Insignia Placement
Officer’s Insignia – June 1942-1945
The information on Officer’s insignia (male) is from the July 1943 edition of “The Officer’s Guide”. These standards were authorized in late May 1942. The policy change does not appear to have been propagated throughout the Army until late 1942.
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On Shirt, OD Wool blouse and other coats:
Office’s rank on the coat/blouse is on shoulder loops (epaulets).
Shirt Collar without coat has Rank Insignia on right collar, Branch Insignia on left collar.
No insignia is worn on shirt collars when OD or Khaki coat (blouse) is worn.
Unit insignia centered on Class A OD or khaki blouse epaulets in addition to rank insignia which is worn 5/8 inch from the edge of shoulder epaulet.
Regulation calls for no unit insignia on shirt epaulets as called for prior to the summer 1942, however photos show officers in 1943 with unit insignia on khaki and OD shirt epaulets.
On the Garrison Cap (“overseas” or Flat Cap) the officer’s grade of rank is worn. Officer’s rank is also worn on the Field Hat (daisy mae and patrol caps).
INSIGNIA
Definition. The term insignia includes all the metallic or embroidered articles which are worn on the uniform that serve to identify the wearer as a member of the Army of the United States - his grade and arm or service, his organization in some instances, and other incidents of his service such as wound and war service chevrons.
Except as otherwise prescribed, insignia for wear upon uniform clothing will be made of gold or gold color material. Insignia of grade for shoulder loops may be embroidered. Metal insignia of grade may be knurled or smooth. (~ar. 22, AR 600-35.)
Headgear Insignia and Ornamentation. Cap, garrison. General officers: cord edge braid of gold bullion, rayon, or metallized cellophane of gold color. Other officers: cord edge braid of gold bullion, rayon, or metallized cellophane of gold color and black silk intermixed. Warrant officers: cord edge braid of silver bullion, rayon, or metallized cellophane and black silk intermixed.
Metallized cellophane should not be used on caps which will be washed. (Circular No. 82, War Department; March 21, 1942.)
Insignia of grade will be worn by officers on the garrison cap, on the left side, centered on the curtain, with center of the insignia 1 1/2 inches from the front.
The bars of lieutenants and captains will be worn perpendicular to the bottom edge of the cap. The leaves of majors and lieutenant colonels will be worn with stem down. The eagle of colonels will be worn beak to the front. The star of a brigadier general will be worn point upward. Additional stars will extend to the rear of the first star and be placed Ys inch apart. Miniature insignia of grade is authorized for general officers, and when worn, additional stars will be placed at a relatively smaller interval. See Plate 25. (Changes No. 2, AR 600-40, Aug. 25, 1942.)
Cap, service. The coat of arms of the United States. Warrant officers wear the warrant officers' insignia.
Hat, service. The hat cord is worn. General officers wear a double cord of gold bullion, rayon, and metallized cellophane with acorns and keeper. Other officers wear the same type cord of gold color and black intermixed. Warrant officers wear the same cord with silver and black intermixed.
It is standard practice to adjust the length of the hat cord so that the acorns come to the edge of the brim, or slightly beyond the brim. It is unsightly to tie knots at the keeper to adjust the length; the acorns should be slid back and the cord cut off at the ends to obtain the desired length. The hat cord should be sewed in place.
Insignia on Collar or Lapel of Service Coat. The insignia worn on the collar or lapel of the service coat is of metal, consisting, on each lapel, of the letters "U. S." and insignia indicating the arm, service, bureau, etc., to which the individual is assigned. (Par. 43, AR.600-40.)
Officers wear the letters "U. S." on the collar (lapel) horizontally, lower edge one-half inch above the horizontal line of lapel, the center of the "U. S." at the center of the collar. The insignia of arm or service is worn horizontally on the lapel. upper edge.
Insignia on Shirt. When the olive-drab or khaki shirt is worn without the service coat, insignia will be worn as follows:
On the collar (see Plate 26.)
All officers, except general officers. On the right side, 1 inch from the end, the insignia of grade; on the left side, 1 inch from the end, metal insignia indicating arm, service, bureau, etc. Bars will be worn parallel with front edge of collar. Leaves will be worn with stem down. The eagle will be worn beak to the front.
General officers.
