USMC Rank Chevrons through the ages..since 1917

[Sgt Leprechaun]

I thought I'd post these since a question was asked. Old Salts by all means chime in where needed!

ALL images are courtesy of Jaroslav Jochman.


Enlisted rank insignia 1912-1917



Rank description - "Private" has no rank insignia

• 1. Corporal
• 2. Sergeant
• 3. Gunnery Sergeant
• 4. First Sergeant
• 5. Quartermaster Sergeant
• 6. Pay Quartermaster Sergeant
• 7. Drum Major
• 8. Sergeant Major

Enlisted rank insignia 1917-1922

Rank description - "Private" has no rank insignia

• 1. Private First Class (since 1917)
• 2. Corporal
• 3. Sergeant
• 4. Gunnery Sergeant
• 5. First Sergeant
• 6. Quartermaster Sergeant
• 7. Pay Quartermaster Sergeant
• 8. Drum Major
• 9. Sergeant Major

Enlisted rank insignia 1922-1929

Rank description - "Private" has no rank insignia

• 1. Private First Class **
• 2. Corporal
• 3. Sergeant
• 4. Gunnery Sergeant
• 5. First Sergeant
• 6. Staff Sergeant (since 1923)
• 7. Drum Major *
• 8. Supply Sergeant (since 1923)
• 9. Quartermaster Sergeant
• 10. Master Technical Sergeant (since 1923)
• 11. Pay Quartermaster Sergeant
• 12. Sergeant Major

Notice * : in 1922 change of 1912 chevron design
Notice ** : in 1922 change of 1917 chevron design

[Sgt Leprechaun]

Enlisted rank insignia 1929-1937



Rank description - "Private" has no rank insignia

• 1. Musician Marine Band
• 2. Trumpeter (different for right and left sleeve, the trumpet is facing forward)
• 3. Drummer
• 4. Assistant Cook
• 5. Trumpeter First Class
• 6. Drummer First Class
• 7. Private First Class
• 8. Mess Corporal or Field Cook
• 9. Trumpet Corporal
• 10. Drum Corporal
• 11. Corporal
• 12. Mess Sergeant or Chief Cook
• 13. Trumpet Sergeant
• 14. Drum Sergeant
• 15. Sergeant
• 16. Platoon Sergeant
• 17. Staff Sergeant (Mess)
• 18. Staff Sergeant
• 19. Technical Sergeant (Mess)
• 20. Technical Sergeant
• 21. Drum Major
• 22. Supply Sergeant
• 23. Gunnery Sergeant **
• 24. First Sergeant
• 25. Master Gunnery Sergeant
• 26. Paymaster Sergeant
• 27. Master Technical Sergeant (Mess)
• 28. Master Technical Sergeant
• 29. Quartermaster Sergeant
• 30. Sergeant Major

Notice ** : in 1922 change of 1912 chevron design

Enlisted rank insignia 1937-1944



Rank description - "Private" has no rank insignia

• 1. Musician Marine Band
• 2. Private First Class or
  • Assistant Cook **
  • Trumpeter First Class **
  • Drummer First Class **
• 3. Corporal or
  
  
  • Mess Corporal **
  • Field Cook **
  • Trumpet Corporal **
  • Drum Corporal **
• 4. Sergeant or
  
  
  • Mess Sergeant **
  • Chief Cook **
  • Trumpet Sergeant **
  • Drum Sergeant **
• 5. Staff Sergeant ** or
  
  
  • Staff Sergeant (Mechanical) **
  • Staff Sergeant (Mess) **
• 6. Platoon Sergeant **
• 7. Technical Sergeant or
  
  
  • Technical Sergeant (Mess) **
  • Drum Major **
  • Supply Sergeant **
• 8. Gunnery Sergeant ** or
  
  
  • First Sergeant **
• 9. Master Technical Sergeant or
  
  
  • Master Technical Sergeant (Mess) **
  • Quartermaster Sergeant **
  • Paymaster Sergeant **
• 10. Sergeant Major or
  
  
  • Master Gunnery Sergeant **
• 11. Second Leader, Marine Band

Notice ** : in 1937 change of 1922 chevron design

Enlisted rank insignia 1944-1946



Rank description - "Private" has no rank insignia

• 1. Private First Class
• 2. Corporal
• 3. Sergeant
• 4. Staff Sergeant
• 5. Platoon Sergeant
• 6. Technical Sergeant
• 7. Gunnery Sergeant
• 8. Master Gunnery Sergeant or
  • Master Technical Sergeant
  • Quartermaster Sergeant
  • Paymaster Sergeant
• 9. Sergeant Major or
  • First Sergeant **

Notice ** : in 1944 change of 1937 chevron design

[Sgt Leprechaun]

Enlisted rank insignia 1946-1959





Rank description - "Private" has no rank insignia

• 1. Private First Class
• 2. Corporal
• 3. Sergeant
• 4. Staff Sergeant
• 5. Gunnery Sergeant
• 6. Master Sergeant
• 7. First Sergeant
• 8. Sergeant Major

Enlisted rank insignia 1959-Present




Rank description - "Private" has no rank insignia

• 1. Private First Class
• 2. Lance Corporal
• 3. Corporal
• 4. Sergeant
• 5. Staff Sergeant
• 6. Gunnery Sergeant
• 7. Master Sergeant
• 8. First Sergeant
• 9. Sergeant Major
• 10. Master Gunnery Sergeant
• 11. