WW1 Enlisted Rank Structure

[Wedgehead30]

So I'm not to up on WW1 stuff. I'm trying to figure out the proper enlisted rank order. I know the regular private, corporal etc. But in the chart below on the second line it shows Master Signal Electrician, Sergeant 1st Class Signal Corps, Sergeant Signal Corps etc. So is the master signal electrician the highest enlisted rank for the signal corps or is it just a patch denoting a specialty or rate kinda like the navy does?

 

[Garth Thompson]

I would recommend you try and track down the Emerson reference book CHEVRONS which helps a lot in understanding the early 1900 through 1920 army rank structure. To answer your specific question any of the Master ranks in the army at that time were a higher specialist enlisted rank roughly equivalent to today's warrant officer.

 

Garth

[skautdog]

Wedgehead30,

Thanks for posting the chart above. That was helpful for me.

Ken

[Wedgehead30]

I would recommend you try and track down the Emerson reference book CHEVRONS which helps a lot in understanding the early 1900 through 1920 army rank structure. To answer your specific question any of the Master ranks in the army at that time were a higher specialist enlisted rank roughly equivalent to today's warrant officer.

 

Garth

 

 

Thanks for the explanation, much appreciated.

 

I have Emerson's book listed on my Amazon wish list. Unfortunately it's not in the budget right now. Which is why I'm very thankful to have this forum as a resource.

 

Thanks again,

Scott

[Wedgehead30]

Wedgehead30,

Thanks for posting the chart above. That was helpful for me.

Ken

 

 

Here's the full site. I found it very helpful.

 

Scott

 

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~gregkrenzelok/veterinary%20corp%20in%20ww1/WW1%20Army%20Insignia%20Identification.html

[Lee Ragan]

Keep in mind that there were over 100 enlisted rank insignia used in the U.S. Army at the time of WWI. There was no such thing as a unified pay grade system and each ranks pay was established by congress. Also, not all ranks were used in every branch of the aervice. The technical specialist ranks were NOT equal to a Warrant Officer. W/O's were field clerks and that is a whole other bag of worms.

If you are going to get serious about collecting Army chevrons, Emerson's book (even if it's nothing more than a xerox copy), is a MUST HAVE piece of reference material. It's researched with the Smithsonian archives and is a lot more accurate than some of the articles I've seen on these ranks, with out the guessing and speculation that so many articles used to use.

[vzemke]

I don't think Garth was meaning to imply that the "Master Signal Electrician" rank was equal to a Warrant Officer in WWI terms. More like the duties performed by that rank/grade during WWI most likely line up more with the duties performed by a modern day signal Warrant Officer than anything else.

 

Got it, WWI Technical Specialists and WWI Warrants/Field Clerks were two completely different things, but the role played by the WWI Tech Specialists most closely translates to the modern day understanding of a Warrant Officer (who are quite literally technical specialists, especially in the non-aviation branches).

[vzemke]

I also agree that Emerson's "Chevrons" book is a must have. Used copies are pricey, but you won't find the quality of info anywhere else. I have heard rumors for the past several years that he is working on an updated version, but I don't know how close to actually publishing such a thing he really is.

 

-Vance

[Lee Ragan]

I don't think Garth was meaning to imply that the "Master Signal Electrician" rank was equal to a Warrant Officer in WWI terms. More like the duties performed by that rank/grade during WWI most likely line up more with the duties performed by a modern day signal Warrant Officer than anything else.

 

Got it, WWI Technical Specialists and WWI Warrants/Field Clerks were two completely different things, but the role played by the WWI Tech Specialists most closely translates to the modern day understanding of a Warrant Officer (who are quite literally technical specialists, especially in the non-aviation branches).

Roger that Vance, my mis-undertanding.

As to a re-do of "Chevrons", by Emerson, he had advertised in the ASMIC Newsletter for additional photos of certian types of chevrons being worn, for inclusion in the new edition and I sent him one of Air Corps Navigator trainees wearing chevrons on armbands. He wrote back & said he'd use it. I'm like a lot of other guys who collect chevrons... can't wait to get the new up-dated edition.

[Mitter2k1]

That sounds great that there is an updated version in the works. I dabbled briefly when I started collecting these ranks but soon learned that it was a train wreck for a beginner to navigate. Even after a year, I'm still baffled by all of this and tend to only buy one if I don't have it and the price is right. Any ideas on a release date for the book?

Thanks,

Mike M.

[Garth Thompson]

I don't think Garth was meaning to imply that the "Master Signal Electrician" rank was equal to a Warrant Officer in WWI terms. More like the duties performed by that rank/grade during WWI most likely line up more with the duties performed by a modern day signal Warrant Officer than anything else.

 

Got it, WWI Technical Specialists and WWI Warrants/Field Clerks were two completely different things, but the role played by the WWI Tech Specialists most closely translates to the modern day understanding of a Warrant Officer (who are quite literally technical specialists, especially in the non-aviation branches).

 

Thanks Vance, that is exactly what I meant. I should have expressed myself more clearly.

 

Garth

[PATCHRAT]

I can loan you a copy of "Chevrons" if you like. PM me.

 

also take a look around Mr Emerson's web site he has lots of good info posted. http://emersoninsignia.net/