U.S. Army Rank Insignia Identification Guide

1902-1926.

Officers Rank Insignia. Metal pinback or embroidered insignia became standart for all uniforms except the Blue Mess Uniform.

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

Officers Insignia. Blue Mess Uniform shoulder bars. The 1902 regulations eliminated the Blue Mess uniform. The regulation was modified to continue the uniform until existing stock was issued. It was finally discontinued in 1917.

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

Enlisted Patches. A system of enlisted rank patches was established in 1902. Initially, 13 pay grades were established for enlisted men. An additional 2 grades were added in 1903. Private and Private 1st Class did not have a shoulder patch, but the Career/Speciality Patch when worn alone was recognized as being a grade of Private 1st Class. By 1907, 45 different rank patches had been authorized. This trend continued until by 1919, some 128 different rank patches were in use, necessatating a conplete re-organization of enlisted ranks. The changes began in 1920 by eliminating the Lance Corporal grade and using the chevron for the grade of Private 1st Class. As Collar Discs became readily available, the Branch/Specialty patches were phased out.

Dress Uniform Sergeant Patches by service branch color. Base color could be blue. white. or khaki depending on the uniform color.

Infantry - Infantry Blue	Cavalry - Yellow	Artillery - Scarlet	Corps of Engineers - Scarlet/White	Medical Department - Maroon/White
Ordnance - Black Scarlet (later changed)	Quartermaster Corps - Buff	Signals Service - Orange/White

Enlisted Patches by Grade.

Regimental Sergeant Major - 1st Grade	Regimental Supply Sergeant - 2nd Grade	Battalion Sergeant Major - 3rd Grade	Battalion Supply Sergeant - 4th Grade - 1903	Staff Sergeant - 4th Grade - 1903
Color Sergeant - 4th Grade	First Sergeant - 5th Grade	Commissary Sergeant - 6th Grade	Stable Sergeant - 7th Grade	Company Supply Sergeant - 8th Grade
Sergeant - 9th Grade	Corporal - 10th Grade	Lance Corporal - 11th Grade

Enlisted Rank Patches with Branch/Specialty Insignia. Unofficial insignia have been observed.

Master Band Leader	Assistant Band Leader	Master Drum Major	Drum Major Sergeant	Sergeant Bugler
Hospital Sergeant - Medical Branch	Sergeant 1st Class - Medical Branch	Sergeant - Medical Branch	Corporal - Medical Branch	Sergeant 1st Class - Corps of Engineers
Sergeant 1st Class - Signals Corps	Sergeant - Signals Corps	Corporal - Signals Corps	Master Ordnance Sergeant	Ordnance Sergeant 1st Class
Ordnance Sergeant	Ordnance Corporal	Master Quartermaster Sergeant	Quartermaster Sergeant 1st Class	Quartermaster Sergeant
Quartermaster Corporal	Coastal Artillery Master Electrician 1st Class	Coastal Artillery Master Electrician 2nd Class	Coastal Artillery Electrician Sergeant 1st Class	Avaition Sergeant 1st Class
Avaition Sergeant	Avaition Corporal	Transportation Sergeant 1st Class	Transportation Sergeant	Transportation Corporal
Mess Sergeant	Sergeant Band Member

Enlisted Specialist Patches. These carry the rank of Sergeant and are further divided into Senior and Junior grades.

Master Hospital Sergeant	Master Engineer Sergeant - Senior Grade	Master Engineer Sergeant - Junior Grade	Master Signals Sergeant	Master Signals Electrician Sergeant
Quartermaster Sergeant - Senior Grade	Quartermaster Sergeant - Junior Grade	Field Artillery Chief Mechanic	Coastal Artillery Engineer - Senior Grade	Coastal Artillery Engineer - Junior Grade
Coastal Artillery Master Gunner	Coastal Artillery Master Electrician	Master Armor Mechanic - 1st pattern	Master Armor Mechanic - 2nd pattern	Master Avaition Electrician
Master Transportation Sergeant	Master Band Leader - Senior Grade	Master Band Leader - Junior Grade

Enlisted Branch/Specialty Patches. These patches indicated that the wearer had completed training for his branch of service or career specialty. They carried a rank of Private 1st Class. Collar discs were introduced in October 1907. By 1926, the Branch/Specialty patches were phased out. Unofficial insignia have been observed.

