U.S. Army Officer Rank Insignia Identification Guide

1780-1821.

Officer Rank Insignia. At the start of the American Revolutionary War, the Continental Army's lack of standardized uniforms and insignia proved confusing for soldiers in the field. To correct this situation, General George Washington recommended the following stopgap solution for distinguishing the ranks: "As the Continental Army has unfortunately no uniforms, and consequently many inconveniences must arise from not being able to distinguish the commissioned officers from the privates, it is desired that some badge of distinction be immediately provided; for instance that the field officers may have red or pink colored cockades in their hats, the captains yellow or buff, and the subalterns green." Based on the British military system, Generals wore a sash diagonally across their shoulders between their coats and waistcoats. Brigadier generals wore a pink sash, major generals a purple sash, and George Washington as commander in chief, wore a light blue sash. Aides-de-camps and officers of general grades wore a green sash. With the imminent arrival of French military forces, the need was felt for a more formal system. In 1780, regulations authorized fringed epaulettes for all officer ranks, with silver stars for general officers. Field officers wore two epaulettes, captains one epaulette on the right shoulder, and subalterns one epaulette on the left shoulder. Both early and later examples are shown below.

Major General	Brigadier General	Other ranks
Major General	Brigadier General	Other ranks

1821-1832.

Officers epaulettes. The 1821 regulations expanded the rank structure. A system of gold and silver sleeve lace was tried but soon discarded as being too confusing. Gold epaulettes with silver stars were specified for General officers. Silver epaulettes were specified for Infantry. Colonels wore gold eagles on their epaulettes. A new rank, Lieutenant Colonel, wore plain silver epaulettes. Captains wore a single plain silver epaulette on the right shoulder, and Lieutents wore a plain silver epaulette on the left shoulder. Gold epaulettes were specificed for other Service Branches (Artillery, Cavalry, Dragoons, ets.). Colonels wore a silver eagle on their epaulettes while the other ranks wore plain gold epaulettes. .

Major General	Brigadier General	Colonel - Infantry	Colonel - Other Branch
Other ranks - Infantry	Other ranks - Other Branch

1832-1851.

Officers epaulettes. The 1832 regulations expanded the rank structure. Gold epaulettes with silver rank insignia were specified for General officers and for other branches of service. Silver epaulettes with gold rank insignia was specified for Infantry. For the first time, Lieutenant Colonels used a leaf, Captains used two bars, and 1st Lieutents used one bar. The rank of Major and 2nd Lieutenant did not use an insignia of rank. The epaulette fringe size was also specified for various ranks. The fringe for Generals was to be 3/8" in diameter. The fringe for Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels and Majors was 1/4" in diameter, and fringe for Captains, 1st Lieutenants, and 2nd Lieutenants was 1/8" in diameter.

Major General Commanding the Army	Major General	Brigadier General	Colonel - Infantry
Colonel - Other Branch	Lieutenant Colonel - Infantry	Lieutenant Colonel - Other Branch	Major - Infantry
Major - Other Branch	Captain - Infantry	Captain - Other Branch	1st Lieutenant - Infantry
1st Lieutenant - Other Branch	2nd Lieutenant - Infantry	2nd Lieutenant - Other Branch

1836-1851.

Officers shoulder straps. Having identified a need for a rank structure for the service uniform, shoulder straps were authorized in 1836. The background color was dark blue. Generals used silver stars with a gold border. Infantry used gold insignia with a silver border (except the rank of Lieutenant Colonel used a silver leaf). Other branches of service used silver insignia with a gold border (except the rank of Lieutenant Colonel used a gold leaf).

Major General Commanding the Army	Major General	Brigadier General	Colonel - Infantry	Colonel - Other Branch	Lieutenant Colonel - Infantry	Lieutenant Colonel - Other Branch	Major - Infantry
Major - Other Branch	Captain - Infantry	Captain - Other Branch	1st Lieutenant - Infantry	1st Lieutenant - Other Branch	2nd Lieutenant - Infantry	2nd Lieutenant - Other Branch

1851-1872.

Officers epaulettes. The 1851 regulations specified gold epaulettes with silver rank insignia. The rank of Major and 2nd Lieutenant did not use an insignia of rank. In the 1860s, unit buttons were authorized with the unit number on the branch of service color. Infantry used Infantry Blue, Cavalry used Yellow, Artillery used Red, Dragoons used Orange, and Riflemen used Green. Service wreaths were also available, with "MS" for the Medical Service, "QM" for Quartermaster, and a silver castle for Topographical Engineers.

