User:SGT141/Sandbox

Background

"Chevron" is an architectural term denoting the rafters of a roof meeting at an angle at the upper apex. The chevron in heraldry was employed as a badge of honor to mark the main supporters of the head of the clan or "top of the house" and it came to be used in various forms as an emblem of rank for knights and men-at-arms in feudal days. One legend is that the chevron was awarded to a knight to show he had taken part in capturing a castle, town or other building, of which the chevron resembled the roofs. It is believed this resulted in its use as an insignia of grade by the military.

The lozenge or diamond used to indicate first sergeant is a mark of distinction and was used in heraldry to indicate achievement.

Method of wearing

Chevrons were sewn on the sleeves of uniforms with the point down from approximately 1820 to 1903. They were worn with the points both up and down between 1903 and 1905 after the first reversal from "down" to "up" was authorized on 1 May 1903 in Army Regulation No. 622. This confusion period, from 1903 to 1905, was the result of the color change in the chevrons provided for in the regulation which also directed a standard color for each branch, corps, or organization and replaced the gold-colored chevrons. Because of the number of gold insignia available, troops were permitted to wear the old-type chevron until the supply became exhausted.

As early as 1820, chevrons were worn with the point down, although there was not an official direction of this to appear in regulations until 1821 when chevrons were authorized for both officers and enlisted men. Circular No. 65, 1821, stated that" "Chevrons will designate rank (both of officers through the rank of captain and enlisted men) as follows: Captains, one on each arm, above the elbow, and subalterns, on each arm below the elbow. They will be of gold or silver lace, half an inch wide, conforming in colour to the button of their regiment or corps. The angles of the chevron to point upwards.

Adjutants will be designated by an arc of gold or silver fringe, (according to the colour of their trimmings), connecting the extreme points formed by the ends of the chevron. Sergeant Majors and Quartermaster Sergeants will wear one chevron of worsted braid on each arm, above the elbow. Sergeants and senior musicians, one on each arm, below the elbow, and corporals, one on the right arm, above the elbow. They will conform in colour to the button of their regiment or corps." Before this time, an officer’s rank was indicated by epaulettes worn on the shoulder. This regulation also indicated the first use of the arc as part of the chevron.

Chevrons continued to be worn points downward during the 1800’s. AGO Order No. 10, dated 9 February 1833, stated "Chevrons will be worn with the point toward the cuff of the sleeves." Article 1577 of the revised United States Regulations of 1861 stated "The rank of non-commissioned Officers will be marked by chevrons upon both sleeves of the uniform coat and overcoat, above the elbow, of silk worsted binding one-half inch wide, to be the same color as the edgings of the coat, point down."

Titles of grade

1775. A general order was issued from Army Headquarters at Cambridge that "Sergeants may be distinguished by an Epaulette or stripe of red cloth, sewed upon the right shoulder; the Corporals by one of green." The organizational charts indicated the enlisted personnel consisted mainly of sergeants, corporals, musicians, and privates.

1776. By early 1776, an approximately standard Continental Infantry Regiment had emerged consisting of a headquarters and eight companies, each company with four sergeants, four corporals, two drummers or fifers and 76 privates. According to the Journals of the Continental Congress, later in that year all battalions were given a non-commissioned headquarters element consisting of a sergeant-major, a quartermaster sergeant, a drum major and a fife major, all to be appointed by the regimental commander. This is the first mention of the rank of sergeant-major.

1792. During this year the military service was expanded to include sergeants-major, quartermaster sergeants, senior musicians, sergeants, corporals, farriers, artificers, saddlers, musicians, trumpeters, dragoons and privates.

1796. Senior musicians disappeared, but principal musicians apparently took their place; farriers and saddlers titles were united; sappers and miners appeared; and trumpeters disappeared.

1799. Principal musicians were succeeded by chief musicians; sappers and miners disappeared; and the titles artificers, saddlers and blacksmiths were combined.

1800. Principal musicians again appeared while chief musician disappeared and the designations of farriers and saddlers, sappers and miners, and a separate title of artificers, were authorized.

1802. Enlisted men were designated sergeants-major, teachers of music, sergeants, corporals, musicians, artificers and privates.

1808. Sergeant-majors, quartermaster sergeants, principal musicians, sergeants, corporals, musicians, artificers, saddlers, farriers and privates were the titles of enlisted personnel.

1812. Blacksmiths and drivers of artillery were added to enlisted grade titles.

1815. Designations of enlisted personnel were again simplified to sergeant-major, quartermaster sergeants, principal musicians, sergeants, corporals, musicians, artificers and privates.

