U.S. Army Rank Insignia Identification Guide

1821-1825.

Chevrons to identify rank were first used by the Army in 1821. A single chevron in white (Infantry) or yellow (Artillery, Dragoons, or Engineers) with the point up was used. A chevron on both upper sleeves was used for Sergeant Major or Quartermaster Sergeant. A chevron on both lower sleeves was used for the rank of Sergeant. A chevron on the right lower sleeve was used for Corporal.

1825-1832.

A change to the chevron was made in 1825. A chevron with an arc was worn on both upper sleeves for Sergeant Major or Quartermaster Sergeant. A chevron on both upper sleeves was used for the rank of Sergeant. A chevron on both lower sleeves was used for Corporal. Chevrons were still worn point up. Chevrons were abolished in 1832.

1846.

Chevrons to signify rank were brought back in 1846. Chevrons were worn point down, three chevrons for the rank of Sergeant and two chevrons for the rank of Corporal. Chevrons were still white or yellow, but a background color was added. White on a sky blue base identified Infantry. Yellow on a sky blue base identified Artillery, and yellow on a dark blue base identified Dragoons or Engineers. In addition to the chevrons, Sergeant Major and Quartermaster Sergeant wore a gold shoulder cord. Orderly Sergeants (later 1st Sergeants) worn a red waist sash.

1846 Pattern Chevrons.

Sergeant - Artillery	Corporal - Infantry

1847-1851.

Changes were made to the chevrons in 1847. Chevrons were now worn point up, and each rank received a seperate design. Background colors were retained, with white on a sky blue for Infantry, yellow on sky blue for Artillery, and yellow on dark blue for Dragoons or Engineers.

1847 Pattern Chevrons.

Sergeant Major - Infantry	Quartermaster Sergeant - Artillery	Orderly Sergeant - Dragoons	Sergeant - Infantry
Corporal - Artillery

1851-1872.

The chevrons were changed again in 1851. Chevrons were now worn point down. The chevrons were now in branch color, with the background matching the uniform. Chevron colors were sky blue for Infantry, red for Artillery, yellow for Cavalry, orange for Dragoonsdark green for Riflemen or Mounted Rifles, and green for Medical. Two ranks were added, as well as a special stripe for Hospital Stewarts. Dragoons were combined with Cavalry in 1861. Color Sergeant was added in 1861.

1851 Pattern Chevrons.

Sergeant Major - Cavalry	Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant - Infantry	Company Quartermaster Sergeant - Cavalry	Ordnance Sergeant - Artillery
Color Sergeant - Infantry	1st Sergeant - Infantry	Sergeant - Riflemen	Corporal - Dragoons
Hospital Stewart - Medical

1872-1902.

In 1872, the Chevron pattern was standardized. Color Sergeant was dropped and the rank of Trumpeter Sergeant was added. The Riflemen branch was combined with Infantry. Several specialty rates were added. In 1876, the Signal Corps chevron color was assigned as orange. Chevrons in dark blue/black were authorized for wear on the Great Coat in 1879. Infantry chevron color was changed from sky blue to white in 1886. Signal Corps chevron color was changed from orange to black in 1891.

1872 Pattern Chevrons.

Sergeant Major - Cavalry	Quartermaster Sergeant - Infantry	Company Quartermaster Sergeant - Cavalry	Ordnance Sergeant - Artillery
Trumpeter Sergeant - Artillery	1st Sergeant - Cavalry	Sergeant - Artillery	Corporal - Infantry
Hospital Stewart - Medical

1872 Specialty Chevrons.

Chief Trumpeter Sergeant - 1873	Saddler Sergeant - 1873	Baker/Cook Corporal - 1873	Post Commissary Sergeant - 1882
Post Quartermaster Sergeant - 1884	Hospital Stewart - 1888	Acting Hospital Stewart - 1888	Color Sergeant - 1888
Commissary Sergeant - 1888	Engineer Corps (1st Sergeant) - 1889	Ordnance Corps (Sergeant) - 1889	Signal Corps (Corporal) - 1889
Indian Scouts (1st Sergeant) - 1890	Lance Corporal - Cavalry - 1892	Chief Musician - Cavalry - 1899	Drum Major - Infantry - 1899
Electrican Sergeant - 1899	Squad Sergeant Major - 1899	Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant - Infantry - 1899	Hospital Stewart - 1901
First Sergeant - Bullion	Sergeant - Bullion	Post Quartermaster Sergeant - Bullion

1902-1926.

A system of smaller size enlisted chevrons was adopted 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 complete 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 Chevrons by service branch color. Background color could be blue, white, or khaki depending on the uniform.

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

Chevrons by Grade.

Regimental Sergeant Major - 1st Grade	Regimental Supply Sergeant - 2nd Grade	Battalion Sergeant Major - 3rd Grade	Battalion Supply Sergeant - 4th Grade - 1903	Sergeant attached to Staff - 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

Chevrons 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

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

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.

Chevrons 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 Chevron variations. Chevrons were produced in colors for wear with specific uniforms.

WW2 Patch Color Variations

Chevrons from 1948 until 1954.

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

Chevron variations. Chevrons were produced in colors for wear in specific Situations.

Korean War Chevron Color Variations

1954 to Date.

Chevron changes.

Chevron Color Changes

Chevrons 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 Chevron.

BDU Camouflage Chevron Colors.