chaplain]
UNIFORM AND INSIGNIA OF THE CADETS AT THE U. S. MILITARY ACADEMY, WEST
POINT, N. Y.
The Corps of Cadets at the U. S. Military Academy at West Point, N.
Y., is organized into Battalions of four companies each. The Corps of
Cadets is commanded by an officer of the Army especially detailed for
this duty, who, unless of actual higher rank, has the local rank and
pay of a Lieutenant Colonel while performing this duty.
The Battalions are commanded by officers of the Army detailed from the
Department of Tactics of the Military Academy and while performing the
duty of Battalion Commanders they have the rank and pay of Majors.
The other officers of the Corps of Cadets are selected from the cadets
at the Academy, the grades of rank being as follows:
Captain.
Adjutant.
Quartermaster.
Lieutenant.
Sergeant Major.
Quartermaster Sergeant.
First Sergeant.
Company Quartermaster Sergeant.
Sergeant.
Corporal.
Privates First Class, according to class standing.
Privates Second Class, according to class standing.
Privates Third Class, according to class standing.
Privates Fourth Class, according to class standing.
The insignia of these various ranks, worn on the full dress coat, are
as follows:
_Captains._—Chevrons of four stripes of single gold lace braid on a
black background, on each arm above the elbow, points up.
_Adjutant._—Chevrons of three stripes of single gold lace braid on a
black background with three arcs of the same braid beneath, on each arm
above the elbow, points up.
_Quartermaster._—Chevrons of three stripes of single gold lace braid
with three horizontal stripes of the same braid beneath on a black
background, on each arm above the elbow, points up.
_Lieutenants._—Chevrons of three stripes of single gold lace braid on a
black background, on each arm above the elbow, points up.
_Sergeant Major._—Chevrons of two stripes of single gold lace braid
with two arcs of the same braid beneath on a black background, on each
arm above the elbow, points up.
_Quartermaster Sergeant._—Chevrons of two stripes of single gold lace
braid with two horizontal stripes of the same braid beneath on a black
background, on each arm above the elbow, points up.
_First Sergeants._—Chevrons of two stripes of single gold lace braid
with a diamond shaped lozenge in the angle beneath, on a black
background, on each arm above the elbow, points up.
_Company Quartermaster Sergeants._—Chevrons of two stripes of single
gold lace braid with one horizontal stripe beneath, on a black
background, on each arm above the elbow, points up.
_Sergeants._—Chevrons of two stripes of single gold lace braid on a
black background, on each arm above the elbow, points up.
_Color Bearer._—Chevrons the same as for sergeants with a star in the
angle beneath.
_Corporals._—Chevrons of two stripes of single gold lace braid on a
black background, on each arm below the elbow, points up.
_Color Corporals._—Chevrons the same as for corporals with a star in
the angle beneath.
[Illustration: U. S. Army. Officers’ collar insignia indicating arm of
the Service, Corps or Department
1. Aide-de-camp to General Officer 2. Ordnance Corps
3. Engineer Corps 4. Adjutant of Engineer Corps
5. Field Artillery 6. Coast Artillery]
[Illustration: U. S. Army. Officers’ collar insignia indicating arm of
the Service, Corps or Department
1. Cavalry
2. Infantry
3. Adjutant of Infantry
4. Quartermaster of Infantry]
On the dress coats and overcoats the chevrons worn by the Cadet
Officers are of the same designs as those above described for the
full dress coats except that they are made of black cloth on a gray
background and those worn on the overcoats are of only one-third the
size of those for the full dress and dress coats.
The Cadets are divided into four classes according to the year’s course
they are pursuing, the first class corresponding to the seniors at a
college, the second class corresponding to the juniors, the third class
corresponding to the sophomores and the fourth class corresponding to
the freshmen.
The class to which a Cadet belongs is indicated by stripes worn upon
the sleeves of the full dress and dress coats and the overcoat, three
stripes for the first class, two stripes for the second class, one
stripe for the third class and none for the fourth class, thus each
stripe shows one year of service as a Cadet.
On the sleeves of the full dress coat these stripes are of gold
soutache braid placed diagonally across the outer side between the
wrist and the elbow; on the sleeves of the overcoat they are the same
as for the full dress coat except that they are made of black soutache
braid; and for the dress coat the stripes are of black soutache braid
placed across the outer side of the sleeve parallel to the broad black
braid on the cuff.
Cadets who are classed as “Distinguished” on account of high standing
in their studies and drills wear a five-pointed gold star on each side
of the collar of the full dress and dress coats.
The uniforms of the West Point cadets are of gray cloth for wear during
the winter and of white duck for wear during the summer, the color of
the winter uniforms being that which is usually known as “cadet gray.”
Each cadet is required to have complete outfits of full dress, dress
and white uniforms.
_Their full dress uniform_ consists of a full dress coat, gray or white
trousers, full dress hat, black leather shoes, white waist-belt and
white cross-belts. Cadet officers wear a plume of black feathers in the
hat, a white sword belt and a red silk sash. The Cadet Sergeant Major,
Cadet Quartermaster Sergeant and Cadet First Sergeants wear a white
sword belt and a red silk sash.