Major General Commanding the Army	Major General	Brigadier General	Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel	Major	Captain	1st Lieutenant
2nd Lieutenant		Colonel - Infantry	Major - Artillery
1st Lieutenant - Cavalry	Lieutenant Colonel - Topographical Engineers	Captain - Quartermaster	2nd Lieutenant - Medical Service

Officers shoulder straps. The 1851 regulations specified gold borders and branch of service color background for all shoulder straps. Infantry used Infantry Blue, Cavalry used Yellow, Artillery used Red, Dragoons used Orange, and Riflemen used Green. Majors used a gold leaf while Second lieutenants continued to wear the shoulder straps without insignia. In the 1860s, shoulder straps were available with "MS" for the Medical Service, "QM" for Quartermaster, and a silver shield for Topographical Engineers.

Major General Commanding the Army	Major General	Brigadier General	Colonel - Staff	Lieutenant Colonel - Infantry	Major - Artillery	Captain - Calvry	1st Lieutenant - Dragoons
2nd Lieutenant - Riflemen		Captain - Medical Service	Major - Quartermaster	2nd Lieutenant - Topographical Engineer

1872-1917.

Officers shoulder straps. The 1872 regulations eliminated epaulettes for officers below brigadier general. Shoulder straps changed the bars of captains and first lieutenants from gold to silver. Second lieutenants continued to wear the shoulder strap without insignia. In 1886, the background color for Infantry was changed from Light Blue to White. In 1902, the background color for Infantry was changed back to Light Blue, and regulations eliminated the the shoulder straps for all except the Blue Mess uniform. The regulation was shortly modified to continue the uniform until existing stock was exhausted. The Blue Mess Uniform and shoulder straps were finally discontinued in 1917.

General - discontinued in 1888	Lieutenant General	Major General	Brigadier General	Colonel - Cavalry	Lieutenant Colonel - Artillery	Major - Infantry	Captain - Quartermaster Corps
1st Lieutenant - Medical Corps	2nd Lieutenant - Infantry		Infantry Background Color - 1886-1902

1902-1926.

Officers metal pinback or embroidered insignia became standard for all uniforms except the Blue Mess Uniform. A gold bar for 2nd Lieutenant was authorized in 1917.

General of the Army - authorized 1918	Lieutenant General	Major General	Brigadier General	Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel	Major	Captain	1st Lieutenant	2nd Lieutenant - authorized 1917

1927-1954.

Officers Rank Insignia. Metal pinback insignia became more simplified. Warrant Officer Ranks were formalized in 1942.

General of the Army	General	Lieutenant General	Major General	Brigadier General
Colonel	Lieutenant Colonel	Major	Captain	1st Lieutenant
2nd Lieutenant		Chief Warrant Officer - 1942-1954	Warrant Officer Junior Grade - 1942-1954	Flight Warrant Officer - 1942-1947

1954 to Date.

Officers Rank Insignia is also available in a Subdued (darkened) finish. Subdued Rank Pins were authorized for the Battle Dress Uniform in 1981.

General of the Army	General	Lieutenant General	Major General	Brigadier General
Colonel	Lieutenant Colonel	Major	Captain	1st Lieutenant
2nd Lieutenant		Colonel - Subdued Finish	Lieutenant Colonel - Subdued Finish	Major - Subdued Finish

Officers Blue Mess Uniform shoulder straps. The Blue Mess Uniform (dressed blues) was authorized for private purchase in 1954.

General of the Army	General	Lieutenant General	Major General	Brigadier General	Colonel - Infantry	Lieutenant Colonel - Cavalry	Major - Artillery
Captain - Aviation	1st Lieutenant - Engineers	2nd Lieutenant - Medical Corps

Warrant Officer ranks were expanded in 1954. Silver insignia is also available in a Subdued (darkened) finish. Uniform insignia and Blue Mess Uniform shoulder bars are shown.

Chief Warrant Officer - W-5	Chief Warrant Officer - W-4	Chief Warrant Officer - W-3	Chief Warrant Officer - W-2	Warrant Officer - W-1

Chief Warrant Officer - W-5	Chief Warrant Officer - W-4	Chief Warrant Officer - W-3	Chief Warrant Officer - W-2	Warrant Officer - W-1