United States Army enlisted rank insignia


The chart below shows the current enlisted rank insignia of the United States Army, with seniority, and pay grade, increasing from right to left. Enlisted ranks of corporal and higher are considered non-commissioned officers. The rank of specialist is a soldier of pay grade E-4 who has not yet attained non-commissioned officer status. It is common that a soldier may never be a corporal and will move directly from specialist to sergeant, attaining NCO status at that time.
In the beginning, US army enlisted rank was indicated by colored epaulettes. The use of chevrons came into being in 1821, with the orientation changing from point-down to point-up and back again, to the point-down orientation seen on Civil War soldiers. Around the turn of the 20th century, point-up wear was ordained and has remained so.

History

1775–1821: epaulettes

From the creation of the United States Army, to 1821, non-commissioned officer and staff non-commissioned officer rank was distinguished by the wearing of usually worsted epaulettes.
From 1775 to 1779 sergeants and corporals wore one epaulette on the right shoulder, corporals of green colour, sergeants of red colour. From May 1778, the newly created ranks of SNCOs wore a red epaulette on each shoulder.
In 1779 sergeants were authorized two silk epaulettes, corporals one worsted to wear on the right shoulder. The colour was white, yellow or blue. In practice it seems the prescribed blue epaulettes for cavalry NCO never came in wide use while the wearing of white epaulettes prevailed.
By 1783/84, the Continental Army was discharged. For a few weeks, only 55 artillerymen at West Point and 25 men at Fort Pitt were to remain. In August 1784, the 700 men strong First American Regiment was organized as kind of an army substitute. In October 1786 by approval of Congress this force should expand to a Legionary Corps of additional infantry, rifle troops, artillery and dragoons. But this project never materialised. In 1791, the Second Regiment of Infantry was raised and organised as the First Regiment. Both units amalgamated in 1792 with the Legion of the United States, including artillery and dragoons, that then transformed into the US Army in 1796.
From 1787, SNCOs wore silk epaulettes, sergeants two worsted and corporals one worsted. In the same year, the epaulettes' colour of cavalry NCOs officially changed from blue to white. At that time the federal mounted force of two troops of dragoons existed only on paper and never got beyond the planning stage. The sergeant major insignia included a brass half-crescent placed on the skirt of the epaulette.
In 1799, red worsted epaulettes were prescribed for all NCOs in all branches: SNCOs on both shoulders, sergeants on the right shoulder, corporals on the left. Chief musicians were identified by two white epaulettes. Shortly after, in the year 1800, the colour of the epaulettes was changed to yellow, for chief musicians in to blue. In reality, the artillery NCOs ignorded the order of 1799 and maintained their yellow epaulettes, as did a company of bombardiers, sappers and miners recruited during the War of 1812. In 1808 also the infantry NCOs switched back to their former white epaulettes as did the newly raised light dragoons., SNCOs wore two worsted epaulettes with crescent, sergeants had two plain worsted epaulettes, while corporals wore one epaulette on the right shoulder.

1821–1832: chevrons and "wings" vs. epaulettes

Between 1821 and 1895, the U.S. Army insignia of rank for enlisted soldiers above the grade of private was generally the chevron—a "V"-shaped piece of cloth or braid, typically worn on the sleeve. With exceptions from 1832 to 1846, and from 1847 to 1851, the chevrons were worn point down.
From 1821 to 1832 enlisted personnel wore dark blue "wings" trimmed in yellow on each shoulder and a horizontal row of four gold buttons on each cuff. Additionally, senior NCOs wore a single point-up yellow chevron on each upper sleeve, sergeants wore their chevrons on the lower sleeves, corporals had just a single chevron on the right upper sleeve. This system echoed the grade system of company grade officers from 1821 to 1832.
For enlisted personnel in staff, artillery, and engineers the system of epaulettes was retained: senior NCOs were indicated by a pair of epaulettes with a brass crescent, sergeants with no crescents, and corporals just a single epaulette on the right shoulder.
From the early days of the Continental Army the wearing of a sword and a crimson worsted sash had served as a badge of rank for all sergeant grades. Since 1821 the worsted sash became a privilege to first sergeants and above only. In 1872, sashes ceased being worn by all ranks.