The full dress coat is of gray cloth, fitting closely, single-breasted,
with three rows of gilt bell buttons down the front, eight buttons in
each row, one row in the center and one row on each side, the coat
being cut away just below the waist line across the front and having
short skirts behind. The skirts of the coat have twelve gilt bell
buttons, three down the plait of each skirt, the upper one at the
waist, and three placed lengthwise on each skirt. The coat has a square
standing collar with one bell button on each side. Each cuff has three
bell buttons. The collar, front of the coat, the cuffs and the skirt of
the coat are trimmed with black silk cord in designs as shown in the
illustration.
[Illustration: _Copyright, 1908, by Brig. General J. B. Aleshire, Qr.
Master General. U. S. A._
Cadets, U. S. Military Academy
Full dress, dress and service uniforms
1. Cadet, Sergeant (Dress)
2. Cadet, Private (Campaign Uniform)
3. Cadet, Corporal (Dress)
4. Cadet, First Sergeant (Full Dress)
5. Cadet, Captain (Full Dress)
6. Cadet, Adjutant (Full Dress)
7. Cadet, Private (Full Dress)
8. Captain of Infantry (Full Dress)]
The trousers for winter wear with both the full dress and dress
uniforms are of gray cloth with black stripes one and one-half inches
wide down the outer seams.
The full dress hat is of black felt, bell-crowned, six inches high,
with a sloping visor. It is trimmed with gilt decorations, bears the
insignia of the Military Academy on a gilt plate in front, has a black
pompon set in a gilt socket on the front at the center (a black plume
being worn by cadet officers, instead of the pompon), and a gilt scale
chain strap worn above the visor.
When mounted the cadets wear gray cloth breeches and riding leggings
instead of trousers.
The dress uniform of the cadets consists of a dress coat, dress cap,
gray or white trousers, black leather shoes, white waist-belt and white
cross-belts and leather gloves. Cadet officers wear a white sword belt
and a worsted sash.
The dress coat is of gray cloth, single-breasted, with a straight
standing collar, closed down the center of the front by buttons
concealed beneath a fly, the coat reaching to about nine inches below
the waist. The coat is trimmed around the collar, down the front,
around the bottom edge and up the side seams of the back with black
mohair braid one inch wide, the braid down the front being double.
There is also one stripe of the same braid around each sleeve two and
one-half inches from the lower edge of the cuff.
The dress cap is of gray cloth, bell-crowned, three and one-half inches
high, with a band of black mohair braid one and three-quarter inches
wide and a sloping visor of black patent leather. In the front and
center of the cap is worn the insignia of the United States Military
Academy in gilt metal one and three-quarter inches high.
_The overcoat_ is of gray kersey, double-breasted, with six buttons
on each side down the front, coat to reach within ten inches of the
ground when the wearer is standing. It has a stand and fall collar five
inches deep. There are also two buttons at the hip and one at the
bottom of each plait behind. All of the buttons are gilt, seven-eighths
of an inch in diameter, and bear the arms of the U. S. Military Academy
with the word “Cadet” around the margin at the top and the letters “U.
S. M. A.” around the margin at the bottom. There is also a cape of the
same material as the coat, cut circular, extending to the hip buttons.
The coat and cape are lined with gray woolen material.
_The raincoat_ is a sleeveless sack overcoat of gray waterproof
material with a cape attached to the coat, the skirts of the coat
extending to within eight inches of the ground.
The cadets are also furnished with a gray woolen shirt which is
sometimes worn at drills without the coat.
At certain of the drills and exercises a service hat of felt similar to
the “campaign hat” is worn.
UNIFORM AND INSIGNIA OF FIELD CLERKS, U. S. ARMY
By the Act of Congress of August 29, 1917, the grades of Army Field
Clerk and Field Clerk Quartermaster Corps were established in the
United States Army. These officers are appointed by the Secretary
of War and take precedence in rank next after Cadets and before all
noncommissioned officers, so that their position is similar in relative
rank to that of Warrant officers in the United States Navy and Marine
Corps.
The Army Field Clerks belong to the Adjutant General’s Department and
the Field Clerks Quartermaster Corps are a part of that corps.
They wear the same uniform as commissioned officers, omitting all
insignia of rank and the brown bands of braid around the cuffs of the
service coat. On their service hats they wear a hat cord of black and
silver twisted strands.
Army Field Clerks wear on each side of the collar of the service coat a
bronze insignia consisting of two quill pens crossed with a miniature
adjutant general’s shield in the lower angle.
Field Clerks Quartermaster Corps wear on each side of the collar of the
service coat a bronze insignia consisting of two quill pens crossed
with a miniature Quartermaster Corps insignia in the lower angle.
ENLISTED MEN’S UNIFORMS, U. S. ARMY
The enlisted men of the Army are required to have complete outfits
of service uniform for winter and summer, dress uniform and fatigue
uniform, and in addition cooks and bakers, members of the Hospital
Corps and members of the general recruiting service have white uniforms.
The occasions upon which the different uniforms are worn are given in
the regulations as follows:
TABLE OF OCCASIONS
----------------------------------------------+--------------------
OCCASION. | UNIFORM.
----------------------------------------------+--------------------
1. For habitual garrison wear until retreat, |
when not under arms. |
2. For habitual garrison wear under arms. |
3. For inspection and guard mounting, | Service uniform
when ordered by the commanding officer. | with the service
4. For all other ceremonies when the | cap.
weather or climate will not permit the |
wearing of dress or full dress. |
5. When changing station by rail or water. |
----------------------------------------------+--------------------
| Service uniform
| with the service
6. For field duty. | hat.
| In the trenches
| the steel helmet
| is worn.
----------------------------------------------+--------------------
| Dress uniform.
7. For habitual wear in garrison after | In the Tropics and
retreat and when on leave. | in hot weather
8. For parade and ceremonies except | the cotton
inspection and guard mounting, when | service uniform
weather and climate permit. | (khaki) is worn
| instead.
----------------------------------------------+--------------------
9. For parade and other ceremonies garrison |
(except inspection and guard mounting) |
when ordered. | Full dress uniform.
10. For all ceremonies other than garrison |
when ordered. |
----------------------------------------------+--------------------
11. For cooks and bakers when at work in |
kitchen or bakery. |
12. For Hospital Corps men on duty in | White uniform.
hospital wards, operating rooms, etc. |
13. For members of the general recruiting |
service when on duty at recruiting |
stations, etc., when prescribed. |
----------------------------------------------+--------------------
14. On fatigue duty in stables, at mountain |
battery drills, at work or drill at | Fatigue uniform.
emplacements of the Coast Artillery. |
----------------------------------------------+--------------------
[Illustration: _Copyright, 1908, by Brig. Gen. J. B. Aleshire,
Qr. Master General, U. S. A._
U. S. Army. Noncommissioned officers, olive-drab service uniform
1. Color Sergeant, Infantry 2. First Sergeant, Field Artillery
3. Company Quartermaster Sergeant, Cavalry
4. Sergeant, Signal Corps
5. Sergeant Major, Infantry]
[Illustration: _Copyright, 1908, by Brig. General J. B. Aleshire.
Qr. Master General, U. S. A._
U. S. Army. Enlisted men, Infantry full dress uniform
1. Corporal 2. First Sergeant 3. Private 4. Musician
5. Sergeant]
_The service uniform_ for enlisted men of the Army consists of a single
breasted sack coat of olive-drab woolen or cotton material, extending
to about ten inches below the waist, with a standing collar, buttoned
down the front with one row of five regulation bronze buttons, having
four outside patch pockets, one on each breast and on each side below
the waist line, each pocket being closed with a shield shaped flap
buttoned by a small regulation button, and a strap of the same material
as the coat on each shoulder sewed in at the shoulder seam and buttoned
at the collar end by a small regulation button; breeches of the same
material as the coat, khaki-colored canvas leggings, tan leather shoes;
and a service cap or service hat. The service cap is a bell-crowned cap
with a sloping tan leather visor and a tan leather chin strap across
the front above the visor secured by a small bronze button at each
end of the visor. The service hat is the brown felt wide brimmed hat
universally called the “campaign hat” and is worn with what is known as
the “Montana peak,” that is, brought to a point at the center of the
top of the crown by making four dents in the top of the crown. A hat
cord of the distinctive color of the corps or arm of the service to
which the wearer belongs is worn around the base of the crown of the
service hat. During war the steel helmet is worn when on duty in the
trenches or on the battle line. In garrison the tan leather belt is
worn with the service uniform, and in the field the webbing cartridge
belt of the same color as the uniform is worn.
Mounted men wear spurs and tan leather leggings with this uniform.
In the tropics and in hot weather the service uniform of cotton
material is worn, and at drills and in the field, the coat is sometimes
dispensed with and the olive-drab flannel shirt is worn.
The overcoat and gloves of olive-drab wool are worn when the weather
requires.
During time of war this is the only uniform worn by the men or carried
by them into the field of operations.
_The dress uniform_ for enlisted men consists of a single-breasted
coat of dark blue cloth, extending to about ten inches below the
waist, with a standing collar, buttoned down the front with one row
of six gilt regulation buttons and having a strap of dark blue cloth
on each shoulder; the dress cap of dark blue cloth; sky-blue cloth
trousers; a white collar; and tan leather shoes. When under arms in
this uniform white gloves are worn except when the overcoat is worn,
in which case olive-drab gloves are worn. The dress coat is trimmed
around the top and base of the collar and down the front edges of the
collar, around the edges of the shoulder straps and around each sleeve
four inches from the bottom edge by a narrow piping of the distinctive
color of the arm of the service or corps to which the wearer belongs,
and there are three small regulation gilt buttons on each cuff and one
at the collar end of each shoulder strap.
The trousers of noncommissioned officers have stripes of the same
distinctive color down the outer leg seams, the stripes for corporals
being one-half inch wide and those for higher noncommissioned officers
being one and one-quarter inches wide, those for musicians being
double, each part one-half inch wide.
