The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-10-13
DISTINGUISHING
MARKS IN ARMY
OF UNITED STATES
How to Tell Soldiers Rank
and Branch of
Service.

Some question has arisen as to the
status as respects collar devices, etc,
Of men in the National Army under
the selective draft who are transferred
to fill up regiments of the National
Guard. This is matter which Will
shortly adjust itself. The men will
become merged with their associates,
will wear the same Distinguishing
marks upon their uniform and the
question as to whether they, were, re-
Gently in; the National efArd, enlisted
in the National Guard or were trans
ferred from the National Army will
he quickly lost sight of.
The soldiers Of the National Army
will certainly rank high as compared
with the National Guard in character.
personnel and efficiency, in fact the
National Guard will probably be re-
Quired to look to its laurels and rep
utation.' in competition with the Ma
tional Army before many months,
All troops, throughout the war wear
olive drab uniforms Dress and full
dress uniforms have been abolished
for the time being.
One of the principal distinguishing
marks as to branch of service Is the
hat cord. Soldiers Of the infantry
wear a light blue cord. cavalry yell
low. artillery red. Soldiers in the var
ious staff corps such as quartermas
tiers, ordnance, medical, signal, ETC.,
wear cords in which the alternate
strands are a different color, the list
being quite extensive and complicated,
for example: Medical corps. maroon;
engineers, scarlet and white; ord
nance, black and scarlet: signal corps,
orange and white; quartermasters,
buff. etc.
All officers wear the same kind of
hat cord, black and gold, strands al
ternating, the cords ending in the case
of both officers and enlisted men with
acorns.
Officers and enlisted men of the
United States Army will wear upon
the collars of coats and shirts letters
~. s.; of the National Guard the
letters ''U. S." with IN G." superim-
posed thereon and of the National
Army '.U So with IN. A." superim-
posed thereon. officers of the Reserve
Corps who have secured their com
missions. by direct appointment or af4
tier attending a training camp wear
the letters ~. s. r."
In the case of enlisted men these
letters are raised in the center of a
round button which is attached to the
collar. When the flannel shirt is worn
without blouse the letters are worn
upon one side of the collar and the
devices indica ting rank Gin the case of
ofhcers) and branch of service upon
the other side of the collar.
The collar DEVICES indicating branch
of service for both officers and en-
listed men are crossed rifles for in
"a Hfv~xy
crossed cannon for Artillery, for coast
artillery crossed cannon with an oval
in the center upon (which is superim-
posed shell. The insignia of the
aviation section is two narrow wings
with shield between.
The grade marks indicating the
| rank OF on-commissioned officers are
In the form of small chevrons Of a
color similar to the uniform, worn
points up, three stripes with q dia-
| mond below Indicating a first ser
geant, three stripes sergeant and
two stripes q corporal, one stripe a
lance corporal.
The rank of officers is indicated
upon their oyercoats by clover leaves
in black braid at the cuff end of the
sleeve. The plain sleeve indicates
second lieutenant, one clover leaf frs,
lieutenant, two captain, three a ma.
5or. four a lieutenant colonel ind five
a colonel.
All officers wear leather Logging.
excepting mounted officers, who ar,
permitted to wear boots Enlisted
men, as rule. wear canvas leggings
The spiral bandage puttee so mCcf
used in foreign armies is authorized
Tor use in the field only and may bt
worn by either officers or enlisted
Imen