U.S. Marine Corps Enlisted Rank Insignia Identification Guide

Early Rank Insignia

In 1833, the U.S. Marine Corps issued regulations to replace the various emblems and insignia used to identify NCOs. The regulations specified 1/2" yellow lace on a red background and seam to seam in size. Hash marks were to be worn on the lower sleeve, two hash marks for the rank of Sergeant, and one hash mark for the rank of Corporal. Seam to seam chevrons were to be worn on the upper sleeve with each chevron signifing 4 years of service.

1859 to 1898

In 1859, regulations were issued changing the meaning of the hash marks and chevrons. Chevrons would now signify rank while hash marks would be used for each 4 years of service. Chevrons and hash marks were "seam to seam" in size and were approximately 8" wide. Six pay grades were established for NCOs as shown below.

Sergeant Major	Drum Major	Quartermanster Sergeant	First Sergeant
Sergeant	Corporal

1898 to 1922

In response to the tropical climate encountered during the Spanish American War, local commanders adopted lighter weight uniforms. Both a khaki Field Service uniform and a Navy style Dress White uniform were worn. Chevrons for the Field Service uniform were tan on khaki or gray on gray. Chevrons for the Dress White uniform were white on white. A new rank, Gunnery Sergeant, was also in use ranking above First Sergeant. The 1900 regulations formalized these changes and adopted a new rank of 2nd Band Leader. In 1904, Gunnery Sergeant was reclassified to rank after First Sergeant. In 1908, the rank of Pay Quartermaster Sergeant was added, and patches with a trumpet or crossed drum sticks was authorized for trumpeters and drummers. A single chevron for the rank of Lance Corporal was added in 1912, but was renamed Private 1st Class in 1917. A Patch with crossed rifles was authorized for Private 1st Class. The seam to seam chevrons were abolished in 1922. Typical examples of large chevrons are shown below.

Sergeant Major	2nd Band Leader	Drum Major	Pay Quartermanster Sergeant - added 1908
Quartermanster Sergeant	Gunnery Sergeant - 1898-1904	First Sergeant	Gunnery Sergeant - After 1904
Sergeant	Corporal	Lance Corporal - 1912-1917 / Private 1st Class - After 1917	Privare 1st Class - 1912-1917
Trumpeter	Drummer

Sergeant Major - Dress White uniform	Quartermanster Sergeant - Dress White uniform	Gunnery Sergeant - 1898-1904 - Dress White uniform	First Sergeant - Dress White uniform
Sergeant - Dress White uniform	Sergeant Major - Field Service uniform	Quartermanster Sergeant - Field Service uniform	First Sergeant - Field Service uniform
First Sergeant - Field Service uniform	Gunnery Sergeant - After 1904 - Field Service uniform	Sergeant - Field Service uniform	Corporal - Field Service uniform

In 1908, a smaller size chevron in olive drab on khaki background was authorized for the Field Service uniform. With the adopyion of the Winter Green uniform in 1912, chevrons in green on red were authorized for the new uniform. Chevrons and bars were reduced from 1/2" to 3/8" with a width of 4". Typical examples are shown below.

First Sergeant - Olive Drab on Khaki	Gunnery Sergeant - Olive Drab on Khaki

Sergeant Major	Sergeant Major - Alternate Design	2nd Band Leader	Drum Major	Quartermanster Sergeant
Pay Quartermanster Sergeant - added 1908	First Sergeant	Gunnery Sergeant	Sergeant	Corporal
Lance Corporal - 1912-1917 / Private 1st Class - After 1917	Privare 1st Class - 1912-1917	Trumpeter	Drummer

1922-1929

In 1922, the yellow on red chevron was reduced in size and the olive drab on khaki chevron was changed to dark green on khaki. Private 1st Class now wore a chevron instead of the crossed rifles. Staff Sergeant and Supply Sergeant were added in 1923, as well as changes to the Quartermaster Sergeant Chevron.

Gunnery Sergeant - Yellow on Red	Sergeant - Yellow on Red

Sergeant Major	Pay Quartermanster Sergeant	Master Technical Sergeant - added 1924	Quartermanster Sergeant	Supply Sergeant - added 1924
Drum Major	Staff Sergeant - added 1924	First Sergeant	Gunnery Sergeant	Sergeant
Corporal	Private 1st Class	Drummer	Trumpeter

1929-1937

Additional new ranks were being added. By 1937, the rank structure was so conplicated that a total reorganization was ordered. Chevrons could be yellow on red, dark green on red, or dark green on khaki.

Sergeant Major	Quartermanster Sergeant	Master Technical Sergeant	Master Technical Sergeant - Mess	Pay Quartermanster Sergeant
Master Gunnery Sergeant	First Sergeant	Gunnery Sergeant	Supply Sergeant	Drum Major
Technical Sergeant	Technical Sergeant - Mess	Staff Sergeant	Staff Sergeant - Mess	Platoon Sergeant
Sergeant	Drum Sergeant	Trumpet Sergeant	Mess Sergeant/Chief Cook	Corporal
Drum Corporal	Trumpet Corporal	Mess Corporal/Field Cook	Private 1st Class	Drummer 1st Class
Trumpeter 1st Class	Assistant Cook	Drummer	Trumpeter	Marine Band Musician

1937 to 1944

Ranks were greatly simplified with multiple functional assignments using the same pattern chevron. Chevrons could be yellow on red, dark green on red, or dark green on khaki.

Marine Band 2nd Leader	Sergeant Major/Master Gunnery Sergeant	Master Technical Sergeant/Paymaster Sergeant/Quartermanster Sergeant/Master Technical Sergeant (Mess)	Gunnery Sergeant/First Sergeant	Technical Sergeant/Supply Sergeant/Drum Major/Technical Sergeant (Mess)
Platoon Sergeant	Staff Sergeant/Staff Sergeant (Mechanical)/Staff Sergeant (Mess)	Sergeant/Mess Sergeant/Chief Cook/Trumpet Sergeant/Drum Sergeant	Corporal/Mess Corporal/Field Cook/Trumpet Corporal/Drum Corporal	Private 1st Class/Assistant Cook/Trumpeter 1st Class/Drummer 1st Class
Marine Band Musician

1944 to 1946

Ranks were again simplified with multiple functional assignments being removed. Chevrons could be yellow on red, dark green on red, or dark green on khaki.

Sergeant Major/First Sergeant	Master Gunnery Sergeant/Master Technical Sergeant/Paymaster Sergeant/Quartermanster Sergeant	Gunnery Sergeant	Technical Sergeant	Platoon Sergeant
Staff Sergeant	Sergeant	Corporal	Private 1st Class

1946 to 1959

In 1946, technical ranks were discontinued, as was the rank of Sergeant Major and First Sergeant. In 1954, the rank of Sergeant Major and First Sergeant was restored, metal enlisted insignia was approved for wear on the uniform collar, and the chevron and rocker width was increased from 3/8" to 1/2". Chevrons could be yellow on red, dark green on red, or dark green on khaki.

Sergeant Major - discontinued 1946, restored 1954	First Sergeant - discontinued 1946, restored 1954	Master Sergeant	Gunnery Sergeant	Staff Sergeant
Sergeant	Corporal	Private 1st Class

1959 to present

Crossed rifles were added to the chevrons along with two new ranks. Chevron color examples are shown below.

Sergeant Major of the Corps - added 1957	Master Gunnery Sergeant - added 1959	Sergeant Major	First Sergeant	Master Sergeant
Gunnery Sergeant	Staff Sergeant	Sergean	Corporal	Lance Corporal
Private 1st Class

Enlisted Chevrons.

Current Chevron Colors