The dress caps for enlisted men are made of a dark blue cloth with a
bell crown, a black patent leather sloping visor and a half-inch chin
strap of patent leather worn above the visor and secured by a gilt
button at each end of the visor. There is one stripe around the band of
the cap at the upper edge of the band and one at the lower edge of the
band, each stripe being one-half inch in width and of the distinctive
color of the corps or arm of the service to which the wearer belongs,
these distinctive colors being those as given for the “facings.”
The tan leather or garrison belt is worn with the dress uniform.
[Illustration: U. S. Army. Noncommissioned officers’ chevrons
1. Regimental Sergeant Major 2. Battalion or Squadron Sergeant Major
3. Color Sergeant 4. Drum Major]
[Illustration: U. S. Army. Noncommissioned officers’ chevrons
1. Regimental Supply Sergeant 2. Sergeant of Field Music
3. Mess Sergeant 4. Lance Corporal]
The overcoat is worn with it when the weather requires it.
Mounted men wear breeches with this uniform, the color and trimmings
being the same as for the trousers, and riding gloves, riding leggings
and spurs.
_The full dress uniform_ for enlisted men is the same as their dress
uniform with the addition of a breast cord of the distinctive color of
the corps or arm of the service to which they belong. This breast cord
is a double plaited loop of round cord worn from one shoulder to the
other across the breast with a single cord passing across the back and
the front loop ending on the right side in two plaited plates and two
tassels.
_The fatigue uniform_ consists of brown canvas or duck working coat and
trousers. This is a working uniform. A fur cap is furnished for wear in
very cold weather.
_The overcoat_ for enlisted men is a double-breasted ulster made
of olive-drab cloth, extending eight to ten inches below the knee
(overcoats extending to the knee are authorized for wear in the field),
buttoning to the neck with two rows of large flat buttons of the same
color as the coat, and having a wide rolling collar. It has a pleat
down the center of the back.
_Rain clothes_ for enlisted men are olive-drab waterproof coats or the
poncho or rubber blanket worn in the fashion of a cape. Rubber boots
are used when required, as in wet trenches.
INSIGNIA OF RANK FOR ENLISTED MEN
The rank of the various noncommissioned officers of the United States
Army and Marine Corps and the rating of the corresponding petty
officers of the Navy is usually indicated by chevrons, a form of badge
derived from the days when heraldry played a great part in the world’s
affairs.
“Chevron” is an architectural term denoting the rafters of a roof
meeting at an angle at the upper apex, and it is derived from the
French word “_chevre_,” a goat, and so used on account of the fancied
resemblance of a pair of such rafters to the horns of a goat.
The chevron in heraldry was employed as a badge of honor to mark the
main supporters of the head of the clan, “the top of the house,” and it
came to be used in various forms as an emblem of rank for the knights
and men-at-arms in feudal days, and from this resulted its common use
as an insignia of rank in the armies and navies of the present day.
In some countries chevrons are used as insignia of rank for
commissioned officers as well as for noncommissioned officers, but in
the United States service the use of chevrons is confined to the latter
class.
In the United States Army and Marine Corps the chevrons are worn with
the point up but in the Navy they are worn with the point down.
The chevrons indicating the rank of noncommissioned officers are worn
midway between the shoulder and the elbow on both sleeves of the
service coats, full dress coat and overcoat.
The chevrons for the dress coat are 3¼ inches wide made of stripes of
cloth of the distinctive color of the corps, department or arm of the
service, each stripe being ⅜ of an inch wide.
[Illustration: U. S. Army. Noncommissioned officers’ chevrons
1. First Sergeant 2. Company Supply Sergeant
3. Sergeant 4. Corporal]
[Illustration: U. S. Army. Noncommissioned officers’ chevrons
1. Electrician Sergeant, First Class 2. Electrician Sergeant, Second
Class
3. Battalion Supply Sergeant 4. Stable Sergeant]
[Illustration: U. S. Army. Noncommissioned officers’ chevrons
Coast Artillery Corps
1. Master Electrician 2. Engineer, Coast Artillery Corps
3. Master Gunner 4. Fireman, Coast Artillery Corps]
[Illustration: U. S. Army. Noncommissioned officers’ chevrons
Coast Artillery Corps
1. Gun Commander 2. Gun Pointer
3. Casemate Electrician 4. Chief Planter and Chief Loader
5. First Class Gunner 6. Second Class Gunner
7. First Class Observer and Plotter 8. Second Class Observer]
These distinctive colors for the chevrons for noncommissioned officers
of the various corps, departments and arms of the service are:
Field Artillery and Coast Artillery scarlet.
Cavalry yellow.
Infantry white.
Engineers scarlet piped with white.
Ordnance black piped with white.
Hospital Corps maroon piped with white.
Quartermaster Corps buff.
Army Service Detachment,
U. S. Military Academy green piped with white.
Army Service School Detachment green.
The chevrons for the service coats, the overcoat and the olive-drab
shirt are of the same size and design as those for the dress coat
except that they are made of olive-drab material, the shade being
slightly darker than that of the coat.
