UNIFORMS AND INSIGNIA OF THE U. S. MARINE CORPS
The marines serve both on ship and ashore, while aboard ship their
duties closely approximate those of the sailor in the line of the navy
and while serving ashore their duties are of the same nature as those
of the army soldier, but their uniform is distinctly military in style
and appearance.
Both officers and enlisted men have uniforms of blue cloth
corresponding to those of the navy and worn upon the same occasions,
and the officers have white uniforms to be worn upon the occasions when
officers of the navy wear white, while the enlisted men have no white
uniform coats but wear uniforms of khaki-colored cotton material upon
the occasions when enlisted men of the navy wear white. This khaki
uniform is officially known as “summer field” uniform, but commonly
called “khaki.”
Both officers and men are also provided with a “winter field” uniform
for wear upon active service in the field whenever the weather is too
cold for the khaki uniform. The winter field uniforms and the overcoats
for officers and men are made of woolen cloth of a shade known as
“forestry-green,” a grayish olive green.
In time of war the special full dress, full dress and mess dress
uniforms are not worn unless especially ordered for a particular
occasion.
UNIFORMS FOR OFFICERS OF THE MARINE CORPS
The commissioned officers of the Marine Corps are required to have
complete outfits of special full dress, full dress, undress, white
undress, mess dress, summer field and winter field uniforms.
The warrant officers of the Marine Corps are required to have the same
uniforms with the exception of special full dress, full dress and mess
dress.
The occasions upon which these uniforms are worn are given in the table
of occasions for uniforms for officers of the Navy and Marine Corps,
page 109, and the composition of the various uniforms is as follows:
_Special Full Dress Uniform._—For officers of the Line, a
double-breasted frock coat of dark blue cloth, extending to about one
foot below the waist, with two rows of gilt Marine Corps buttons down
the front from the line of the collar to the waist, the buttons being
arranged in groups of threes for the rank of Major General Commandant,
in groups of twos for the rank of Brigadier General and equally spaced
for all other ranks; with a standing collar embroidered with gold
oak leaves for general officers and covered with gold lace braid for
other ranks, the cuffs bearing ornamentations of gold embroidery to
indicate the rank of the wearer (see illustrations at page 155), the
cuffs for general officers being of dark blue velvet; dark blue cloth
trousers, trimmed down the outer leg seams with one and a quarter inch
wide gold lace braid having a quarter inch scarlet silk stripe through
the center; a bell-crowned cap of dark blue cloth with a sloping visor
with a gold chin strap above it and the silver and gold Marine Corps
device at the center of the front of the crown, gold epaulets, black
shoes, white gloves, and the Marine Corps sword suspended from a belt
by slings, belt and slings covered with gold lace braid.
[Illustration: _Copyright, Harris & Ewing, Washington, D. C._
Major General George Barnett
Major General Commandant of the United States Marine Corps]
For officers of the Staff, the same as for officers of the Line except
that the coat is single-breasted with one row of buttons and gold
shoulder knots are worn instead of epaulets, and aiguilettes of plaited
gold cord are worn.
For the Major General Commandant, and officers of the Staff, there
may be worn with this uniform a chapeau or “cocked hat” of black silk
beaver with a two-inch strap of gold lace on the right side upon which
is the silver and gold Marine Corps device and a plume of cock’s
feathers extending over the top of the crown from front to rear, the
plume to be canary-yellow for the Major General Commandant and scarlet
for officers of the Staff.
The Major General Commandant also wears with this uniform a sash of
buff silk with bullion tassels diagonally across the body from the
right shoulder to the waist at the left side, the tassels hanging below
the belt.
Brigadier Generals wear with this uniform a sash belt with a bow at the
left side, of two and a half inch gold lace with a three-eighths inch
scarlet stripe through the center, from which the sword is suspended by
gold lace trimmed slings.
When mounted, officers wear full dress breeches and black boots with
this uniform.
The full dress cap for the Major General Commandant has a band of
blue-black velvet decorated with gold embroidered oak leaves, and a
wreath of oak leaves around the Marine Corps device.
The full dress cap for Brigadier Generals is the same as for the Major
General Commandant, except that the wreath of oak leaves around the
corps device is omitted.
The full dress cap for all other commissioned officers has a band of
gold lace braid with a three-eighths inch scarlet stripe through the
center, the visor being covered with dark blue cloth decorated with
sprays of oak leaves for field officers (Colonels, Lieutenant colonels
and Majors) and with plain black patent leather for company officers
(Captains, First Lieutenants and Second Lieutenants).
