United States Army enlisted rank insignia 1902–1920
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 (cavalry, infantry, artillery, etc.) having its own rank structure. This led to a large number of insignia designs being used.
On July 17, 1902, the army issued General Order 81 prescribing new uniforms. Enlisted chevrons were made smaller and changed to point up. The smaller chevrons were due to the wearing of shirts as outerwear in the warm climates that the army was operating in at the time. The army had allowed chevrons on shirts in July 1898.[1] The large coat chevrons in use at the time did not fit on shirt sleeves so soldiers began to fashion smaller versions of their chevrons. The army gave preliminary approval of smaller chevrons in 1900.[2] The new regulations made the smaller chevrons the standard for all uniforms.
The insignia was to be in the colors of each branch, light blue for infantry, yellow for cavalry, red for artillery, buff for the Quartermaster's Department that included the detachment at West Point, grey for the Subsistence Department, maroon piped with white for the Medical Department, red piped with white for the Corps of Engineers, black piped with red for the Ordnance Department and orange piped with white for the Signal Corps. They would be worn on a background matching the coat. This meant that each design was placed on backgrounds of blue, white, khaki and olive drab. There was also a rust colored fatigue uniform worn by men of the artillery at emplacements. Regulations call for "usual chevrons", which would have meant red on a rust background. It seams in practice the chevrons were brown or tan.[3]
US Army Sergeants' Chevrons 1902[edit]
US Army Olive Drab Chevrons 1902[edit]
On March 2, 1903, the rank structure of the medical department was changed to Sergeant First Class (replacing Hospital Steward), Sergeant (replacing Acting Hospital Steward), Corporal, Lance Corporal (replacing Lance Acting Hospital Steward), Private First Class and Private.[4] Insignia was prescribed on April 28, 1903.[5]
No Insignia | |||||
Sergeant First Class | Sergeant | Corporal | Lance Corporal | Private First Class | Private |
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On October 1, 1903, the color for infantry was changed from light blue to white.[6]
US Army Olive Drab Chevrons 1903[edit]
A rank of Master Signal Electrician was added to the Signal Corps on April 28, 1904.[7] Also on that date a Band Sergeant and Assistant Leader was added to the West Point Band.[8] He probably wore the three chevrons of a sergeant.
New uniform regulations were issued on December 31, 1904[9] that not only prescribed insignia for Master Signal Electricians but changed the color of all insignia not worn on the dress blue coat. Supplying so many versions of insignia had proved to be difficult and costly. The regulation changed the insignia for the white, khaki and olive drab coats from branch colors to olive drab shirting flannel.
US Army Olive Drab Chevrons 1904–1906[edit]
On January 25, 1907, The Corps of Artillery was split into Field Artillery regiments and a Coast Artillery Corps.[10] The regimental structure for the field artillery added the ranks of Regimental Sergeant Major, Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant, Regimental Commissary Sergeant, Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant and Chief Mechanic. In the Coast Artillery Corps the ranks of Master Gunner and Engineer were added and electrician sergeants were split into two classes. Artificers were removed from both organizations.
Insignia was prescribed on August 14, 1907.[11] Engineers wore a governor in a ring and Master Gunners a shell in a wreath. Master electricians now wore lightning in a wreath, Electrician Sergeants First Class three chevrons, one arc and lightning and Electrician Sergeants Second Class three chevrons and lightning.
Master Gunner | Engineer | Master Electrician | Electrician Sergeant First Class | Electrician Sergeant Second Class |
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US Army Olive Drab Chevrons 1907[edit]
Insignia for the coast artillery was changed again on January 18, 1908.[12] Master Gunners now wore a shell in a wreath under a star, Engineers wore the same with a governor instead of a shell and Master Electricians wore the same with lightning. Electrician Sergeants wore three chevrons over a wreath with lightning with first class being denoted by a bar. Firemen now wore one chevron and one arc with a governor.
The background of all private first class style insignia was made round instead of rectangular to save cloth.[13]
Master Gunner | Engineer | Master Electrician | Electrician Sergeant First Class | Electrician Sergeant Second Class | Fireman |
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US Army Olive Drab Chevrons 1908[edit]
In January 1909 the Band Sergeant and Assistant Leader of the West Point Band and the Sergeant In charge of the West Point field musicians were given distinctive insignia.[14]
On January 22, 1909, Master Signal Electricians were given insignia different from other Master Electricians.[15]
On March 3, 1909, enlisted detachments were added to the army's various service schools.[16][17]
On June 12, 1909, the rust fatigue uniform was replaced with a uniform made of blue denim.[18]
Insignia for the new uniform was prescribed on November 4, 1909.[19] They were to be of "red washable material placed on a background of blue denim cloth". It seams that in practice the army never found a red washable material that was color fast. Instead the chevrons were just outlines of red stitching.[20]
Band Sergeant and Assistant Leader | Sergeant of Field Music | Master Signal Electrician |
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