There are also a number of special badges to designate certain men
assigned to special duties, such as cook, chief mechanics, artificer,
farrier, saddler, horseshoer, first and second class gunners,
electricians, engineer, gun commander and gun pointer. These special
badges are of the same color as the chevrons and are worn in the same
manner.
The chevrons and special badges for the different ranks and duties in
the various corps, departments and arms of the service are as follows:
Regimental Sergeant Major—Chevron of three stripes and three
arcs of a circle below them.
Sergeant Major Senior Grade, Coast Artillery—The same.
Quartermaster Sergeant, Senior Grade—The Quartermaster Corps
insignia with a wreath below and a star above it.
Master Hospital Sergeant—The caduceus insignia of the Medical
Corps with a wreath below and a star above it.
Master Engineer, Senior Grade—The castle insignia of the
Engineer Corps with a wreath below and a star above it.
Master Electrician, Coast Artillery—A design representing
forked lightning with a wreath below it and a star above.
Master Electrician, Signal Corps—A wreath with forked lightning
at the top and the Signal Corps insignia in the center.
Master Electrician, Quartermaster Corps—A wreath with forked
lightning at the top and the Quartermaster Corps insignia in
the center.
Band Leader—Chevron of three stripes and two arcs of a circle
below them with a trumpet in the center.
Hospital Sergeant, First Class—Chevron of three stripes and one
arc of a circle below them with a caduceus in the center.
Hospital Sergeant—Chevron of three stripes with a caduceus
below them.
Engineer Coast Artillery Corps—A design representing an engine
governor with a wreath below it and a star above.
Ordnance Sergeant—Chevron of three bars with one arc below it
and the insignia of the Ordnance Corps in the center.
Sergeant Quartermaster Corps—Chevron of three stripes with the
insignia of the Quartermaster Corps below them.
Supply Sergeant, Regimental—Chevrons of three stripes with
three horizontal bars below them.
Battalion or Squadron Sergeant Major—Chevron of three stripes
with two arcs of a circle below them.
Sergeant Major Junior Grade, Coast Artillery—Chevron of three
stripes with two arcs of a circle below them.
Supply Sergeant, Battalion—Chevron of three stripes with two
horizontal bars below them.
First Sergeant—Chevron of three stripes with a diamond shaped
lozenge below them.
Sergeant First Class, Medical Department—Chevron of three
stripes and an arc below them with the caduceus device in the
center.
Sergeant, First Class, Quartermaster Corps—Chevron of
three stripes with one horizontal stripe below and the
Quartermaster Corps insignia in the center.
Sergeant, First Class, Corps of Engineers—Chevron of three
stripes with one arc of a circle below them and the Engineer
Corps insignia in the center.
[Illustration: U. S. Army. Noncommissioned officers’ chevrons
Quartermaster Corps
1. Quartermaster Sergeant 2. Sergeant, First Class 3. Sergeant
4. Corporal]
[Illustration: U. S. Army. Noncommissioned officers’ chevrons Signal
Corps
1. Sergeant, First Class 2. Sergeant 3. Corporal
4. Lance Corporal]
Sergeant First Class, Signal Corps—Chevron of three stripes
with one arc of a circle below and the Signal Corps insignia
in the center.
Electrician Sergeant, First Class, Coast Artillery—Chevron
of three stripes with a wreath below it and a device
representing forked lightning in the center and a short
stripe between the wreath and the lightning.
Assistant Engineer, Coast Artillery—A device representing an
engine governor with a wreath below it.
Master Gunner, Coast Artillery—A projectile placed vertically
with a wreath below it and a star above it.
Band Sergeant and Assistant Leader of U. S. Military Academy
Band—Chevron of three stripes and two arcs of a circle below
them and a lyre in the center.
Assistant Band Leader—Chevron of three stripes and one arc of a
circle below them and a trumpet in the center.
Sergeant Bugler—Chevron of three stripes with a bugle below them.
Electrician Sergeant Second Class, Coast Artillery—Chevron
of three stripes with a wreath below them and a device
representing forked lightning in the center.
Radio Sergeant—Chevron of three stripes with a device
representing forked lightning below them.
Color Sergeant—Chevron of three stripes with a star below.
Sergeant—Chevron of three bars.
Company Supply Sergeant—Chevron of three stripes with one
horizontal bar below them.
Mess Sergeant—Chevron of three stripes with a crescent below them.
Stable Sergeant—Chevron of three stripes with a horse’s head
below them.
Fireman, Coast Artillery—Chevron of one stripe with one arc of
a circle below it and a device representing the governor of
an engine in the center.
Corporal—Chevron of two stripes.
Lance Corporal (Acting Corporal)—Chevron of one stripe.
Chief Mechanic—Two hammers crossed with a wreath below them.
Cook—A device representing a cook’s hat.
Artificer—Two hammers crossed.
Horseshoer—A horseshoe, toe up.
Mechanic—Two hammers crossed.
Saddler—A saddler’s round knife, edge up.
Wagoner—An eight spoke wheel.
Musician—A lyre.
Trumpeter—A bugle.
First class Private of Engineers—The castle insignia of the
Engineer Corps.
First class Private, Signal Corps—The Signal Corps insignia,
two crossed flags and a vertical torch.