General officers of the line. On both sides, 1 inch from the end, the insignia of grade.
Other general officers. On the right side. 1 inch from the end, the insignia of grade; on the left side, 1 inch from the end, metal insignia indicating arm, service, bureau, etc.
Additional stars. Additional stars will extend to the rear of the first star and be placed 5/8 inch apart.
​Miniatures. General officers are authorized to wear miniature insignia of grade. Additional miniature stars will be placed at a relatively smaller interval than indicated above.
Warrant officers. On the right side, 1 inch from the end, the insignia of grade, on the left side, 1 inch from the end, the insignia of warrant officer. Bars will be worn parallel with the front edge of the collar. (Changes No. 2, AR 600-40, Aug. 25, 1942.)
Colors and Insignia of the Several Arms and Services. Each arm and service has a distinctive insignia and a distinctive color. The insignia is worn on the uniform as heretofore described. The hat cords worn by enlisted men are in the color prescribed for their branch. Distinctive branch color is used on the shoulder straps of the blue dress uniform and on other gold braid decorations. It is also used in the blue dress uniforms as cape linings and other purposes. The colors and insignia of the several arms and services are as follows:
BRANCH | COLOR | INSIGNIA |
|---|---|---|
General Staff Corps
| Gold & Black | Coat of Arms on a Star |
Adjutant General's Dept. | Dark Blue & White | Dark Blue Shield |
lnspector General's Dept. | Dark Blue & White | Crossed Swords & Fasces Wreathed |
Judge Advocate General's Department | Dark Blue & Light Blue | Crossed Sword & Pen Wreathed |
Quartermaster Corps | Buff | Eagle Surmounting Wheel with Crossed Sword & Key |
Medical Department | Maroon & White | Caduceus |
Engineer Corps | Scarlet & White | Castle |
Ordnance Department | Crimson & Yellow | Shell & Flame |
Finance Department | Grey & Yellow | Diamond |
Air Corps | Ultra-Marine & Orange | Wings & Propellor |
Armored Force | Green & White | Tank |
Signal Corps | Orange & White | Crossed Signal Flags with Flaming Torch |
Chemical Warfare Service | Blue & Yellow | Benzol Ring & Crossed Retorts |
Chaplains | Black | Latin Cross or Double Tablets & Interlaced Triangles |
Cavalry | Yellow | Crossed Sabers |
Field Artillery | Scarlet | Crossed Cannon |
Coast Artillery | Scarlet | Crossed Cannon with Red Oval Projectile |
Infantry | Light Blue | Crossed Rifles |
Militia Bureau | Dark Blue | Crossed Fasces & Eagle |
Transportation Corps | Brick red and yellow | Winged Wheel |
Shoulder Loop Insignia. On each shoulder loop of the service coat, the long overcoat, the short overcoat, the raincoat, the field jacket, and on each shoulder of work clothing and of aviators' outside suits or coats, metal or embroidered insignia of grade will be worn as follows (Changes No. 2, Par. 45, AR 600-40):
Second lieutenants and first lieutenants wear the bar in the middle of the loop parallel to and 5/8 inch from the sleeve end of loop.
Captains place the bars in a similar manner with the lower bar parallel to and 5/8 inch from sleeve end of loop.
Majors and lieutenant colonels place the leaves, point up, in middle of loop, stem of leaf 5/8 inch from sleeve end of loop.
Colonels place the eagle in the middle of the loop, head up, beak to the front, talons 5/8 inch from the sleeve end of loop.
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Brigadier generals place the star, point up, in the center of loop.
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Major generals place the center of the two stars, points up, 2 1/4 inches apart, the stars equidistant from the sleeve end of the loop and the outer edge of the button.
Lieutenant generals place the three stars, points up, equidistant each from the other.
Generals place the four stars, points up, equidistant one from the other.
When an officer wears the work uniform, insignia is worn as prescribed for the olive-drab shirt.
Commanding generals of independent forces outside the continental limits of United States operating directly under the War Department are authorized to prescribe the method of wearing insignia. This provision enables certain overseas commanders to prescribe that insignia of grade may be entirely removed, or to be worn elsewhere thanas stated above, when he considers such action to be desirable. (Changes No. 9, Par. •Hd.AR 600~0, Nov. 26, 1942.)