_Full dress uniform._—The same coat as worn with special full dress,
full dress trousers, gold shoulder knots, full dress cap, white
gloves, and black shoes. The same sash and belt for the Major General
Commandant, the same sash for Brigadier Generals and the same belt for
other commissioned officers as those worn with the special full dress
uniform.
The full dress trousers for the Major General Commandant and Brigadier
Generals are of dark blue cloth with a stripe of black mohair braid
one and one-half inches wide down the outer leg seams; for all Line
officers below the rank of Brigadier General they are of sky-blue cloth
with a stripe of scarlet cloth one and one-half inches wide down each
outer leg seam; and for Staff officers below the rank of Brigadier
General they are of dark blue cloth with a stripe of scarlet cloth one
and one-half inches wide down each outer leg seam.
[Illustration: _Photo by Harris & Ewing, Washington, D. C._
U. S. Marine Corps. Officer, special full dress uniform
_Rank_: Lieutenant Colonel of the Staff]
[Illustration: _Photo by Harris & Ewing, Washington, D. C._
U. S. Marine Corps. Officer, full dress uniform
_Rank_: Major of the Line]
The chapeau may be worn with this uniform by the Major General
Commandant and officers of the Staff.
When mounted officers wear full dress breeches and black boots with
this uniform, the breeches being of the same color and with the same
stripes as the full dress trousers.
_Undress uniform._—The blue undress coat, undress trousers (white
trousers may be worn), undress cap (white undress cap may be worn),
black shoes (white shoes with white trousers), white gloves, the sword
worn suspended from a tan leather belt and slings. When mounted undress
breeches and black boots are worn.
The undress coat for all officers is a single-breasted sack coat of
dark blue cloth or serge extending to about ten inches below the waist,
with a standing collar, buttoned down the front by five Marine Corps
gilt buttons. On the front it has four outside patch pockets, one on
each breast and one on each side below the breast pockets with their
tops at the waist line, all the pockets being closed by pointed flaps
buttoned by small Marine Corps gilt buttons. On the shoulders there
are shoulder straps of the same material as the coat extending from
the shoulder seam to the base of the collar, the insignia of rank
being worn thereon. The Marine Corps device indicating the corps and
the staff corps device or aide-de-camp’s device for indicating the
staff corps or special assignment of officers being worn on the collar
on each side of the neck opening in front. The sword belt is worn
underneath this coat.
The undress trousers for General officers are of dark blue cloth with
stripes of black mohair braid down the outer leg seams, for Line
officers below the rank of Brigadier General they are of sky-blue
cloth or serge with one and a half inch scarlet stripes down the outer
leg seams, and for Staff officers below the rank of Brigadier General
they are of dark blue cloth or serge with one and a half inch scarlet
stripes down the outer leg seams.
The undress cap is of dark blue cloth with a sloping visor having the
same ornamentation for General officers and Field officers as the full
dress cap, the Marine Corps device in the center of the front and a
chin strap above the visor made of gold braid three-eighths of an inch
wide with a narrow scarlet stripe through the center of it. For General
officers the band of the cap is of blue-black velvet and for all other
officers it is of black mohair braid.
The white undress cap is made of white duck and white braid of the same
style as the blue undress cap and provided with the same visor, corps
device and chin strap as the blue undress cap.
Undress breeches, worn when mounted, are of the same color as undress
trousers and have the same stripes.
_White undress uniform._—The white undress coat, white trousers, white
cap, white shoes, white gloves and sword with tan leather sword belt
and slings. The white undress coat is made of white duck or drill after
the same style and design as the blue undress coat and bears the same
rank, corps and staff devices.
_Mess dress uniform._—Blue mess jacket, special full dress trousers,
white dress waistcoat with gilt buttons, gold shoulder knots, full
dress cap, white shirt and collar, black necktie, black patent leather
shoes. The white mess jacket is worn in hot weather and white trousers
may be worn with it, in which case the white cap is worn.
[Illustration: _Photo by Harris & Ewing, Washington, D. C._
U. S. Marine Corps. Officer, blue undress uniform
Field officer of the Line]
[Illustration: U. S. Marine Corps. Officers’ headdress
1. Full dress cap, Major General Commandant
2. Full dress cap, field officers
3. Chapeau, Major General Commandant
4. Undress cap, company officers
5. Winter field cap, all officers]
The mess jacket is a round shell jacket of dark blue cloth, with
standing collar, extending to the points of the hip bones at the sides
and curving downward slightly to the front and back. The jacket is
worn hooked at the collar but open down the front which has one row of
sixteen small Marine Corps gilt buttons. The collar is covered with
gold lace braid and the sleeves bear the same ornamentations indicating
rank as those worn on the full dress coat.