First class Private Ordnance Corps—The Ordnance Corps insignia,
a bursting spherical shell.
First class Private Hospital Corps—The Hospital Corps insignia,
a caduceus.
First class Private, Quartermaster Corps—The insignia of the
Quartermaster Corps.
Casemate Electrician, Coast Artillery—A mine case with a bar
below it, enclosed in a circle.
Badge for Excellence at Target Practice, Coast Artillery—The
figure “1.”
Chief Planter, Coast Artillery—A mine case enclosed in a circle.
First class Gunner, Gun Company, Coast Artillery—A projectile,
point up, with a bar below it.
Second class Gunner, Gun Company, Coast Artillery—A projectile,
point up.
First class Gunner, Mine Company, Coast Artillery—A mine case
with a bar below it.
Second class Gunner, Mine Company, Coast Artillery—A mine case.
Gun Commander, Coast Artillery—Two crossed cannon with a bar
below, enclosed in a circle.
Gun Pointer, Coast Artillery—Two crossed cannon enclosed in a
circle.
Observer and plotter, Coast Artillery—An equilateral triangle
with a bar below it, enclosed in a circle.
Observer, Second Class, Coast Artillery—An equilateral triangle
enclosed in a circle.
First Class Private, Signal Corps—The crossed flags and
torch device of the Signal Corps.
[Illustration: U. S. Army. Noncommissioned officers’ chevrons Ordnance
Corps
1. Ordnance Sergeant 2. Sergeant of Ordnance Corps
3. Corporal of Ordnance Corps 4. First Class Private of Ordnance Corps]
[Illustration: U. S. Army. Noncommissioned officers’ chevrons Medical
Corps
1. Sergeant, First Class 2. Sergeant 3. Corporal
4. Lance Corporal]
_Cap Insignia._—The insignia for the front of the caps of all enlisted
men are circular disks one and one-half inches in diameter with a
raised rim encircling the coat of arms of the United States, made of
gilt metal for dress caps and of bronze metal for service caps.
_Collar Insignia._—The corps, department or arm of the service of
enlisted men of the U. S. Army is shown by insignia on the coat collars.
_For blue dress and white coats_ these insignia, of gilt metal, worn
on each side of the neck opening, consist of block letters and special
devices in rear of the letters. The letters “U. S.” for Regular Army,
“U. S. V.” for Volunteer Army, “U. S. R.” for Enlisted Reserve Corps,
“U. S.” with “N. G.” superimposed for National Guard drafted into the
Federal service and “U. S.” with “N. A.” superimposed for National
Army. The special devices are:
_Band Musician_—A lyre with the numbers or letters surcharged
upon the face indicating the corps or regiment to which
the band belongs; for the Coast Artillery the number of
the band, for Engineer bands a castle, for Infantry,
Cavalry and Field Artillery bands the number of the
regiment, for the Military Academy band the letters “M.
A.,” for bands of the Native Troops in the Philippines the
letter “P,” for the band of the Porto Rico regiment the
letters “P. R.,” for bands of Disciplinary Barracks the
letters “D. B.” and for the Recruiting Service bands the
letters “R. S.”
_Cavalry_—Two sabers in their scabbards crossed with the
edges up, with the number of the regiment in the upper
angle and the letter of the troops in the lower angle.
_Coast Artillery_—Two cannon crossed with the muzzles up,
without the number of the company.
_Field Artillery_—Two cannon crossed with the muzzles up, the
number of the regiment in the upper angle and the letter
of the battery in the lower angle.
_General Recruiting Service._—The letters “R. S.” enclosed in
a wreath with number of company below.
_Electricians_—A symbol representing forked lightning.
_Engineers_—The turretted castle device of the Engineer Corps
with the number of the regiment above it and the letter of
the company on the face of the device.
_Hospital Corps_—The caduceus device.
_Infantry_—Two rifles crossed with muzzles up, the number
of the regiment in the upper angle and the letter of the
company in the lower angle, for the Porto Rico regiment
the letters “P. R.” in the upper angle and for Philippine
Native Troops the letter “P.” in the upper angle.
_Ordnance Corps_—A spherical shell flaming at the top.
_Quartermaster Corps_—A sword and key crossed on a wheel
surmounted by an eagle.
_Signal Corps_—Two signal flags crossed with a torch.
_Service Schools and Military Academy Detachments_—Two disks
with raised rim encircling on one a hammer and quill
crossed and one the letters “U. S.”
_U. S. Military Academy Artillery Detachment_—Two cannon
crossed with the letters “M. A.” in the upper angle and
“D. E. T.” in the lower angle.
_U. S. Military Academy Cavalry Detachment_—Two sabres in
their scabbards crossed with the letters “M. A.” in the
upper angle and “D. E. T.” in the lower angle.
_U. S. Military Academy Engineer Detachment_—The turretted
castle device of the Engineer Corps with the letters “M.
A.” above it and “D. E. T.” across the face.
_Headquarters Company, Infantry, Cavalry and Field
Artillery_—The distinctive insignia of the regiment to
which it belongs with the number of the regiment in the
upper angle and the letters “H. Q.” in the lower angle.
