When did they change the Specialist rank insignia?

[iamck94]

Starting in 1955 all specialist ranks had this shape:

http://www.galaxyarmynavy.com/prodimages/large/72162.jpg

 

But eventually they switched to this:

http://www.nasm.si.edu/images/collections/...19951117000.JPG

 

My question is when and why did they change the design of the Specialist rank insignia.

[Teamski]

1962. The old rank became the rank worn by WACs.

 

-Ski

[patches]

Starting in 1955 all specialist ranks had this shape:

http://www.galaxyarmynavy.com/prodimages/large/72162.jpg

 

But eventually they switched to this:

http://www.nasm.si.edu/images/collections/...19951117000.JPG

 

My question is when and why did they change the design of the Specialist rank insignia.

 

The new style was adopted in 1958 with the restructure of the specialist grades, and almost immidiatly began to be worn, the old style continued to be seen however, sometimes as late 63-64, even one photo i seen supposidly taken in early 1966. The wear of the old style rapidly became unpopular as the WACs continued to wear the smaller style as a standard rank insignia, and its now association with the WACs made this so. Why did some men keep wearing the old style ? its seemingly common wear appears to not have been unautherised.

[Wailuna]

...when and why did they change the design of the Specialist rank insignia...

The "why" was one of the Army's painfully stupid attempts to "enhance" the prestige of is misbegotten specialists, as in "bigger is better" (the Army should have simply scrapped the entire specialist system, as it has mostly done since then). On the other hand, these trivia do keep us entertained: Link here here to see a picture of 2-inch specialist chevrons evidently being worn ca. mid-1960s (but maybe by a WAC?)

[patches]

The "why" was one of the Army's painfully stupid attempts to "enhance" the prestige of is misbegotten specialists, as in "bigger is better" (the Army should have simply scrapped the entire specialist system, as it has mostly done since then). On the other hand, these trivia do keep us entertained: Link here here to see a picture of 2-inch specialist chevrons evidently being worn ca. mid-1960s (but maybe by a WAC?)

Not likely old man, females did not attend jump school until the 70s. the wear of this small type among men at the this late date was just an anomliy and not wide spead, who really nows why a GI in say 1962 would be wearing this obsolete rank patches. the same thing applies to the old 1948 golden light ranks, they wear obolished in the fall of 1951, but three wear continued to be well past that date, in the national guard especialy.