The white mess jacket is of the same style as the blue mess jacket but
has no sleeve ornamentation, and is provided with shoulder straps of
the same material as the jacket, upon which the insignia of rank are
worn in the same manner as on the shoulder straps of the undress coats.
The mess dress is worn on occasions when naval officers wear their
evening dress uniform.
_Summer field uniform._—The summer field uniform is made of khaki
colored cotton drill and consists of a coat of the same style and
design as the white undress coat, breeches, field hat or khaki-colored
cap of the same style as the white cap, tan leather shoes, tan leather
strap puttee leggings, and the sword suspended from the tan leather
belt and slings, the belt being worn outside of the coat. Mounted
officers may wear tan leather boots.
The field hat is the wide brimmed brown felt hat worn with the peaked
crown, commonly known as the “campaign hat.” It has the Marine Corps
device on the front of the crown to indicate the corps, and in the
case of officers a hat cord woven of gold and red and finished at the
ends with gold and red acorns is worn around the base of the crown.
The rank marks worn with the summer field coat are the same as those
worn with the white undress, but all corps and staff devices and
buttons are of dull finished bronze to make them less conspicuous.
_Winter Field Uniform._—The winter field uniform is made of cloth or
serge of the shade known as “forestry-green,” a grayish olive green,
and consists of a coat made in the same general style as the summer
field coat except that the lower pockets are larger and are of the
“bellows” type, breeches (trousers are worn sometimes), the field hat
or winter field cap, tan leather strap puttee leggings, tan shoes,
sword suspended from tan leather belt and slings, the belt being worn
outside of the coat. Mounted officers may wear tan leather boots.
The insignia indicating rank, corps and staff department and the
buttons are the same as those worn on the summer field uniform.
In the field or at drills when it is considered appropriate the coat of
the field uniform is not worn, in which case the flannel shirt, of the
same color as the field uniform, is worn with the insignia of rank on
the collar on each side of the front opening.
[Illustration: _Photo by Harris & Ewing, Washington, D. C._
U. S. Marine Corps. Officer, winter field uniform]
[Illustration: U. S. Marine Corps. Officers’ insignia indicating rank
Shoulder straps of blue and white undress coats, summer and winter
field coats, white mess jacket and overcoat
1. Major General Commandant 2. Brigadier General
3. Colonel 4. Lieutenant Colonel (Silver Leaf)]
The _overcoat_ for all officers is a double-breasted ulster made of
cloth of the same “forestry-green” color as the winter field uniform
extending to about ten inches below the knee, buttoned to the neck with
two rows of large size bronze Marine Corps buttons, with a deep rolling
collar, and shoulder straps on the shoulders bearing the insignia of
rank in bright metal and the insignia indicating the Staff corps and
aides-de-camps in bronze. The sleeves bear ornamentations indicating
the rank of the wearer of the same size and design as those for the
full dress coat but of the same color as the cloth of the overcoat.
There is a double box pleat down the center of the back and straps
across the back to button the coat in at the waist. On each side below
the waist there is a pocket with a vertical opening.
The _cloak_ for all officers is of dark blue cloth lined with scarlet
cloth, cut to three-fourths of a circle so as to hang full, and having
a rolling collar of black velvet.
For wear in rainy weather each officer is provided with a raincoat and
a rain cape of waterproof material, of the same color as the winter
field uniform, and extending to about eight inches below the knee.
Shirts and collars for wear with special full dress, full dress,
undress and mess dress uniforms are of plain white linen, and those
for wear with field uniforms are of flannel of the color of the field
uniform.
Warrant officers (Marine Gunners and Quartermaster Clerks) are not
required to have special full dress, full dress or mess uniforms.
INSIGNIA OF RANK, CORPS AND STAFF DEPARTMENTS
The rank of officers of the Marine Corps is indicated in three ways:
first, by rank insignia worn upon the shoulder straps of the blue and
white undress coats and summer and winter field coats; second, by rank
insignia worn upon the tops of the epaulets and shoulder knots worn
with special full dress, full dress and mess dress coats, and third, by
the ornamentations worn upon the sleeves of the full dress coat, mess
jacket and overcoat.
The insignia of rank, indicating the rank of the wearer, are
practically the same as those for the corresponding ranks of the Army
and Navy, and are as follows:
Major General Commandant—two silver stars.