_Machine Gun Company, Infantry, Cavalry and Field
Artillery_—The distinctive insignia of the regiment to
which it belongs with the number of the regiment in the
upper angle and the letters “M. G.” in the lower angle.
_Supply Company, Infantry, Cavalry and Field Artillery_—The
distinctive insignia of the regiment to which it belongs
with the number of the regiment in the upper angle and the
letter “S” in the lower angle.
_U. S. Army Disciplinary Barracks Guard_—The letters “D. B.
G.” in gothic design enclosed in a wreath with the letter
of the company below.
_Noncommissioned Officers of Disciplinary Battalions_—The
letters “D. B.” in gothic design enclosed in a wreath with
the letter of the company below.
_Noncommissioned Staff Officers of Engineers_—The turretted
castle device of the Engineer Corps with the number of the
regiment above it.
[Illustration: U. S. Army. Noncommissioned officers’ chevrons
1. Band Leader 2. Assistant Leader, West Point Band
3. Chief Trumpeter 4. Sergeant, Band]
[Illustration: U. S. Army. Noncommissioned officers’ chevrons
1. Master Electrician, Quartermaster Corps
2. Master Signal Electrician
3. First Class Private, Signal Corps 4. Wagoner
5. First Class Private, Quartermaster Corps 6. Farrier
7. Chief Mechanic 8. Mechanic or Artificer]
_For Service coats_ the collar insignia consist of bronze metal disks
with a raised rim, worn on each side one inch from the neck opening.
The disk on the right side bears the letters “U. S.” with the number
of the regiment or, where there is no regimental organization, the
number of the unit if there is one. To designate men of the Volunteers,
Reserves, National Guard and National Army the letters “U. S.” have
superimposed upon them the letters “V,” “R,” “N. G.” or “N. A.”
respectively. The disk on the left side bears the special device of the
corps, department or arm of the service with the letter of the company,
battery or troop below it, except for the Engineers where the letter is
above the device. The special devices referred to are the same as the
gilt ones already described with the following exceptions:
_Corps of Interpreters_—The letters “INT.”
_Machine Gun Battalions or Squadrons_—The letters “M. G.” in
the upper angles of the crossed rifles or sabers.
_Corps of Intelligence Police_—The letters “I. P.”
_Headquarters of Brigades and Higher Units_—The letter “H.”
_Headquarters of Trains_—The letter “T.”
_General Recruiting Service_—The letters “RS.”
_Disciplinary Barracks Guard_—The letters “DBG.”
_Trench Mortar Organizations_—Crossed cannon with the letters
“TM” in the upper angle.
_Anti-aircraft Artillery_—Crossed cannon with the letters “AA”
in the upper angle.
ARMY AVIATION SERVICE INSIGNIA
For officers these insignia are worn on the left breast and are as
follows:
_Military Aviator_—Two wings with a shield between bearing the
letters “U. S.” and a star above, embroidered in silver on a
blue background except the letters which are in gold thread.
_Junior Military Aviator and Reserve Military Aviator_—The
same, omitting the star.
_Military Aeronaut_—Two wings with a balloon between bearing
the letters “U. S.” and a star above, embroidered in white on
a blue background except the letters which are in gold.
_Junior Military Aeronaut and Reserve Military Aeronaut_—The
same, omitting the star.
_Observer_—A letter “O” with a single wing on the left of it
embroidered in white on a blue background.
For enlisted men the insignia are embroidered in white on a blue sleeve
cap let in at the shoulder seam and extending down the sleeve 5½ inches:
_Enlisted Aviator_—Two wings with crossed propellers between
them and the number of the squadron above.
_Aviation Mechanician_—A circle enclosing crossed propellers
with the number of the squadron above.
_Other Enlisted Men_—The same, omitting the circle.
[Illustration: U. S. Army. Noncommissioned officers’ chevrons
1. First Class Gunner, Mine Company
2. Second Class Gunner, Mine Company
3. First Class Private, Engineer Corps
4. First Class Private, Hospital Corps
5. Saddler, Cavalry 6. Horseshoer, Cavalry 7. Cook
8. Badge for Excellence in Target Practice, Coast Artillery]
[Illustration: U. S. Army. Enlisted men’s insignia worn on dress coat
collars indicating arm of the Service, Corps or Department
1. Infantry, Porto Rico Regiment 2. Infantry
3. Native Philippine Troops 4. Cavalry
5. Artillery 6. Engineer Corps
7. Hospital Corps 8. Ordnance Corps 9. Quartermaster Corps
10. Band Musician, Engineers 11. Electrician 12. Signal Corps
13. Band Musician 14. Band, Philippines 15. Band, Porto Rico]
_Brassards_ are bands of cloth worn on the sleeves to designate
officers and men assigned to special duties.
_Red Cross Brassard._—In time of war with signatories of the Geneva
Convention all persons in the military services who are rendered
neutral by the terms of that convention wear upon the left arm above
the elbow a brassard of white cloth bearing upon it a Geneva cross
in red cloth while on duty in the field of operations. The persons
entitled to wear this brassard are surgeons, members of the hospital
corps, nurses, chaplains and the personnel engaged exclusively with the
removal and transportation of the sick and wounded.
