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USA - The officer rank used in the Army during WW1 was the same as used later in WW II, with the exception of Warrant Officer, which was introduced in WW II, being a rounded end gold bar, with a brown or blue cloisonné field divided in the middle. (Blue for Army Air Corps, Brown for ground forces.)

To recap those:

General: 4 silver stars

Lieutenant General: 3 silver stars

Major General: 2 silver stars

Brigadier General: 1 silver star

Colonel: silver eagles

Lieutenant Colonel: silver oak leaf

Major: gold oak leaf

Captain: two silver rectangular bars, with a gap about equal width to the bars, and thin rails connecting them.

First Lieutenant: 1 silver rectangular bar

Second Lieutenant: 1 gold rectangular bar

The pattern of strips during WWI for enlisted ranks was changed in 1920 to the basic pattern for WW II, but for WW I, the 1905 pattern was in use. The use of collar devices for branch insignia and the US insignia were in use, and had been since the 1890's.

1905 pattern Chevrons

Chevrons are point up; arcs bow downward with the top arc connecting to the midpoint of the arms of the bottom chevron, while bars are parallel and the top bar connects to the bottom chevron at the ends; other items are between the arms of the bottom chevron. Field uniforms are a light olive drab on a dark olive green background; dress stripes are colored by corps. A wide variety of specialist insignia exist for qualified non-NCO's, as well. By 1919, more than 72 distinct insignia of enlisted rank and specialty existed in the US Army.

1st Grade: Regimental Sergeant Major (3 chevrons, 3 arcs underneath)

2nd Grade: Regimental Supply Sergeant (3 chevrons, 3 bars underneath)

3rd Grade: Battalion Sergeant Major (3 chevrons, 2 arcs)

4th Grade: Color Sergeant (3 chevrons, and a star)

5th Grade: First Sergeant (3 chevrons, and a diamond)

6th Grade: Mess Sergeant (3 chevrons, and a crescent moon)

7th Grade: Stable Sergeant (3 chevrons, and a horse's head)

8th Grade: Company Supply Sergeant (3 chevrons, 1 bar)

9th Grade: Sergeant (3 chevrons)

10th Grade: Corporal (2 chevrons)

Lance Corporal (1 chevron) (Not consistently used)

Private First Class (1 arc, no chevrons)

Note that many specialists were in the various grades, but were not wearing the listed insignia, and did not have authority over NCO's, but had pay as NCO's. Master specialists (Master Engineer, Master Electrician, Master Gunner, etc) have a star above the specialty symbol, and an arc of wreath beneath, and are considered Master Sergeants, and were paid in a variety of grades between 3rd and 8th, varying by specialty; Specialist Sergeants have the arc of wreath, but no star, and are generally 8th or 9th grade; expert specialists have the mark and a circle, and are nominally 10th grade; specialists first class have the mark alone. Musicians wore normal chevrons through sergeant with either a bugle or lyre; Assistant Band Leaders wore a lyre with an arc of wreath, and band leaders a star above the assistant band leader insignia. Motor Pool Sergeants and Corporals wore chevrons with a wheel; chauffers 1st class a wheel above a PFC's arc, qualified chauffers a single short bar under the wheel, and assistant chauffers just the wheel.

World War II chevrons for comparison

The system was reduced to 7 grades in 1920. The top arc connects to the bottom chevron. Specialist insignia were no longer part of the rank insignia, but were worn separately.

1st Grade: Master Sergeant (3 Chevrons and 3 arcs)

2nd Grade: 1st Sergeant (3 chevrons, 2 arcs, and a diamond in the middle) and Technical Sergeant (3 chevrons, 2 arcs)

3rd Grade: Staff Sergeant (3 chevrons, 1 arc)

4th Grade: Sergeant (3 chevrons)

5th Grade: Corporal (2 chevrons)

6th Grade: Private First Class & Specialists (1 Chevron)

7th Grade: Private and Recruit (no insignia)

Mid-war (1942), specialists were authorized for grades 3, 4, and 5, and wore the T between the arms of the bottom chevron. 6th grade specialists did not wear the T, continuing to wear just the single chevron and a separate specialist mark.

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12y ago

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