Brigadier General—one silver star.
Colonel—a silver spread eagle.
Lieutenant Colonel—a silver oak leaf.
Major—a gold oak leaf.
Captain—two silver bars.
First Lieutenant—one silver bar.
Second Lieutenant—one gold bar.
Marine Gunner and } no insignia of rank, the
Quartermaster Clerk } shoulder strap being plain.
The insignia of rank worn on the shoulder straps of the blue undress
coat and the winter field coat are embroidered in silver thread, with
the exception of the Major’s gold leaf which is embroidered in gold
thread, and those worn on the white undress coat, summer field coat,
white mess jacket and overcoat are of metal, silver for all except the
major’s leaf and second lieutenant’s bar which are of gold.
The insignia of rank worn on the tops of the epaulets and shoulder
knots are of the same size but are embroidered upon scarlet cloth to
show one-sixteenth of an inch all around.
The sleeve ornamentations indicating the rank of officers of the Marine
Corps are as shown in the illustrations. On the full dress coat and
mess jacket for the Major General Commandant and the Brigadier Generals
they are embroidered in gold upon cuffs of dark blue velvet and on
the overcoat they are embroidered in thread of the same color as the
overcoat. For Line officers below the rank of Brigadier General they
are made of gold lace braid on a backing of scarlet cloth on the full
dress coat and mess jacket while for officers of the Staff the scarlet
cloth backing is omitted. On the overcoats for all officers below the
rank of Brigadier General they are made of mohair braid of the same
color as the overcoat.
[Illustration: U. S. Marine Corps. Officers’ insignia indicating rank
Shoulder straps of blue and white undress coats, summer and winter
field coats, white mess jacket and overcoat
1. Major (Gold leaf) 2. Captain
3. First Lieutenant (Silver bar), 4. Warrant officer
Second Lieutenant (Gold bar)]
[Illustration: U. S. Marine Corps. Officers’ decorations on sleeves
indicating rank. In gold braid and embroidery on sleeves of full dress
coat and blue mess jacket. In forestry-green braid and embroidery on
sleeves of overcoat.
1. Major General Commandant 2. Brigadier General
3. Colonel 4. Lieutenant Colonel]
It may be noted that the design of the sleeve ornaments for Field
officers (Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels and Majors) is in the form of
a chevron, while that for company officers (Captains, and First and
Second Lieutenants) is a knot known to seamen as a “carrick bend,” to
artillerymen as a “prolong knot”; and to the civilian as the “True love
knot” representing faithfulness on account of the fact that it does not
readily slip or pull apart. It was on this account that this particular
form of knot was first used as a military emblem to denote faithfulness
or loyalty.
The fact that an officer belongs to the Marine Corps is shown by the
Marine Corps device or insignia worn upon the front of all caps and
field hats, upon the right side of the chapeau, on the top of epaulets
and shoulder knots, and upon the collars of the blue and white undress
coats, summer and winter field coats and mess jackets.
The Marine Corps device for full dress and undress caps is a fretted
silver Western Hemisphere with chased parallels and the continents of
North and South America in gold, resting upon a foul anchor in gold,
and surmounted by a spread eagle of silver. The shank of the anchor is
set at an angle of thirty degrees from the horizontal. The dimensions
are, diameter of hemisphere seven-eighths of an inch, height of eagle
one-half of an inch, length of anchor one and three-quarter inches. The
Corps device worn on epaulets and shoulder knots is of the same size
and design but is made entirely of silver. The Marine Corps devices
worn on the field hat and on the summer field and winter field caps
are of the same design and size as those worn on the undress caps but
are made entirely of bronze metal.
The Corps devices worn on the collars of the blue undress coat, white
undress coat and white mess jacket are of silver and gold and of the
same design as those worn on caps but of only three-fourths the size.
Those worn on the collars of the summer field and winter field coats
are of the same design and size as those worn on the undress coats but
are made entirely of dull finish bronze metal.
The aides-de-camp on the personal staff of a General officer wear
a distinctive device consisting of a shield of the United States
three-quarters of an inch high surmounted by an eagle one-half of an
inch high. This device is worn in the center of the sleeve ornament of
the full dress coat and mess jacket and on the collars of the undress
and field coats and white mess jackets in rear of the corps devices,
and on the shoulder straps of the overcoat. For the full dress, undress
and mess dress uniforms the device has the shield in enamel of proper
colors, stripes of red and white, field blue with gold stars indicating
the rank of the general officer on whose staff the aide-de-camp is
serving, two stars for Major General and one star for Brigadier
General. For the field coats and the overcoat the device is of the same
design but made of dull finish bronze metal.
