Kman1752 Posted January 28, 2011 Share #1 Posted January 28, 2011 Maybe a dumb question here, but when exactly did the US Army start using metal rank insignia? 1960's? 1970's?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted January 28, 2011 Share #2 Posted January 28, 2011 I think it was 1967. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
05B4S Posted January 28, 2011 Share #3 Posted January 28, 2011 I think it was 1967. As I recall. we changed to black on OG cloth sleeve chevrons in 67 and then went to black metal collar pin-on chevrons sometime in 68. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCFalkenbergIII Posted January 28, 2011 Share #4 Posted January 28, 2011 From what I have read it was 1968 too. Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B229 Posted January 28, 2011 Share #5 Posted January 28, 2011 What type of metal rank insignia are you refering to? All the other posters assumed you were asking about subdued pin-on rank, which was approved for wear in December 1967. However, pin-on enlisted rank insignia in GCM (gold colored metal) was approved for wear on certain clothing items in 1975. Army officers have had metal insignia of grade since at least 1902, except for 2d Lieutenant's, who had no insignia until 1917. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Ragan Posted January 29, 2011 Share #6 Posted January 29, 2011 The Army had metal enlisted rank back in the 50's with the big enamelled, screw back helmet liner chevrons. There were several small metal ranks usually used on soft field caps back into the 50's and maybe even earlier. See Emerson's book "Chevrons", pages 206-207. He states these small metal pin-on chevrons were made as early as 1945. Military schools used metal stripes on shirt collars back in the early 20th century. Small metal Sgt. Major and Regimental Quartermaster Sergeants chevrons appeared on GAR medals back even before the turn of the 20th century. Hope this helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cwnorma Posted January 29, 2011 Share #7 Posted January 29, 2011 In the 1902-pre WW1 period, National Guard unit NCO's often wore metal chevrons on their shirt collars. Although these weren't strictly "Regular Army" troops, the principal goes back at least to the turn of the last century. Emerson shows several examples. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kman1752 Posted February 1, 2011 Author Share #8 Posted February 1, 2011 What type of metal rank insignia are you refering to? All the other posters assumed you were asking about subdued pin-on rank, which was approved for wear in December 1967. However, pin-on enlisted rank insignia in GCM (gold colored metal) was approved for wear on certain clothing items in 1975. Army officers have had metal insignia of grade since at least 1902, except for 2d Lieutenant's, who had no insignia until 1917. I was in fact refering to the subdued rank insignia, but thanks for the info on the gold color, that's useful also. Thanks for all the responses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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