1832–1851: epaulettes and slashflaps

These parallel existing systems were superseded in 1832. From then on to 1851, enlisted personnel wore a pair of yellow cloth epaulettes with 2 1/2" long and 1/8" in diameter worsted fringe. Contrary to this, senior NCOs wore epaulettes with gold fringe and a coat with two rows of ten buttons, that endet 3 1/2" above the knees while all other enlisted personnel had single breasted coats with nine buttons, that ended 7" above the knees.
In addition, there were on the cuffs a slashflap with yellow lace and a vertical row of a number of gold buttons depending on grade: senior sergeants wore four flaps and buttons, sergeant wore three flaps and buttons, corporals and privates wore two flaps and buttons. A sergeant major had a red plume on the dress hat; a quartermaster sergeant had a light blue plume. The orderly sergeant had no plume, but wore a red waist sash.
After the two regiments of light dragoons were first amalgated into one and then transferred to the artillery in 1814/15, a federal mounted force ceased to exist. In 1832, a bataillon of United States Mounted Rangers was formed, just to be disbanded and replaced by the United States Regiment of Dragoons in 1833. In place of worsted epaulettes, enlisted dragoon ranks wore metal shoulder scales, thus inspiring yellow as new branch colour for mounted units.

1846–1903: chevrons point down (except for 1847-1851)

Complementary, for undress a new system of yellow chevrons was introduced in 1846. In 1846 the chevrons were point down, from 1847 to 1851 they were point up. All sergeants were indicated by three chevrons: Sgt. Maj. and Qm. Sgt. additionally with a gold shoulder cord, but from 1847 instead three chevrons with three arcs below for Sgt. Maj., for Qm.Sgt. with three bars below. Orderly Sgt. in 1846 three chevrons and a red worsted waist sash, from 1847 a hollow diamond below the three chevrons and no waist sash. Corporals wore two chevrons, privates none.
However, in 1851, the Army changed to point down wear for all enlisted grades and directed that chevrons would be worn in the new branch-of-service colors of: sky blue for the infantry, dark green for riflemen and mounted rifles, orange for dragoons, yellow for cavalry, red for artillery, and green for the medical department.
In 1895, the Army introduced a new enlisted rank system that became the basis for the system used in World War I.
Metal branch-of-service insignia were first adopted in 1832—the hunting horn being adopted as the infantry's insignia. They are worn on the cap with the regimental number inset in or just above it.

1903–present: chevrons point up

1903–1920

Smaller rank insignia that were to be worn point up were introduced in 1903, but with the transition from the older, larger point down insignia to the new versions, there was some confusion concerning the proper manner of wear of the new insignia. War Department Circular 61 of 1905 directed that the points be placed up and designated certain colors for each branch of the military, for uniformity.
During World War I troops overseas in France used standard buff stripes inset with trade badges in the place of colored branch stripes or rank badges. Rank grades were numbered from top down, from general of the army, as number 1, to corporal, number 19; NCO ranks were grades 13 through 19. Confusingly, pay grades were different, less senior ranks with more technical training being paid more than senior staff NCOs.
On 22 July 1919, the military approved "an arc of one bar" for a private first class. This was later changed to a single chevron in 1920.

1920–1942

The Joint Service Pay Readjustment Act of 1922 divided the grades into inverse "pay grades" for enlisted personnel and "pay periods" for officers. The pay rates would stay the same from July 1, 1922, to May, 1942.
In 1920, the rank system was simplified, and the rank stripes were reduced to 3.125 inches in width. The rank of sergeant major was discontinued and the confusing system of trade badges and rank insignia was abolished. Branch-of-service colored stripes were abandoned in favor of standard buff-on-blue stripes. The use of bars under chevrons to designate senior support arm NCOs was abolished, and all branches used arcs under chevrons to denote senior NCOs. The rank insignia were reduced to seven grades and eight ranks and were numbered from "G1" for the highest rank to "G7" for the lowest. Subdued olive-drab-on-khaki stripes were created for wear with the class C khaki uniform.
The rank of specialist was adopted. It was grade G-6 but received a pay bonus from $5 to $25. Specialists had the same single chevron of a private first class but were considered between the ranks of private first class and corporal in seniority. This was very confusing, as the difference between a private first class and a specialist could not be determined at first glance, in addition to any specialty they may have had, as trade badges had been eliminated. Unofficial insignia adopted by post commands granted specialists one to six arcs under their chevron to indicate their grade, and trade badges inset between their stripes to indicate their specialty.

1942–1948

In 1942, there were several overdue reforms. Pay was increased for all ranks for the first time in two decades, and combat pay was introduced. The rank of first sergeant was now considered a junior version of master sergeant and the confusing specialist ranks were abolished. The specialist ranks were replaced by the distinct ranks of technician third grade, technician fourth grade, and technician fifth grade. Technicians were inferior to non-commissioned officers of the same grade but superior to all grades below them. They had the same insignia as the regular rank of their grade, but with a cloth "T" inset between their stripes. The subdued insignia were abolished, but could still be worn with the Class C khaki uniform until they wore out.