Shoulder Loop Insignia for Warrant Officers. Warrant officers other than of the Army Mine Planter Service.
Chief warrant officer. One gold bar 3/8 inch width and 1 inch in length, with rounded ends, having a brown enameled top and a longitudinal center of gold 1/8 inch in width.
Warrant officer (junior grade). One gold bar 3/8 inch in width and 1 inch in length, with rounded ends, having a brown enameled top and a latitudinal center of gold 1/8 inch in width. (Circular No. 200, War Department, June 22, 1942.)
Warrant officers wear insignia as prescribed for Lieutenants.
Shoulder Loop Insignia for Flight Officers. Flight officers of the Army Air Forces wear insignia as prescribed for Lieutenants. It consists of one gold bar 3/8 inch in width and one inch in length with rounded ends, having a blue enameled top and a latitudinal center of gold 1/8 inch in width.
Sleeve Insignia. Insignia of grade consisting of knots of prescribed and decorative design of white cord or of gold or gilt wire tracing braid are sewed on the sleeves of the white mess jacket, blue mess jacket, and special evening dress coat, on the basis of five rows for a colonel, four for a lieutenant colonel, three for a major, two for a captain, and one for a first lieutenant. Arm or bureau insignia, embroidered or of metal, is worn in the center of the space formed by the lower curves of the knot and the upper edge of the sleeve band.
On the overcoat of general officers two bands of black mohair braid are worn on both sleeves. The 1 1/4 inch band is placed with its lower edge 2 1/2 inches above and parallel to the end of the sleeve; the 1/2 inch band is placed with its lower edge 1 1/2 inches above the upper edge of and parallel to the other band.
Wound and War Service Chevrons. Wound and war service chevrons are worn only by those officers, Army nurses, warrant officers and enlisted men who have been authorized to do so as stated in AR 600-95. (Par. 46d, AR 600-40.)
Wound and war service chevrons are worn on the service coat only, wound chevrons on the right sleeve and war service chevrons on the left sleeve. They are worn points down in the center of the outside half of the sleeve, the point of the lowest chevron to be one inch above the cuff braid of the officers' coat. When more than one chevron is worn, the space between chevrons shall be five-eighths inch.
Wound and war service chevrons will not be authorized to be worn by Army personnel for service during the current war, but those officers, Army nurses, warrant officers and enlisted men entitled to wear such chevrons for service in the first World War may continue to do so. Authority to wear such chevrons is contained in paragraph46d of Army Regulations No. 600-40.
The instructions are very specific, however, in stating that neither wound nor war service chevrons will be authorized to be worn for service during the present war. The Purple Heart has been authorized for wounds received in action, and in lieu of the war service chevrons that were authorized to be worn on the left sleeve for overseas service in the first World War, service rendered overseas in the current war will be shown by the appropriate theater service ribbons that have been authorized by President Roosevelt in Executive Order No. 9265, November 6, 1942. The Executive Order establishes three theaters for which a medal and ribbon will be awarded for each area. The three theaters include the American Theater, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater, and the Asiatic-Pacific Theater.
Aviation Cadet Sleeve Insignia. Aviation cadets wear their authorized insignia centered on the outside of the right sleeve of the coat and overcoat with the lowest point four inches above the lower edge. (Par. 46h, AR 600-40.)
Insignia, Officer Candidate School. The prescribed insignia for wear by officer candidates, as prescribed by Circular 98, War Department, April 3, 1942, is as follows: On a dark-blue, cloth background 2 1/4 inches in diameter, the letters "CS" in monogram form, within the letter "0" in olive-drab, all elements 5/32 inch in width.
Insignia, Shoulder Sleeve. Shoulder sleeve insignia are authorized for wear by individuals assigned to units such as divisions, territorial departments, and others specifically authorized. It will be worn on the upper part of the outer half of the left sleeves of the service coat, overcoat, field jacket, and the shirt when worn as an outer garment, the top of the insignia to be one-half inch below top of the shoulder-seam. Shoulder sleeve insignia worn by divisions and larger units of World War No. 1 are shown in colors at the beginning of this volume; their use by divisions of the current war has been revived, and new ones have been authorized in many instances. (Par. 47, AR600-40 and Circular No. 147, 1942.)