_Brassards_ worn on the right upper arm are of the following
distinctive colors: _blue_ for agents and signalmen, _green_ for guides
and scouts, _red_ for orderlies and messengers, _white_ for trench
cleaners, _yellow_ for members of parties carrying munitions, material,
food or water, _khaki with the word “Salvage” in red letters_ for
members of salvage parties, and _blue with the letters “M. P.” outlined
in white thread_ for members of the Military Police.
_Field Clerk’s Brassard._—Field clerks of Engineers wear upon the left
arm above the elbow a brassard of maroon colored cloth with white edges.
_Service Stripes._—All enlisted men of the Army who have served one or
more enlistments in the Army, Navy or Marine Corps wear one stripe for
each such enlistment on each sleeve of the dress coat midway between
the wrist and the elbow. These service stripes are three-eighths of
an inch in width and are placed diagonally across the outside of the
sleeve.
The color of the stripe is that of the branch of the service in which
the enlistment that it represents was served, as follows:
Cavalry, yellow.
Artillery, scarlet.
Engineers, scarlet piped with white.
Infantry, white.
Hospital Corps, maroon piped with white.
Ordnance, black piped with scarlet.
Signal Corps, orange piped with white.
Quartermaster Corps, buff.
Service School Detachment, green.
Service Detachment, Military Academy, green piped with white.
U. S. Navy, scarlet piped with yellow.
U. S. Marine Corps, yellow piped with scarlet.
_Buttons._—The buttons worn by enlisted men of the Army on the dress
coat are of gilt metal and bear the coat of arms of the United States
in relief; those worn on the service coats are of the same size and
design but are made of dull finish bronze metal, and those worn on the
overcoat are large bronze flat buttons of the same design.
_Identification Tag._—Each officer and enlisted man of the U. S. Army
is required to wear two aluminum identification tags about the size
of a silver half dollar whenever the field kit is worn, one tag to be
suspended from the neck underneath the clothing by a cord or thong
of leather passed through a hole in the tag, the second tag being
suspended from the first one by a cord or thong. Each tag bears stamped
upon it the name, rank, company, regiment and corps of the wearer. This
tag is for use in identifying the wearer in case of death or serious
wounds. In case of death one tag is buried with the body and the
duplicate is kept with the record of the place of burial and the cause
and date of death.
[Illustration: U. S. Army. Aviation Corps Insignia
1. Aviator (Regular aviators have a silver star above the shield.
Junior and Reserve aviators have no star)
2. Observer 3. Enlisted Aviator
4. Aviation Mechanic 5. Other enlisted men]
[Illustration: U. S. Army. Enlisted men’s insignia worn on collars of
service coats
1. All enlisted men, right side of collar 2. Cavalry
3. Infantry 4. Field Artillery
5. Coast Artillery 6. Engineer Corps
7. Quartermaster Corps 8. Signal Corps]
[Illustration: U. S. Army. Enlisted men’s insignia worn on collars of
service coats
1. Hospital Corps 2. Ordnance Corps
3. Band Musician 4. Electrician
5. Infantry, Porto Rico Regiment 6. Infantry, Native Troops, Philippines
7. Recruiting Service 8. Prison Guard]
_Identification Patch._—In order that the men in an advance line of
attack upon the battlefield may be recognized by the officers who
are controlling their advance and accurately placing the curtain of
shrapnel fire ahead of them, it has become necessary to prescribe
identification patches upon the backs of the men’s coats between the
shoulders. These identification patches are of different designs
and colors to mark the different regiments and brigades, circles,
triangles, squares and other shapes being used. The shape and color of
these patches is not laid down in uniform regulations in the United
States Army, but these details are prescribed from time to time in
orders from Headquarters of the Field Armies.
_United States Guards_, _National Army_, are organized into battalions
for guard duty in the United States during the period of the existing
emergency. Their prescribed uniform is the blue dress uniform of the
regular army with blue overcoats and the customary insignia.
_Citizen’s Training Camps._—The uniform for members of these camps
consist of olive-drab shirt, breeches and coat, canvas leggings, russet
shoes, and field hat with red, white and blue hat cord. The bronze
letters “U. S. T. C.” are worn on the collar, and on the left forearm a
badge with the same letters.
_Reserve Officers’ Training Corps._—The uniforms are olive-drab or
“Cadet gray.” Insignia of rank are of white metal for cadet officers
and gilt for instructors; _Colonel_, three diamonds; _Lieutenant
Colonel_, two diamonds; _Major_, one diamond; _Captain_, three disks;
_First Lieutenant_, two disks, _Second Lieutenant_, one disk. Sergeants
and corporals wear chevrons prescribed for the Regular Army. On the cap
is a wreath enclosing the letters “R. O. T. C.” in bronze and the same
letters are worn on the collar. On the left arm is a badge with “R. O.
T. C.” embroidered in the color of the arm of the service.
[Illustration: SEAL OF THE U. S. NAVY DEPARTMENT]