In order to designate the different departments to which the officers
of the Staff of the Marine Corps belong distinctive Departmental
Devices are provided to be worn with all uniforms.
_Adjutant and Inspector’s Department._—The distinctive device for
this department consists of a miniature Marine Corps sword and fasces
crossed in gold surmounted by a wreath in silver, in the center of
which is a shield of thirteen bars of red and white enamel with the
field in blue enamel containing one large and twelve small gold stars;
the dimensions being, length of sword and fasces one and three-eighths
inches, diameter of wreath three-quarters of an inch.
[Illustration: U.S. Marine corps. Officers’ decorations on sleeves
indicating rank. In gold braid and embroidery on sleeves of full dress
coat and blue mess jacket. In forestry-green braid and embroidery on
sleeves of overcoat.
1. Major 2. Captain 3. First Lieutenant
4. Second Lieutenant 5. Warrant Officer]
[Illustration: U. S. Marine Corps
1. Corps insignia worn on caps and hats
2. Corps insignia worn on coat collars 3. Distinctive mark for
Aide-de-camp
4. Departmental insignia, Adjutant and Inspector’s Department
5. Departmental insignia, Quartermaster’s Department
6. Departmental insignia, Paymaster’s Department 7. Marine Corps
button]
_Quartermaster’s Department._—The distinctive device of this department
consists of a miniature Marine Corps sword and a key crossed in gold
surmounted by a gold wheel with a blue enamel rim set with thirteen
gold stars, the dimensions being, length of sword and key one and
three-eighths inches, diameter of wheel three-quarters of an inch.
_Paymaster’s Department._—The distinctive device for this department
consists of a miniature Marine Corps sword and a quill pen crossed in
gold surmounted by an oak leaf and two acorns in silver, the dimensions
being, length of sword and quill one and three-eighths inches, length
of leaf one and one-eighth inches.
With special full dress, full dress and blue mess dress uniforms these
distinctive devices of the Staff Departments are worn on the top of the
shoulder knot at the center; with white mess dress, blue undress, white
undress, summer field and winter field uniforms they are worn on each
side of the collar in rear of the corps device; and with the overcoat
they are worn on the shoulder straps above the insignia of rank.
For wear with the summer field and winter field uniforms and with the
overcoat the Departmental devices are of the same size and design as
for the other uniforms above described but are made of dull finish
bronze metal.
_Aiguilettes_ consisting of loops of plaited round gold cord
terminating in gilded pencil ornaments are worn with special
full dress, full dress, and mess dress by officers of the Staff
Departments, and with special full dress, full dress, mess dress, blue
undress and white undress uniforms by Aides-de-camp to General officers
and Aids on the personal staff of a Flag Officer of the Navy.
_Warrant Officers’ Distinctive Insignia._—Marine Gunners wear as a
distinctive device a bursting spherical shell three-quarters of an inch
in diameter with a flame five-eighths of an inch high made of silver
for the blue undress and white undress coats and of dull finish bronze
metal for the summer field and winter field coats and the overcoat.
Quartermaster Clerks wear the distinctive device of the Quartermaster’s
Department, in gold and enamel for the blue and white undress coats and
in dull finish bronze for the summer field and winter field coats and
the overcoat.
These devices are worn on both sides of the collar of the undress and
field coats and on the shoulder straps of the overcoat.
_Marine Corps Sword._—The sword carried by all officers of the Marine
Corps has a steel blade, slightly curved, from twenty-eight to
thirty-two inches in length, with a scroll on each side bearing the
words “United States Marines.” The grip is of the Mameluke type and is
made of white ivory and the guard is a straight bar of gilded metal,
the ends terminating in acorn designs. The scabbard is of polished
silver with two gilded bands and rings for attaching it to the belt
slings and a gilded ferrule at the lower end.
_The Belt Plate_ for officers’ full dress belts is of gilt metal,
oblong in shape, two and one-eighth inches high by three and one-eighth
inches wide, decorated with a silver wreath encircling the Arms of the
United States in silver.
[Illustration: U. S. Marine Corps swords
1. Commissioned officers 2. Noncommissioned officers]
[Illustration: _Photo by Harris & Ewing, Washington, D. C._
U. S. Marine Corps
Enlisted men in dress uniform
Private First Sergeant]
_The Sword Knot_ worn on the hilt of the Marine Officers’ sword is a
loop of round cord ending in a tassel, made of gold and scarlet for
full dress and of plaited leather for other uniforms.
