# Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Military Insignia

Edition of 1921; disclaimer.
​MILITARY INSIGNIA, devices in the form of badges, epaulets, straps, chevrons, buttons, braid, mottoes, and the like, worn to differentiate the ranks and divisions of the military and naval forces. Insignia for these purposes are to-day in use in the forces of all nations, though differing according to the country to which the army and navy belong. In all countries the insignia are identical for officers or non-commissioned men of the same rank, though they differ according to the branch of the service.
In the United States the devices used in the army and navy underwent considerable changes during the period intervening between the Revolution and the Civil War, but from the period of the Civil War the process has been rather of development than of change, and the insignia employed have been largely the same. The letters U. S. are worn by officers on the collar, volunteers being distinguished by the addition of the letter V. Officers of the National Guard wear the initial letter of their States. To indicate the various corps or departments devices relating to the work of each are employed. Thus the General Staff Corps is indicated by the U. S. coat of arms on a silver star; Adjutant-General's Department by a shield; Judge-Advocate General's Department by crossed sword and pen; Medical Corps by a caduceus; Engineers by a turreted castle.
The insignia indicating ranks are worn on the sleeves and shoulders. The shoulder insignia are as follows: two silver stars, a major-general; one silver star, a brigadier-general; one silver eagle, colonel; one silver leaf, lieutenant-colonel; one gold leaf, major; two silver bars, captain; one silver bar, first lieutenant; one gold bar, second lieutenant. The sleeve insignia are as follows: two silver stars, major-general; one silver star, brigadier-general; five strands of gold wire lace in the form of a knot, colonel; four strands, lieutenant-colonel; three strands, major; two strands, captain; one strand, first lieutenant; without gold lace, second lieutenant.
The devices employed in distinguishing ranks and divisions in the United States army are largely modeled on those which obtain in other countries. In the German army crescent-shaped epaulets are the distinguishing mark of the commissioned officer, combinations of batons and stars being used to indicate the higher ranks, while the arms of the service are indicated by the color of the tunic lace, and the state by the color of the cockade. In the British army the royal arms, arms of cities and counties, castles, antelopes, guns, bugles, crosses, and the like are used to designate the various regiments. Stripes of gold or silver braid are the main devices used to indicate rank in the French, Italian, Spanish, and Japanese ​armies. In Europe generally the branches and departments of the army are distinguished more by the uniform than by distinctive badges.
MILITARY INSIGNIA—COLLAR INSIGNIA OF UNITED STATES ARMY OFFICERS :
| 1. Engineer Corps | 8. All Officers of Regular Army | 15. Adjutant-General's Department |
| 2. Adjutant | 9. All Officers of National Army (World War) | 16. General Staff Corps |
| 3. Field Artillery | 10. All Officers of Reserve Army | 17. Medical Corps |
| 4. Coast Artillery | 11. All Officers of National Guard | 18. Veterinary Corps |
| 5. Cavalry | 12. Quartermaster Corps | 19. Judge Advocate-General's Department |
| 6. Infantry | 13. Signal Corps |
| 7. Adjutant of Infantry | 14. Inspector-General's Department |
MILITARY INSIGNIA—COLLAR INSIGNIA WORN BY ENLISTED MEN :
| 1. Right—All Enlisted Men | 4. Field Artillery | 7. Quartermaster Corps |
| 2. Cavalry | 5. Coast Artillery | 8. Signal Corps |
| 3. Infantry | 6. Engineer Corps | 9. Hospital Corps |
| | | 10. Ordnance Corps |
MILITARY INSIGNIA—SHOULDER STRAPS OF UNITED STATES ARMY OFFICERS :
| Top Row—Shoulder Straps of United States Army Officers on Olive-drab Service Coats |||
| Bottom Row—Shoulder Straps of United States Army Officers on Dress Coats |||
| 1. General | 4. Brigadier-General | 7. Captain |
| 2. Lieutenant-General | 5. Colonel | 8. First Lieutenant (Silver Bar) |
| 3. Major-General | 6. Lieutenant-Colonel (Silver Leaf) | 9. Second Lieutenant (Gold Bar) |
| | Major (Gold Leaf) |
MILITARY INSIGNIA—CHEVRONS OF NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS, UNITED STATES ARMY :
| 1. First Sergeant | 6. Master Electrician (Coast Artillery) | 11. Color Sergeant |
| 2. Company Supply Sergeant | 7. Engineer | 12. Drum Major |
| 3. Sergeant | 8. Master Gunner | 13. Regimental Supply Sergeant |
| 4. Corporal | 9. Regimental Sergeant-Major | 14. Sergeant of Field Music |
| 5. Battalion Supply Sergeant | 10. Battalion Sergeant-Major | 15. Mess Sergeant |
| | | 16. Lance Corporal |
MILITARY INSIGNIA OF UNITED STATES AIR SERVICE :
| 1. Aviator-Pilot | 4. Aviation Mechanic |
| 2. Observer | 5. Other Enlisted Men |
| 3. Enlisted Aviator | 6. Navy Aviator |