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The United States Army 's enlisted rank insignia that was used during World War I differs from the current system. The color scheme used for the insignia's chevron was olive drab for field use uniforms or one of several colors depending on the corps on dress uniforms. The chevron system used by enlisted men during World War I came into being on July 17, 1902, [1] and was changed to a different system in 1919. Specification 760, which was dated May 31, 1905, contained 45 different enlisted insignia that varied designs and titles by different corps of the Army. General Order Number 169, which was enacted on August 14, 1907, created an even larger variety of enlisted rank insignia. Pay grades similar to the current system were not yet in use by the U.S. Army, and instead, the pay system reflected the job assignment of the soldier rather than their rank. By the end of World War I, the system contained 128 different insignia designs. [2]
No insignia | ||||||||||
Regimental sergeant major Infantry | Hospital Sergeant Medical Department | Battalion Sergeant Major Army Service School Detachment | Sergeant First Class Corps of Engineers | Ordnance Sergeant | First Sergeant Infantry | Sergeant Quartermaster Corps | Sergeant Signal Corps | Sergeant Cavalry | CorporalArillery | Private |
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The ranks used by the army during the war (1917-1918), by branch, were:
Regimental Sergeant Major | Band Leader Until December 1917 | Band Leader December 1917 to May 1918 | Band Leader After May 1918 | Supply Sergeant, regimental | Squadron Sergeant Major |
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First Sergeant | First Sergeant (Drum Major) | Assistant Band Leader until December 1917 | Assistant Band Leader December 1917 to May 1918 | Assistant Band Leader After May 1918 | Sergeant Bugler Until December 1917 |
Sergeant Bugler December 1917 to May 1918 | Sergeant Bugler After May 1918 | Color Sergeant | Sergeant | Supply Sergeant Until May 1918 | Supply Sergeant after May 1918 |
Mess Sergeant Until May 1918 | Mess Sergeant After May 1918 | Stable Sergeant until May 1918 | Stable Sergeant After May 1918 | Band Sergeant Until December 1917 | Band Sergeant After December 1917 |
Corporal | Corporal Bugler After July 1918 | Band Corporal Until December 1917 | Band Corporal After December 1917 | Cook | Horseshoer |
No Insignia | No Insignia | No Insignia | |||
Saddler | Wagoner | Mechanic | Musician First Class Until May 1918 | Musician Second Class Until May 1918 | Musician Third Class Until May 1918 |
Musician First Class After May 1918 [3] | Musician Second Class After May 1918 [3] | Musician Third Class After May 1918 [3] | Bugler First Class After July 1918 | Bugler After December 1917 | Private First Class |
No Insignia | |||||
Private |
Regimental Sergeant Major | Band Leader Until December 1917 | Band Leader December 1917 to May 1918 | Band Leader After May 1918 | Supply Sergeant, regimental | Battalion Sergeant Major |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
First Sergeant | First Sergeant (Drum Major) | Assistant Band Leader until December 1917 | Assistant Band Leader December 1917 to May 1918 | Assistant Band Leader After May 1918 | Sergeant Bugler Until December 1917 |
Sergeant Bugler December 1917 to May 1918 | Sergeant Bugler After May 1918 | Color Sergeant | Sergeant | Supply Sergeant Until May 1918 | Supply Sergeant after May 1918 |
Mess Sergeant Until May 1918 | Mess Sergeant After May 1918 | Stable Sergeant until May 1918 | Stable Sergeant After May 1918 | Band Sergeant Until December 1917 | Band Sergeant After December 1917 |
Corporal | Corporal Bugler After July 1918 | Band Corporal Until December 1917 | Band Corporal After December 1917 | Cook | Saddler |
No Insignia | No Insignia | No Insignia | |||
Wagoner | Musician First Class Until May 1918 | Musician Second Class Until May 1918 | Musician Third Class Until May 1918 | Musician First Class After May 1918 [3] | Musician Second Class After May 1918 [3] |
No Insignia | |||||
Musician Third Class After May 1918 [3] | Bugler First Class After July 1918 | Bugler After December 1917 | Private First Class | Private |
Sergeant Major Senior Grade | Master Electrician | Band Leader Until December 1917 | Band Leader December 1917 to May 1918 | Band Leader After May 1918 | Engineer |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Supply Sergeant, Regimental | Sergeant Major JuniorGrade | First Sergeant | Electrician Sergeant First Class Until May 1918 | Electrician Sergeant First Class After May 1918 | Assistant Engineer |
Master Gunner | Assistant Band Leader until December 1917 | Assistant Band Leader December 1917 to May 1918 | Assistant Band Leader After May 1918 | Sergeant Bugler Until December 1917 | Sergeant Bugler December 1917 to May 1918 |
No Insignia | No Insignia | ||||
Sergeant Bugler After May 1918 | Oiler, Mine Planter Service After July 1918 | Steward, Mine Planter Service After July 1918 | Electrician Sergeant Second Class Until May 1918 | Electrician Sergeant Second Class After May 1918 | Radio Sergeant Until May 1918 |
Radio Sergeant After May 1918 | Sergeant | Supply Sergeant Until May 1918 | Supply Sergeant after May 1918 | Mess Sergeant Until May 1918 | Mess Sergeant After May 1918 |
Band Sergeant Until December 1917 | Band Sergeant After December 1917 | Fireman Until December 1917 | Fireman After December 1917 | Corporal | Corporal Bugler After July 1918 |
No Insignia | No Insignia | ||||
Band Corporal Until December 1917 | Band Corporal After December 1917 | Cook | Mechanic | Assistant Steward Mine Planter Service After July 1918 | Musician First Class Until May 1918 |
No Insignia | No Insignia | ||||
Musician Second Class Until May 1918 | Musician Third Class Until May 1918 | Musician First Class After May 1918 [3] | Musician Second Class After May 1918 [3] | Musician Third Class After May 1918 [3] | Bugler First Class After July 1918 |
No Insignia | No Insignia | ||||
Bugler After December 1917 | Deckhand Mine Planter Service After July 1918 | Private First Class | Private |
Regimental Sergeant Major | Band Leader Until December 1917 | Band Leader December 1917 to May 1918 | Band Leader After May 1918 | Supply Sergeant, regimental | Battalion Sergeant Major |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
First Sergeant | First Sergeant (Drum Major) | Assistant Band Leader until December 1917 | Assistant Band Leader December 1917 to May 1918 | Assistant Band Leader After May 1918 | Sergeant Bugler Until December 1917 |
Sergeant Bugler December 1917 to May 1918 | Sergeant Bugler After May 1918 | Color Sergeant | Sergeant | Supply Sergeant Until May 1918 | Supply Sergeant after May 1918 |
Mess Sergeant Until May 1918 | Mess Sergeant After May 1918 | Band Sergeant Until December 1917 | Band Sergeant After December 1917 | Corporal | Corporal Bugler After July 1918 |
Band Corporal Until December 1917 | Band Corporal After December 1917 | Cook | Horseshoer | Saddler | Wagoner |
No Insignia | No Insignia | No Insignia | |||
Chief Mechanic Until May 1918 | Chief Mechanic After May 1918 | Mechanic | Musician First Class Until May 1918 | Musician Second Class Until May 1918 | Musician Third Class Until May 1918 |
Musician First Class After May 1918 [3] | Musician Second Class After May 1918 [3] | Musician Third Class After May 1918 [3] | Bugler First Class After July 1918 | Bugler After December 1917 | Private First Class |
No Insignia | |||||
Private |
Aviator Until creation of the Air Service in July 1918 | Master Signal Electrician Until May 1918 | Master Signal Electrician After May 1918 | Sergeant First Class Until May 1918 | Sergeant First Class After May 1918 | Chauffeur First Class (Rank Created July 24, 1917) [5] |
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Sergeant Until May 1918 | Sergeant After May 1918 | Chauffeur (Rank Created July 24, 1917) [5] | Corporal Until May 1918 | Corporal After May 1918 | Cook |
No Insignia | |||||
Horseshoer | Private First Class | Private | |||
Regimental Sergeant Major | Master Engineer Senior Grade | Band Leader Until December 1917 | Band Leader From December 1916 to May 1918 | Band Leader After May 1918 | Master Engineer Junior Grade |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Supply Sergeant, regimental | Battalion Sergeant Major | Supply Sergeant, Battalion | First Sergeant | Sergeant First Class Until May 1918 | Sergeant First Class After May 1918 |
Assistant Band Leader Until December 1917 | Assistant Band Leader From December 1916 to May 1918 | Assistant Band Leader After May 1918 | Sergeant Bugler Until December 1917 | Sergeant Bugler From December 1916 to May 1918 | Sergeant Bugler After May 1918 |
Color Sergeant | Sergeant | Supply Sergeant Until May 1918 | Supply Sergeant After May 1918 | Mess Sergeant Until May 1918 | Mess Sergeant After May 1918 |
Stable Sergeant Until May 1918 | Stable Sergeant After May 1918 | Band Sergeant Until December 1917 | Band Sergeant After December 1917 | Corporal | Corporal Bugler After July 1918 |
Band Corporal Until December 1917 | Band Corporal After December 1917 | Cook | Horseshoer | Saddler | Wagoner |
No Insignia | No Insignia | No Insignia | |||
Musician First Class Until May 1918 | Musician Second Class Until May 1918 | Musician Third Class Until May 1918 | Musician First Class After May 1918 [3] | Musician Second Class After May 1918 [3] | Musician Third Class After May 1918 [3] |
No Insignia | |||||
Bugler First Class After July 1918 | Bugler | Private First Class | Private |
Aviator | Master Signal Electrician | Sergeant First Class | Chauffeur First Class | Sergeant | Chauffeur |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
No Insignia | |||||
Corporal | Cook | Horseshoer | Assistant Chauffeur | Private First Class | Private |
The organization of the Gas/Chemical Warfare service is based on a table in a report by the director of the service, Major General William Sibert to the Adjutant General of the Army, [6] Dated September 26, 1918. One column of the table does show the service’s organization as of October 30, 1918, despite the date of the report.
The complex enlisted organization starting in July 1918 is confirmed by War Department General Order 62, dated June 28, 1918, that states “The rank, pay, and allowances of the enlisted men of the Chemical Warfare Service, National Army, shall be the same as now authorized for the corresponding grades in the Corps of Engineers.”
Insignia for the service was prescribed by Change No. 3 to Special Regulation 42 on February 19, 1918. Prior to that engineer insignia was probably used.
Master Engineer Senior Grade After September 1918 | First Sergeant [8] | Sergeant First Class | Sergeant | Corporal | Cook [8] |
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No Insignia | |||||
Private First Class After September 1918 | Private | ||||
Regimental Sergeant Major | Battalion Sergeant Major | Sergeant | Corporal |
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As far as can be determined, the only enlisted men in the Corps of Intelligence Police were sergeants.
Sergeant Until May 1918 | Sergeant After May 1918 |
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As far as can be determined the only enlisted men in the Corps of Interpreters were sergeants
Sergeant Until May 1918 | Sergeant After May 1918 |
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Band Sergeant and Assistant Leader Until May 1918 | Band Sergeant and Assistant Leader After May 1918 | First Sergeant | Field music Sergeant Until May 1918 | Field music Sergeant After May 1918 | Sergeant |
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No Insignia | No Insignia | No Insignia | |||
Corporal | Cook | Musician First Class Until May 1918 | Musician Second Class Until May 1918 | Musician Third Class Until May 1918 | Musician First Class After May 1918 |
No Insignia | No Insignia | ||||
Musician Second Class After May 1918 [3] | Musician Third Class After May 1918 [3] | Private First Class After June 27, 1918 [11] | Private Second Class After June 27, 1918 [11] | Private | |
Service school detachments wore the same insignia as other branches with privates first class using the same insignia as privates first class at West Point.
In 1918 the army added insignia for privates first class serving at army of corps headquarters and with the general recruiting service.
Private First Class General Headquarters | Private First Class General Recruiting Service |
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Change number 4 to Special Regulation 42 dated May 7, 1918, prescribes insignia for the rank of motor sergeant. It, along with the insignia for chauffeurs is listed under general application for all branches. An article in the Army and Navy Register from July 4, 1918 [12] states that the rank of motor sergeant had been created under authority granted to the president to reorganize the army as needed during the war. The article goes on the state that there was a law before congress that would create the rank of motor sergeant in all branches and expand the chauffeur ranks also to all branches. This law did not pass.