Infantry	Cavalry	Artillery	Quartermaster	Signal Corps	Aviation	Aviation Mechanic	Corps of Engineers
Medical Service	Chemical Warfare - 1st pattern	Chemical Warfare - 2nd pattern	Armor - 1st pattern	Armor - 2nd pattern	Armor - 3rd pattern	Motor Transport	Wagoneer
Mess Cook	Ordnance Corps	Saddler	Bugler	Farrier	Farrier/Blacksmith	Artiticer	Electrician
Recuiting Service	Musician	Coastal Artillery - Gunner 1st Class	Coastal Artillery - Gunner 2nd Class	Coastal Artillery - Gun Commander	Coastal Artillery - Gun Pointer	Coastal Artillery - Mine Chief Planter	Coastal Artillery - Mine Planter
Coastal Artillery - Mine Loader	Coastal Artillery - Coxswain	Coastal Artillery - Gunnery Excellence - "1"	Coastal Artillery - Gunnery Excellence - "E"	Coastal Artillery - Observer 1st Class	Coastal Artillery - Observer 2nd Class	Coastal Artillery - Plotter
Rifle - Expert	Rifle - Sharpshooter	Rifle - Marksman	Pistol - Expert	Pistol - Marksman

1927-1954.

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

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

Enlisted Rank Patches to 1948.

First Sergeant - 1st Grade	Master Sergeant - 1st Grade	Technical Sergeant - 2nd Grade	Staff Sergeant - 3rd Grade	Technician 3rd (T/3) - 3rd Grade
Sergeant - 4th Grade	Technician 4th (T/4) - 4th Grade	Corporal - 5th Grade	Technician 5th (T/5) - 5th Grade	Private 1st Class - 6th Grade

WW2 Enlisted Rank Patch variations. Rank patches were produced in colors for wear with specific uniforms.

WW2 Patch Color Variations

Enlisted Rank Patches from 1948 until 1954.

First Sergeant - E8	Master Sergeant - E7	Technical Sergeant - E6	Staff Sergeant - E5	Sergeant - E4
Corporal - E3	Private 1st Class - E2

Enlisted Rank Patch variations. Rank patches were produced in colors for wear in specific Situations.

Korean War Patch Color Variations

1954 to Date.

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

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

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

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

Warrant Officers Insignia. 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.

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

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

Enlisted Rank Patch changes.

Patch Color Changes

Enlisted Rank Patches after 1954.

Sergeant Major of the Army - E9	Command Sergeant Major - E9	Sergeant Major - E9	1st Sergeant - E9	Specialist 9 - E9 - Discontinued 1965
Master Sergeant - E8	Specialist 8 - E8 - Discontinued 1965	Sergeant 1st Class - E7	Specialist 7 - E7 - Discontinued 1978	Staff Sergeant - E6
Specialist 6 - E6 - Discontinued 1985	Sergeant - E5	Specialist 5 - E5 - Discontinued 1985	Corporal - E4	Specialist 4 - E4
Private 1st Class - E3	Private - E2

Enlisted Rank Pins authorized in 1979. Subdued Rank Pins were authorized for the Battle Dress Uniform in 1981.

Command Sergeant Major - E9	Sergeant Major - E9	1st Sergeant - E8	Master Sergeant - E8	Sergeant 1st Class - E7
Staff Sergeant - E6	Sergeant - E5	Corporal - E4	Technical Specialist - E4	Private 1st Class - E3
Private - E2		Staff Sergeant - E6 - Subdued Finish	Technical Specialist - E4 - Subdued Finish	Private 1st Class - E3 - Subdued Finish

Battle Dress Uniform Camouflage Patches.

BDU Camouflage Patch Colors.