_Buttons._—The Marine Corps buttons bear a design consisting of a foul
anchor placed diagonally with an American eagle above it, surrounded
by thirteen stars and a narrow circular band. The buttons for blue and
white uniforms are of gilded metal and those for the field uniforms and
the overcoat are of dull bronze metal.
_Spurs_ are worn by all officers when mounted.
The uniform for the officers of the Marine Corps Branch of the
Naval Militia of the several states and territories is the same as
that for the officers of the regular service with the addition of a
distinctive mark showing the state or territory to which they belong.
This distinctive mark is the authorized abbreviation for the state or
territory in metal block letters one-half of an inch high and is worn
in rear of the Marine Corps device on each side of the collar of the
blue undress, white undress, summer field and winter field coats, on
the shoulder straps of the overcoat and on the front of the field hat,
gold for the undress coats and bronze for the field coats, overcoat and
field hat.
When sworn into the service of the United States the Naval Militia
becomes a part of the National Naval Volunteers and the officers wear
a metal letter V in place of the state or territory letters described
above.
Officers of the Marine Corps Reserve wear the same uniforms as the
officers of the regular service with the addition of a letter R worn as
prescribed for the state letters of the Marine officers of the Naval
Militia organizations.
UNIFORMS OF THE ENLISTED MEN OF THE MARINE CORPS
The enlisted men of the Marine Corps are required to have complete
outfits of dress uniform, summer field uniform, winter field uniform
and an overcoat.
The occasions upon which the different uniforms are worn is as stated
in the table of occasions for the uniforms of enlisted men of the Navy
and Marine Corps on page 133.
The different uniforms are as follows:
_Dress Uniform._—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 a single row of seven Marine Corps gilt buttons,
shoulder straps sewn down on the shoulders with a gilt button at the
collar end, and a three-pointed strap with three gilt buttons on each
sleeve cuff. The top and bottom edges of the collar, the front and
bottom edges of the coat and the edges of the shoulder straps are
trimmed with a piping of scarlet cloth one-eighth of an inch wide.
Sky-blue trousers, those for noncommissioned officers having a one inch
scarlet stripe down the outer leg seams and those for the other men
being plain. A dark blue bell-crowned cap with a sloping visor of black
patent leather, the top and bottom welts of the band being trimmed with
a piping of scarlet cloth one-eighth of an inch wide. Just above the
visor there is a chin strap of black patent leather one-half of an inch
wide, attached by a small Marine Corps gilt button at each end of the
visor. White trousers may be prescribed for wear with this uniform, in
which case a white cover is worn fitting tightly over the crown of the
cap. The Marine Corps device in bright gilt metal is worn on the front
of the cap. Black shoes are worn with this uniform except when the
men wear leggings in which case the shoes are of tan leather. A white
leather dress belt closed with a flat polished gilt belt plate is worn
when on duty, and white gloves are worn when under arms. For active
duty the tan leather belt and cartridge box may be worn.
[Illustration: _Photo by Harris & Ewing, Washington, D. C._
U. S. Marine Corps
Enlisted men in winter field uniform
Private Sergeant]
[Illustration: U. S. Marine Corps. Noncommissioned officers’ chevrons
1. Sergeant Major 2. Second Leader of Band 3. Quartermaster Sergeant 4.
Quartermaster Sergeant, Pay Department]
_Summer Field Uniform._—A single-breasted coat made of khaki-colored
cotton material, extending to about ten inches below the waist, with
standing collar, buttoned with one row of seven bronze metal Marine
Corps buttons, with a patch pocket and buttoned flap on each breast and
a strap on each shoulder buttoned down at the collar end by a small
bronze button; khaki-colored trousers of the same material as the
coat; tan shoes; khaki-colored canvas leggings; and the field hat of
the shape worn by officers, or a khaki-colored cover fitting tightly
over the dress cap may be worn aboard ship or on other appropriate
occasions. The Marine Corps device in dull finish bronze metal is worn
on the front of the field hat and cap, and in addition the number of
the company in bronze metal letters is worn on the field hat below
the Marine Corps device. Tan leather shoes are always worn with this
uniform. The tan leather belt or the cartridge belt of webbing is worn
with field uniform. In the field or at drills afloat or ashore the coat
is sometimes dispensed with and the khaki-colored flannel shirt is worn.
_Winter Field Uniform._—This uniform is made of the same “forestry
green” colored cloth as that worn by officers for winter field uniforms
and consists of a single-breasted coat of the same general style as the
summer field khaki coat but with the addition of an outside pocket on
each side below the waist; trousers or breeches of the same material
as the coat, khaki-colored leggings, tan shoes, woolen gloves of the
same color as the coat when needed, the held hat or a cap of the same
material as the coat and the same design as the dress cap but with a
dark tan leather visor and bronze buttons and corps device. The buttons
on the coat of this uniform are also of bronze. At drills and on field
duty the coat may be dispensed with and in that case the flannel shirt
is worn. The tan leather belt or the webbing cartridge belt is worn
with this uniform.
_The Overcoat_ for enlisted men of the Marine Corps is of the same
style and design as the overcoat for officers with a pointed cuff
instead of the officers’ sleeve ornaments.
_Rain Clothes_ for enlisted men consist of a rubber coat, hat and
boots, or the khaki-colored rubber poncho may be worn in the fashion of
a cape.
For wear in very cold climates a turn-down cap of dark brown fur is
provided.
_Dungarees_ are provided for artisans and men requiring them.
_Pajamas_ are provided for all enlisted men.
The rank of the Noncommissioned officers is indicated by chevrons worn
with the point up upon the sleeves of all coats and the flannel shirt
midway between the shoulder and the elbow.
The chevrons for the dress coat are made of stripes of yellow silk
braid one-half of an inch wide on a backing of scarlet cloth, the total
width of the chevron being eight inches.
The chevrons for the summer field coat and for the flannel shirt are
made of cloth of a darker shade than the coat, the stripes being
three-eighths of an inch in width and the whole chevron being three and
one-half inches wide.
[Illustration: U. S. Marine Corps. Noncommissioned officers’ chevrons
1. Drum Major 2. First Sergeant 3. Gunnery Sergeant 4. Sergeant
5. Corporal]
[Illustration: U. S. Marine Corps
1. Officers’ shoulder knot 2. Service buttons
3. Chevron for Lance Corporal 4. Gun Pointer’s sleeve mark 5. Drummer’s
sleeve mark 6. Trumpeter’s sleeve mark]
The chevrons for the winter field coat and for the overcoat are made
of the same material as the coat on a backing of scarlet cloth, the
dimensions being the same as for those on the summer field coat.
The chevrons for the flannel shirt are the same as those for the summer
field coat.
The descriptions of the chevrons indicating the different ranks are, as
illustrated, as follows:
Sergeant Major Three bars with three arcs of
a circle under the bars.
Second Leader of the Band Three bars with three arcs and
a cornet in the center.
Quartermaster Sergeant Three bars and three straight
ties under the bars.
Quartermaster Sergeant of Three bars with three ties and
the Paymaster Department a pile of coins crossed by a
quill pen in the center.
Gunnery Sergeant Three bars with a device of a
bursting bomb and two
crossed rifles in the center.
Drum Major Three bars with three straight
ties under the bars and a
five-pointed star in the center.
Sergeant Three bars.
Corporal Two bars.
Lance Corporal (Acting One bar, on the right sleeve
corporal) only.
Enlisted men of the Marine Corps who have regularly qualified as
gun pointers aboard ships of the Navy wear a design representing a
six-pounder gun and mount on the right sleeve midway between the wrist
and the elbow, the design to be in scarlet on blue cloth for blue coat
and in drab linen thread for the field coats and flannel shirt.
Enlisted men detailed as gun captains aboard ships of the Navy wear the
navy gun captain’s mark on the right sleeve midway between the wrist
and the elbow.
Enlisted men who have qualified as expert riflemen in the navy rifle
target firing course wear a design representing a small arms target
about four inches above the bottom of the sleeve of the dress coat,
field coats, flannel shirt and overcoat, the design showing a target
one inch square with two circles and a bull’s-eye inside of it.
Drummers and trumpeters wear their distinctive marks on each sleeve of
the dress coat, field coats, overcoat and flannel shirt midway between
the shoulder and the elbow; the mark for the drummer being a pair of
drum sticks crossed and that for the trumpeter being a trumpet worn
horizontal, embroidered in yellow thread on blue coats and in gray
thread on the other coats and the shirt.
_Service Stripes_ are worn by all enlisted men who have served
faithfully for one or more enlistment terms in any branch of the
Government service, one stripe being worn for each enlistment; they
are worn on the dress coat, winter field coat and overcoat diagonally
across each sleeve between the wrist and the elbow. For the blue
dress coat these stripes are of yellow silk braid eight inches long
and one-half of an inch wide edged with one-eighth of an inch of
scarlet cloth. For the winter field coat and overcoat they are of the
same material as the coats, three and three-quarters inches long and
three-eighths of an inch wide edged with one-eighth of an inch of
scarlet cloth.
Enlisted men of the Marine Corps Branch of the Naval Militia wear the
same uniforms as the enlisted men of the regular Marine Corps with the
addition of the letters indicating the state or territory to which
they belong worn on the collars of the dress coat and field coat, on
the shoulder straps of the overcoat and on the front of the field hat,
the letters being gilt for the dress coat and bronze for the field
coat, overcoat and field hat.
When the Naval Militia is sworn into the service of the United States
in time of war it becomes the National Naval Volunteers and the letter
V is worn in place of the letters indicating the state or territory.
Enlisted men of the Marine Corps Reserve wear the letter R on the dress
cap beneath the Marine Corps device and on the field hat below the
right edge of the Marine Corps device, the company numeral being worn
in a corresponding position below the left edge of the corps device.
These letters are in gilt for the dress cap and in bronze for the field
hat.
THE MARINE BAND
The Marine Band, consisting of a Leader, second leader and seventy
musicians, is stationed at the Headquarters Barracks of the Corps in
Washington, D. C., and one of its principal duties is to furnish music
for the official functions at the White House, hence it is popularly
known as the “President’s Band.”
The Leader of the Marine Band wears blue undress, white undress, summer
field and winter field uniforms, cloak, sword and overcoat of the same
material, colors and design as those worn by commissioned officers of
the Line, substituting a lyre one inch high for the insignia of rank,
the lyre being of silver for the undress uniforms and of dull finish
bronze for the field uniforms. His special full dress uniform is the
same as that for a Captain of the Staff, with the addition of seven
rows of gold braid across the front each terminating in a double loop
at either side, and the substitution of a silver lyre one inch high in
place of the insignia of rank. His full dress coat is a single-breasted
tunic of scarlet cloth trimmed across the front with seven rows of
black mohair braid of the same design as for the special full dress
coat, and having an ornament consisting of three loops of black braid
on each cuff, and a piping of white cloth around the edges of the
coat; the gold shoulder knots and aiguilettes are worn with this coat.
The trousers worn with this coat are the same as those worn with the
special full dress, dark blue cloth with gold lace stripes down the
outer leg seams.
The special full dress for the second leader and musicians is a single
breasted sack coat of scarlet cloth extending to about ten inches below
the waist, with a standing collar, trimmed with piping of white cloth
around the edges of the coat, the collar and the straps on the shoulder
being of black cloth, the sleeves for the second leader being trimmed
with three loops of black mohair braid and the musicians having pointed
cuffs of black cloth, trousers of sky-blue cloth trimmed down the outer
leg seams with a one-inch stripe of scarlet cloth having a piping of
white cloth one-eighth of an inch wide through the center; a cap of the
same design as that for other enlisted men but made of scarlet cloth
with a black band.
The full dress uniform for the second leader and musicians consists of
a coat of scarlet cloth of the same design as the special full dress
coat with the addition of seven rows of black mohair braid across
the front and shoulder knots and aiguilettes, these being white for
musicians and of gold cord for the second leader; trousers and cap the
same as for special full dress.
The undress, summer field and winter field uniforms and the overcoat
are the same as those worn by other enlisted men of the Marine Corps.
The chevrons for the dress uniforms of the musicians of the band are
three and a half inches wide by five inches long and are made of yellow
silk with a lyre embroidered in the center in yellow silk. The chevrons
for the second leader and the drum major are of the same size and
design, but are made of gold lace braid, the second leader having a
cornet embroidered in the center and the drum major a star.
The chevrons for the field uniforms and the overcoat are the same
as for other noncommissioned officers of the Marine Corps with the
addition of the cornet for second leader, the star for drum major and
the lyre for musicians.
The chevrons for the special full dress and full dress coats are of the
same size and design as for the dress coat but are made of white braid
and embroidery.
_Identification Tag._—Every officer and enlisted man of the U. S.
Marine Corps on active duty is required to wear an identification tag,
which consists of a round plate of white metal, one and three-eighths
of an inch in diameter, suspended from the neck by a monel metal wire
encased in a cotton covering.
These tags are stamped as follows; for officers, full name and rank;
enlisted men, full name and date of first enlistment in the Marine
Corps. The tags for both officers and men also have the letters “U. S.
M. C.” plainly stamped upon them.
These tags are for the purpose of identification in case of death or
wounds so serious as to produce unconsciousness.
[Illustration: SEAL OF THE U. S. COAST GUARD]