Various general orders from the American Expeditionary Force do show chauffeurs in various organizations, but as a rank, only in the Signal Corps. However the title of motor sergeant is never mentioned. Nor is it used in army order from the War Department itself. Assistant chauffeurs are listed on tables of organization as privates with duty as chauffeurs in division trains and various organizations in the Coast Artillery Corps.
Motor Sergeant | Assistant Chauffeur |
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Article III, paragraph 9 of the Regulations for Army of the United States 1913, Corrected to April 15, 1917, gives the order of precedence for officers and noncommissioned officers as:
Sergeant (Sgt) is a rank in use by the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services. The alternative spelling, serjeant, is used in The Rifles and other units that draw their heritage from the British light infantry. Its origin is the Latin serviens, 'one who serves', through the Old French term serjant.
Corporal is a military rank in use by the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services. The rank is usually the lowest ranking non-commissioned officer. In some militaries, the rank of corporal nominally corresponds to commanding a section or squad of soldiers.
Staff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services.
A master sergeant is the military rank for a senior non-commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries.
Sergeant major is a senior non-commissioned rank or appointment in many militaries around the world.
The chart below represents the current enlisted rank insignia of the United States Air Force.
The chart below shows the current enlisted rank insignia of the United States Army, with seniority, and pay grade, increasing from right to left. The enlisted ranks of corporal (E-4) and higher are considered non-commissioned officers (NCOs). The rank of specialist is also in pay grade E-4, but does not hold non-commissioned officer status; it is common that a soldier may never hold the rank of corporal, and instead be promoted from specialist to sergeant, attaining junior NCO status at that time.
Company quartermaster sergeant is a military rank or appointment.
"Other ranks" is the term used to refer to all ranks below officers in the British Army and the Royal Marines. It includes warrant officers, non-commissioned officers ("NCOs") and ordinary soldiers with the rank of private or regimental equivalent. Officers may, in speaking, distinguish themselves from those "in the ranks".
Feldwebel is a non-commissioned officer (NCO) rank in several countries. The rank originated in Germany, and is also used in Switzerland, Finland, Sweden, and Estonia. The rank has also been used in Russia, Austria-Hungary, occupied Serbia and Bulgaria.
Specialist is a military rank in some countries' armed forces. Two branches of the United States Armed Forces use the rank. It is one of the four junior enlisted ranks in the United States Army, above private (PVT), private (PV2), and private first class and is equivalent in pay grade to corporal; in the United States Space Force, four grades of specialist comprise the four junior enlisted ranks below the rank of sergeant.
In the United States Army, soldiers may wear insignia to denote membership in a particular area of military specialism and series of functional areas. Army branch insignia is similar to the line officer and staff corps officer devices of the U.S. Navy as well as to the Navy enlisted rating badges. The Medical, Nurse, Dental, Veterinary, Medical Service, Medical Specialist, Chaplains, and Judge Advocate General's Corps are considered "special branches", while the others are "basic branches".
The U.S. Army enlisted rank insignia that was used during World War II differs from the current system. The color scheme used for the insignia's chevron design was defined as golden olive drab chevrons on a dark blue-black wool background for wear on "winter" uniform dress coats and dress shirts or silvery-khaki chevrons on a dark blue-black cotton background for wear on the various types of field jackets and "winter" uniform fatigue shirts. An unauthorized variant that nevertheless saw wide use was olive drab chevrons on a khaki cotton background for wear on the "summer" uniform dress coats and dress shirts. This scheme of rank insignia was established by War Department Circular No. 303 on 5 August 1920 and would see two significant changes in 1942. The usage of this style of insignia was ended by Department of the Army Circular No. 202, dated 7 July 1948, which provided for significant changes in both rank and insignia design.
Quartermaster sergeant (QMS) is a class of rank or appointment in some armed forces, especially those of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, and formerly also in the United States.
First sergeant is typically a senior non-commissioned officer rank, used in many countries.
A warrant officer (WO) in the British Armed Forces is a member of the highest-ranking group of non-commissioned ranks, holding the King's Warrant, which is signed by the Secretary of State for Defence.
The era from 1902 to 1920 was the most complex era for enlisted rank insignia in the United States Army. During that time the army was organized with each branch having its own rank structure. This led to a large number of insignia designs being used.
On June 12, 1851, the United States Army issued new uniform regulations. The new regulations set out a system of chevrons to show enlisted rank.