1832. During this year the designation "enlisted men for ordnance" appeared.

1833. The designations of chief bugler, bugler, farrier and blacksmith were additional titles during the year.

1833-1847 insignia

Dragoons Sergeant Major	Infantry Staff NCOs Wore Shoulder Cords	Artillery First Sergeant Wore a Sash	Mounted Riflemen Sergeant	Engineer Corporal	Private
					No Insignia

1838. The title "enlisted men for ordnance" was changed to "enlisted men of ordnance".

1847. The title of principal or chief musician, principal teamster and teamster were added to the list.

1847-1851 insignia

Infantry Sergeant Major	Artillery Quartermaster Sergeant	Mounted Riflemen First Sergeant	Cavalry Sergeant	Engineer Corporal	Private
					No Insignia

1855. The title of ordnance sergeants came into being.

1861. During the Civil War, many new designations came into being. The following is a complete list of designations: sergeant majors; quartermaster sergeants; commissary sergeants; leaders of bands; principal or chief musicians; chief buglers; medical cadets; ordnance sergeants; hospital stewards; regimental hospital stewards; battalion sergeant majors; battalion quartermaster sergeants; battalion hospital stewards; battalion saddler sergeants; battalion commissary sergeants; battalion veterinary sergeants; first sergeants; company quartermaster sergeants; sergeants; corporals; buglers; musicians; farriers and blacksmiths; artificers; saddlers; master wagoners; wagoners; privates; enlisted men of ordnance.

Civil War insignia

Infantry Sergeant Major	Artillery Quartermaster Sergeant	Cavalry Company Quartemaster Sergeant	Artillery Ordnance Sergeant	Infantry First Sergeant	Artillery Sergeant	Cavalry Corporal	Musician	Private
							No Insignia	No Insignia

1866. The following titles disappeared: leaders of bands; battalion hospital stewards; chief buglers; medical cadets; battalion commissary sergeants; battalion saddler sergeants, battalion veterinary sergeants; buglers; and enlisted men of ordnance. The following new titles were established: saddler sergeants; trumpeters, chief trumpeters; privates (first class); and privates (second class).

1869. The title chief musician again appeared and a first sergeant in the corps of engineers was established.

1873-1902 insignia

Rank Chevrons adopted in 1872 were significantly different from the Civil War Period chevrons. The new chevron was a piece of branch of service colored wool facing cloth with black silk chain stitch outlining the pattern. This type of wool cloth chevron was used on Dress Coats, Fatigue Blouses and Greatcoats from 1872 until 1885. Hospital Department Privates used a white armband with red Geneva Cross on the LEFT Arm only.

During the post-Civil War period the number of authorized chevrons increased dramatically. During the Civil War there were few enlisted men serving in combat support roles and many of the soldiers serving those functions were detailed from line regiments. After the war the small professional army better recognized the roles of its noncommissioned officers. In keeping with this, insignia were authorized for mostly all of the grades and specialties that existed in the noncommissioned officer corps. The chevrons of the late 19th-Century were very well made and have characteristic chain stitching. Francis S. Johnston patented the technique of manufacturing these chevrons on January 21, 1873. ^[1]

Orange for Signal Corps in 1872 - Gilt Chevrons in 1884. CHEVRONS WERE ALSO MADE IN GREEN FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMY SERVICE SCHOOL DETACHMENT AT THE SIGNAL SCHOOL, WITH THE ENTIRE SIGNAL INSIGNIA AS WELL AS THE STRIPES EMBROIDERED IN GREEN.

Sergeant Major	Quartermaster Sergeant	Battery Quartemaster Sergeant	Chief Trumpeter	Ordnance Sergeant

Post Commissary Sergeant	First Sergeant	Saddler Sergeant	Color Sergeant	Sergeant

Pioneer Corporal	Corporal	Lance Corporal	Pioneer	Saddler	Farrier	Musician	Private
						No Insignia	No Insignia

1889. Post quartermaster sergeants, private hospital corps, general service clerks and general service messengers were established.