Distinctive Insignia and Trimmings. Subject to the approval of the War Department in each case, organizations classified in general as regiments, separate battalions, or separate companies are authorized to adopt distinctive insignia or trimmings for wear by members thereof as a part of the uniform as a means of promoting esprit de corps. Distinctive insignia should bear the organization badge or coat of arms, or similar device, having historical significance connected with the organization, such as the ornament of the organization when originally organized, or that worn in some prior war. If trimmings are adopted, the color should have some historical significance connected with the organization. Colored trimmings will not be worn with the cotton service uniform. (Par. 51, AR 600-40.)
Distinctive insignia and trimmings will not be adopted where conditions preclude their issue to enlisted men from purchases made by unit or post exchange funds.
Unless otherwise specifically authorized by the War Department, distinctive insignia will be worn by officers as follows: on the service coat centered on the shoulder loops. On the service hat midway between band and eyelet. Distinctive insignia is not worn by officers on the service shirt or garrison caps. (Changes No. 2, AR 600-40.)
Headgear
​Enlisted Male Insignia – June 1942-1945
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The information below is from FM 21-100, with Change 1 Dated 4 May1942.
Key points:
Enlisted Service Coat (blouse):
1) US and Branch (Arm or Service) insignia is pointed down with the bottom of the insignia even with the upper lapel horizontal edge.
2) Unit Crests (distinctive unit insignia) is worn centered on the lower lapel from the “US” and Branch insignia.
3) Grade/Rank and unit shoulder sleeve insignia are worn on the sleeves of the service coat, fatigue uniforms (HBT, Blue Denim), khaki and OD shirts.
Enlisted Female Insignia – June 1942-1945
The information below is from AR 600-37, Prescribed Service Uniforms for Women of the Army, Apr 1945.
Key points:
Enlisted Service Coat (blouse):
1) US and Branch insignia is pointed down with the bottom of the insignia even with the upper lapel horizontal lapel edge.
2) Unit Crests (distinctive unit insignia) is worn centered on the lower lapel.
​Nurse Insignia – 1943-1945
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The information on Women’s insignia is from the QM 2-3 - WAC and Nurses Clothing 7 Oct 1943 and Army Regulation (AR) 600-37, Prescribed Service Uniforms for Women of the Army - Apr 1945. The 1943 uniform service catalog validates the majority of the 1945 uniform insignia placement guidance as applicable in 1943.
Key Points on Female Insignia:
1) Insignia on the collars of Nurse’s seersucker and off duty dresses are centered and pointed vertical down without regard to the collar points or edges.
2) Epaulets (shoulder loops) of Nurse’s service uniform blouse (OD or Blue Covert), seersucker coat are worn the same as male officers for grade and unit distinctive insignia (crests).
3) Enlisted women insignia is worn the same as that of enlisted men of the Army unless otherwise noted (example; off-duty dress).
4) All WAC wear either the “Pallas Athene” insignia (WAC) or the branch of the unit or duty assigned.
5) The following insignia will not be worn by members of the Woman’s Army Corps: Infantry, Cavalry, Field Artillery, Coast Artillery Corps, Armored Center and units and Tank Destroyer.
6) Insignia is not worn on the waist/shirt when OD, Blue or khaki service coat (blouse) is worn.
The information below is from AR 600-37 Prescribed Service Uniforms for Women of the Army - Apr 1945. The two drawings below show placement of insignia on the lapels of the service jacket (Nurse’s Olive Drab and Covert Blue) and Epaulet (shoulder loop) of service jackets and seersucker jackets.
The catalog QM 2-3 - WAC and Nurses Clothing 7 Oct 1943 section shows the insignia on both the OD and Blue service jackets.
The drawings below are from AR 600-37 Prescribed Service Uniforms for Women of the Army - Apr 1945. When the seersucker jacket is worn, the insignia of rank is replaced on the collar of the dress with “U.S.” insignia. Rank is worn on the epaulet (shoulder loop) of seersucker jacket the same as with the service jacket. When worn on the collar of the seersucker dress and shirt (jacket lacks a collar), rank is worn with the bar (or base) vertical pointing down.
The two photos from QM 2-3 - WAC and Nurses Clothing 7 Oct 1943 show the placement of insignia on the seersucker jacket and dress as indicated in the 1945 drawings above.