1948–1956

In 1948 the pay grades were broken up into seven "E", two "W", and eleven "O" grades. The technician's ranks were abolished and were absorbed into their equivalent line ranks. The rank of private was divided into the ranks of recruit, private second class and private first class. Corporal was regraded as Grade E4. Sergeant was a career soldier rank and its former three-chevron insignia was abolished and replaced with the three chevrons and an arc of the rank of staff sergeant. The rank of staff sergeant was discontinued and the rank of technical sergeant was renamed sergeant first class. The rank of first sergeant was absorbed into the senior rank of master sergeant.
Also in 1948, the old buff-on-blue insignia were abolished. In their place was a new system of smaller and narrower chevrons and arcs that were instead differenced by color called the "Goldenlite" system - with subdued dark blue stripes on bright yellow backing for combat arms and yellow stripes on dark blue for support arms. They were not popular. Combat-arm NCOs found their stripes were hard to identify unless the viewer was very close, making it hard to rally and lead troops. Support-arm NCOs found their stripes too small to be easily seen at a distance, making it hard to tell their seniority at a glance. When the US Army entered the Korean War, it was found that troops in combat abandoned the new insignia. They either used the support arm stripes, purchased the old larger buff-on-blue stripes from Post Exchanges or Army / Navy stores, or used hand-cut or tailor-made copies. The small "Goldenlite" stripes were abandoned in February 1951 and the dark-blue-on-yellow insignia was abolished. Larger 3-inch-wide olive-drab-on-dark-blue stripes were adopted for servicemen.
In 1950, the Women's Army Corps were issued new Goldenlite yellow-on-brown insignia for wear with the taupe WAC uniform. It was the same size as the men's small 2-inch-wide Goldenlite stripes. In 1951, WACs were assigned surplus men's Goldenlite-Yellow-on-dark-blue stripes for wear with olive drab or fatigue uniforms. Also in 1951, the optional white WAC dress uniform was now authorized for wear by enlisted and NCO ranks and 2-inch Goldenlite yellow-on-white stripes were created to be worn with it.
The 1950s brought a lot of changes. In 1951, the pay grade numbering was reversed, with the lowest enlisted rank being numbered "1" and the highest enlisted rank being "7". By 1955, new grade structures were announced reactivating the specialist rank: specialist 3rd class, specialist 2nd class, specialist 1st class and master specialist. The specialist insignia was the same smaller and narrower size as the old Goldenlite stripes to differentiate specialists from non-commissioned officers.

1956–1985

In 1956, the Army began wearing polished black leather boots instead of the traditional unpolished russet leather, and the Army Green uniform was adopted. The new enlisted rank insignia were then used on all Army uniforms. Enlisted rank insignia with a blue background was worn on the Army Blue Dress uniform.
In 1957, a 2-inch-wide set of Goldenlite-Yellow-on-blue stripes were worn with the new optional Army Blue WAC dress uniform. In 1959, a 2-inch-wide set of Goldenlite-Yellow-on-green stripes were worn with the new Army Green WAC duty uniform; they replaced the taupe WAC service uniform by 1961. Although the WAC was disestablished in 1978, the Army Green WAC uniform would be in use until 1985.
In 1958, as part of a rank restructuring, two pay grades and four ranks were added: sergeant returned to its traditional three chevron insignia, E-6 became staff sergeant, which had been eliminated in 1948, sergeant first class became E-7, master sergeant became E-8, which included first sergeant and specialist 8; and E-9, which included sergeant major and specialist 9. In 1959, the specialist insignia was made the same size and width as non-commissioned officer's stripes. In 1961, the wearing of large Goldenlite-Yellow-on-green stripes was adopted for use on all Army uniforms except for the Army dress-blue uniform, which used large insignia with a blue background. In 1965, the ranks of specialist 8 and specialist 9 were discontinued, and private first class was briefly termed lance corporal. In 1966, the rank of Sergeant Major of the Army was established, its holder an assistant to the Army chief of staff. Considered a higher grade than sergeant major, the Sergeant Major of the Army didn't receive its own unique rank insignia until 1979. In 1968, the rank of command sergeant major was established as an assistant to the commanding officer at battalion, brigade, division, and corps level. Also, that year the insignia of private first class received one arc under the chevron. In 1978, the rank of specialist 7 was discontinued. In 1979, brass enlisted rank pins were created for wear on black epaulettes with the Army Green shirt and black "wooly-pully" sweater. In 1985, the ranks of specialist 5 and specialist 6 were discontinued.

2000–present

In 2001, the black Infantry beret was adopted as the standard headgear in place of the BDU cap, overseas cap, and visored cap. The black Ranger beret was replaced with a sand-colored beret similar to that of the British SAS. In 2011, the beret was phased out in favor of the reintroduced patrol cap, for fatigue duty or field wear; but the beret is still worn with the service or dress uniform. Enlisted personnel wear their unit's heraldic pin on the beret flash while officers wear their rank insignia in the same location.
In 2006, the navy blue, army blue combination uniform was adopted to replace the army green uniform and the yellow-on-blue stripes were reintroduced. With slight modifications, the army blue uniform became the Army Service Uniform.
The Army white tropical dress uniform was discontinued in October, 2009. Although authorized since before World War II, the Army white uniform was owned by very few soldiers and rarely worn.
The new combination Army Service Uniform is dual-purpose, consisting of a dark-blue jacket, white dress shirt, and blue trousers. The jacket has epaulettes for enlisted men and non-commissioned officers, and shoulder straps for warrant officers and officers. Non-commissioned, warrant, and commissioned officers' trousers have a wide yellow stripe down the outside of each trouser leg. There are dark-blue cloth sliders with embroidered yellow or white rank-insignia on the Class "B" dress shirt epaulettes. It is a service uniform when worn with a dark-blue necktie; it is a Class "A" uniform when worn with the jacket and long-sleeved shirt; and a Class "B" uniform when worn without the jacket. It becomes an evening-dress, or mess-dress, uniform when worn with a dark-blue bow-tie. Female personnel wear the service and dress uniform with a white blouse and a navy-blue crossover tie.

Command roles

The headquarters of each company-sized unit is assigned a senior non-commissioned officer who, as the highest ranking enlisted person in the company/battery/troop, monitors the enlisted personnel and is their advocate with the commanding officer. This position is known as the "first sergeant," though the person carrying that title does not have to have that rank. In a battalion or larger unit, the senior NCO is a sergeant major. The rank of sergeant major is usually carried by the senior NCO of the S-3 staff section in a battalion, regiment, or a brigade, and in most staff sections in larger units. The command sergeant major fills an advisory function, assisting the commander of a battalion, regiment, brigade, or higher formation in personnel matters. The Sergeant Major of the Army has a similar role assisting the Army Chief of Staff.
In terms of command, the rank of a person typically determines what job and command the soldier has within a unit. For personnel in US Army mechanized infantry, a Bradley infantry fighting vehicle is commanded by a Staff Sergeant, the gun is manned by a Specialist or Sergeant and the driver is Specialist or below. For armor, the Abrams main battle tank is commanded by a captain, lieutenant, sergeant first class or staff sergeant; the gunner is a staff sergeant or sergeant; the driver is a specialist, private first class, PV2 or PV1; and the loader is a specialist or below.

Forms of address

Forms of address specified in Army Regulation AR 600-20 Army Command Policy are: "Sergeant Major" and "First Sergeant" for those holding those ranks, and "Sergeant" for master sergeants, sergeants first class, staff sergeants, and sergeants. Corporals and specialists are addressed by their rank. Privates first class and privates can all be addressed as "Private".
In some cases, informal titles are used. "Top" is commonly used as an informal address to first sergeants or anyone serving as a company first sergeant. In field artillery units a platoon sergeant is informally referred to as "Smoke". The junior E-7 position is designated as "Gunnery Sergeant" and similar to the USMC usage, is typically referred to as "Gunny". Field artillery cannon sections are led by section chiefs are often informally called "Chief". This does not seem to be common in other section-based unit subdivisions such as staff sections. In some smaller units, with more tight-knit squads, soldiers might call their squad leader "Boss", or a similar respectful term. A habit that has all but died out is the addressing of a platoon sergeant, in any unit other than artillery, being affectionately called a "platoon daddy" in casual conversation or in jest. In some training units, trainees are called "Private", regardless of the rank worn. Special titles, such as "drill sergeant" and "gunnery sergeant" are specific to certain jobs, and should not be confused for actual rank. Other services differ, such as the Marine Corps, who address each other by full rank.
Some terms are used jokingly when referring to a soldier's rank. For instance, specialists are sometimes jokingly referred to as "The E-4 Mafia", "Command Private Major", "Specialist Major", "Full-Bird Private", "Sham Shield", "PV4", or "Spec-4".
Privates rank insignia are sometimes called "Mosquito Wings". Privates are called "Buck Privates" because they are the lowest rank of private. An E-1 Private may be referred to as "E-Nothing", or "PV-Nothing" due to their lack of rank insignia. E-1 Privates were also called a "Fuzzy" or "E-Fuzzy" during the War on Terror era due to the bare velcro patch-holders on the Army Combat Uniform.