1899. Electrician sergeants, sergeants first class, drum majors, stable sergeants, mechanics and cooks were established.

1900 Changes

Ordnance Sergeant	Color Sergeant

1901. The title post commissary sergeant, regimental commissary sergeant, and color sergeant were established.

1902 Changes

Nineteenth Century chevrons were worn point down. In the smoky, black powder environment of the 19th-Century battlefield chevrons needed to be large so they could be seen. In 1902 chevrons were redesigned and worn point up. With smokeless powder and accurate firearms smaller chevrons were necessary to avoid making noncommissioned officers targets. ^[2]

There were an even larger number of different chevrons worn after 1902. These chevrons were specific to the uniform they were worn on. In the 19th Century the color of the Army's uniform and the chevron's background was blue. During the Spanish-American War the first khaki uniforms were worn and with the Regulations of 1902 the Army adopted field uniforms in khaki for summer and olive drab for winter. Each uniform had a chevron in its background color. The chevrons worn on the blue uniform indicated both the grade and branch of the wearer with the branch color. Those worn on field uniforms were underwent various modifications, but basically were made in khaki, tan or olive drab colors. White chevrons were also made for uniforms worn in tropical climates. The original regulations called for the chevrons on field uniforms to be in branch colors, but the dyes did not stand up well to cleaning and on December 31, 1904 olive drab was adopted for the stripes and arcs of the chevron. The 1902 type chevrons are among the most colorful and appealing of the chevrons used by the United States Army. In the above examples maroon and white are the colors of the medical corps and buff of the quartermaster corps. ^[3]

Hosptial Corps Sergeant First Class	Hosptial Corps Sergeant	Artillery Regimental Sergeant Major	Cavalry Sergeant	Infantry Regimental Supply Sergeant	Quartermaster Corps Sergeant

Cavalry Color Sergeant	Infantry First Sergeant	Engineer Sergeant First Class	Ordnance Sergeant First Class	Signal Corps Sergeant First Class

1905-1919. To assure uniformity in both color and position of the new colored chevrons, War Department Circular 61, dated 30 November 1905, stated that the points of the chevrons would be worn points upward. It also provided for the following colors as had been directed in Army Regulation No. 622, dated 1 May 1903. The colors were:

Artillery-scarlet;
Cavalry-yellow;
Engineers-scarlet piped with orange;
Hospital Corps-maroon piped with white;
Infantry-light blue;
Ordnance-black piped with scarlet;
Post QM Sergeant-buff;
Signal Corps-orange piped with white;
West Point Band-light blue;
and West Point Detachment-buff.

The designs and titles varied by branch and there were 45 different insignia descriptions in specification 760, dated 31 May 1905, with different colors for different branches. General Order No. 169 dated 14 August 1907 created a wide variety of insignia. Specific pay grades were not yet in use by the Army and their pay rate was based on title. The pay scale approved in 1908 ranged from $13 for a private in the engineers to $75 for a Master Signal Electrician. The system identified the job assignment of the individual, e.g., cooks, mechanics, etc. By the end of World War I, there were 128 different insignia designs in the supply system.

1917-1918. The chevrons used during the period of the First World War are in the olive drab color, the same as the period's uniform. The large number of different chevrons was a major headache for the quartermaster. These in fact were a continuation of the 1902 type chevrons, but the blue uniform with its branch colored stripes was suspended for the duration of the war and not reestablished until many years afterwards. ^[4]

1919. Prior to 1919, the insignia of private first class consisted of the insignia of the branch of service without any arcs or chevrons. The Secretary of War approved "an arc of one bar" for privates first class on 22 July 1919.

1920. The number of insignia was reduced to seven and six pay grades were established. War Department Circular No. 303, dated 5 August 1920, stated the chevrons would be worn on the left sleeve, point up, and to be made of olive drab material on a background of dark blue. The designs and titles were as follows:

Master Sergeant (First Grade): Three chevrons, and an arc of three bars, the upper bar of arc forming a tie to the lower chevron.

First Sergeant (Second Grade): Three chevrons, and an arc of two bars, the upper bar of arc forming a tie to the lower chevron. In the angle between lower chevron and upper bar a lozenge.

Technical Sergeant (Second Grade): Three chevrons, and an arc of two bars, the upper bar of arc forming a tie to the lower chevron.

Staff Sergeant (Third Grade): Three chevrons and an arc of one bar, forming a tie to the lower chevron.

Sergeant (Fourth Grade): Three chevrons.

Corporal (Fifth Grade): Two chevrons.

Privates First Class (Sixth Grade): One chevron.

1920 - 1942

Grade 1	Grade 2		Grade 3	Grade 4	Grade 5	Grade 6	Grade 7
							No Insignia
Master Sergeant	First Sergeant	Technical Sergeant	Staff Sergeant	Sergeant	Corporal	Private First Class / Specialist	Private
M/Sgt.	1st Sgt.	T/Sgt.	S/Sgt.	Sgt.	Cpl.	Pfc.	Pvt.

1942 Changes

The grades of Technician in the third, fourth and fifth grades were added by War Department Circular No. 5, dated 8 January 1942. Change 1 to AR 600-35, dated 4 September 1942, added a letter "T" to the formerly prescribed chevrons for grades three, four and five.

The first sergeant was moved from the second grade to the first grade per Change 3, AR 600-35, dated 22 September 1942. This change described the first sergeant’s chevron as - - Three chevrons and arc of three bars, the upper bar of arc forming a tie to the lower chevron. In the angel between lower chevrons and upper bar, a hollow lozenge. This change also included the material as khaki chevrons, arcs, T, and lozenge on dark blue cotton background or olive-drab wool chevrons, arcs, T, and lozenge on dark blue wool backgrounds.

1st Grade		2nd Grade	3rd Grade		4th Grade		5th Grade		6th Grade	7th Grade
										No Insignia
First Sergeant	Master Sergeant	Technical Sergeant	Staff Sergeant	Technician Third Grade	Sergeant	Technician Fourth Grade	Corporal	Technician Fifth Grade	Private First Class	Private
1st Sgt.	M/Sgt.	T/Sgt.	S/Sgt.	T/3.	Sgt.	T/4.	Cpl.	T/5.	Pfc.	Pvt.

1948 Changes

Changes made by Department of the Army Circular No. 202, dated 7 July 1948, discontinued the Sergeant 4th grade and recruit was added as the 7th grade effective 1 August 1948. The new insignia was smaller (2 inches wide) and the colors changed. Combat insignia worn by combat personnel were gold color background with dark blue chevrons, arc and lozenge. Insignia worn by noncombat personnel were dark blue with gold color chevrons, arcs, and lozenge. The circular also deleted the Technicians effective 1 August 1948.

1st Grade		2nd Grade	3rd Grade	4th Grade	5th Grade	6th Grade	7th Grade
						No Insignia	No Insignia
First Sergeant	Master Sergeant	Technical Sergeant	Staff Sergeant	Corporal	Private First Class	Private	Recruit
1st Sgt	M/Sgt	T/Sgt	S/Sgt	Cpl	Pfc	Pvt	Rct

1951 Changes

The size of the chevrons was changed from 2 inches wide to 3 1/8 inches wide for male personnel per War Department Circular No. 9, dated 5 February 1951. The pay grades were reversed with Master Sergeant changing from pay grade 1 to pay grade E7. The insignia continued to remain two inches wide for female personnel. The insignia was authorized to be manufactured in one color: a dark blue background with olive-drab chevrons, arc, and lozenge.

E7		E6	E5	E4	E3	E2	E1
							No Insignia
First Sergeant	Master Sergeant	Technical Sergeant	Staff Sergeant	Sergeant	Corporal	Private First Class	Private
1st Sgt	M/Sgt	T/Sgt	S/Sgt	Sgt	Cpl	Pfc	Pvt

1955. Army Regulation 615-15, dated 2 July 1954, announced a new grade structure effective 1 March 1955. The new titles were:

E7 Master Sergeant (First Sgt was an occupational title) and Master Specialist

E6 Sergeant 1st Class; Specialist 1st Class

E5 Sergeant; Specialist 2d Class

E4 Corporal; Specialist 3d Class

E3 Private First Class

E2 Private E2

E1 Private E1

War Department Circular No. 670-3, dated 12 October 1955, stated the effective date for the above change was 1 July 1955. New descriptions contained in AR 670-5, dated 20 September 1956, changed the color of the background to Army Green (the color of the new uniform) or Army Blue with the chevron, arc, lozenge and eagle to be gold. There were no changes in the design for NCO and privates; however, the design for specialists was an embroidered eagle device on a 2 inch wide background arched at the top and shaped like an inverted chevron on the bottom with embroidered arcs as follows:

Master Specialist (E7). Three arcs above the eagle device.

Specialist First Class (E-6). Two arcs above the eagle device.

Specialist Second Class (E-5). One arc above the eagle device.

Specialist Third Class (E-4). Eagle device only.

1958. Grades E8 and E9 were added and restructuring of titles changed and was announced in DA Message 344303, June 1958. The specialist insignia was also enlarged for male personnel. The insignia remained the same size for female personnel. The new regulation, AR 670-1, dated 28 September 1959, described the insignia as follows:

Sergeant Major E9. Three chevrons above three arcs with a five pointed star between the chevrons and arcs.

Specialist Nine E9. Three arcs above the eagle device and two chevrons below.

First Sergeant E8. Three chevrons above three arcs with a lozenge between the chevrons and arcs.

Master Sergeant E8. Three chevrons above three arcs.

Specialist Eight E8. Three arcs above the eagle device and one chevron below.

Platoon Sgt or Sergeant First Class E7. Three chevrons above two arcs.

Specialist Seven E7. Three arcs above the eagle device.

Staff Sergeant E6. Three chevrons above one arc.

Specialist Six E6. Two arcs above the eagle device.

Sergeant E5. Three chevrons.

Specialist Five E5. One arc above the eagle device.

Corporal E4. Two chevrons.

Specialist Four E4. Eagle device only.

Private First Class. One chevron.

1958 Regular Army insignia

E9	E8		E7	E6	E5	E4	E3	E2

Sergeant Major	First Sergeant	Master Sergeant	Sergeant First Class	Staff Sergeant	Sergeant	Corporal	Private First Class	Private
SGM	1SG	MSG	SFC	SSG	SGT	CPL	PFC	PVT

1958 Specialist insignia

E9	E8	E7	E6	E5	E4

Specialist 9 rank insignia (U.S. Army)	Specialist 8 rank insignia (U.S. Army)	Specialist 7 rank insignia (U.S. Army)	Specialist 6 rank insignia (U.S. Army)	Specialist 5 rank insignia (U.S. Army)	Specialist 4 rank insignia (U.S. Army)
SP9	SP8	SP7	SP6	SP5	SP4

Specialists were authorized to continue to wear the smaller insignia. The chevrons formerly authorized for E5, E6 and E7 were authorized for continued wear until the individual was promoted or demoted. They also continued to use the previous title.

1965. The Specialist Eight and Specialist Nine grades were discontinued.

1967. Subdued black metal insignia was authorized for wear on the collar of the work uniforms by DA Message 292128Z, December 1967.

1968. A new insignia was authorized by DA Message 865848, 28 May 1968, for Sergeants Majors assigned at the principal NCO of battalion and higher. This insignia was the same as the Sergeant Major insignia except the star was small and a wreath was placed around the star.

Sergeant Major of the Army rank insignia 1966-1979

1968. The insignia consisting of a single chevron, which was previously authorized for private first class, was authorized for Privates E2. A new insignia was authorized for Private First Class, which consisted of one chevron above one arc per DA Message 868848, 28 May 1968.

Private First Class 1968-Present

1975. Bright shiny brass metal insignia was authorized for wear on the overcoat, raincoat, and windbreaker per DA Message 212019, February 1975.

1978. Specialist Seven was discontinued.

1979. In 1979, an insignia of grade was authorized for the Sergeant Major of the Army. The insignia had three chevrons above three arcs with two stars centered between the bottom chevron and the upper arc.

Sergeant Major of the Army rank insignia 1979-1994

1981. The Chief of Staff approved a recommendation for shoulder marks for enlisted personnel in the grade of corporal and higher. The shoulder marks were a yellow embroidered device on a black base cloth for wear on the green shirts and black sweaters. Privates and Privates First Class continued to wear the bright metal insignia on the green shirts.

1985. The grades specialist five and specialist six were discontinued effective 1 October 1985.

1994. The insignia for Sergeant Major of the Army was changed to add the Coat of Arms of the United States between the two stars in the center of the insignia. The pin-on insignia is polished gold-plated with a black enamel background.

Sergeant Major of the Army rank insignia 1994-present

1996. The designation of male and female insignia was discontinued and the new designations were large and small. The large size insignia were the same as the previously designated male insignia and were 3 1/8 inches wide. The small size insignia was 2 5/8 inches wide.

Current insignia

US DoD Pay grade	E-9			E-8		E-7	E-6	E-5	E-4		E-3	E-2	E-1
Insignia													No Insignia
Title	Sergeant Major of the Army	Command Sergeant Major	Sergeant Major	First Sergeant	Master Sergeant	Sergeant First Class	Staff Sergeant	Sergeant	Corporal	Specialist	Private First Class	Private	Private
Abbreviation	SMA	CSM	SGM	1SG	MSG	SFC	SSG	SGT	CPL	SPC ²	PFC	PV2 ¹	PV1 ¹
NATO Code	OR-9	OR-9	OR-9	OR-8	OR-8	OR-7	OR-6	OR-5	OR-4	OR-4	OR-3	OR-2	OR-1
¹ PVT is also used as an abbreviation for both Private ranks when pay grade need not be distinguished ² SP4 is sometimes encountered as an abbreviation for Specialist. This is a holdover from when there were additional specialist ranks at higher pay grades.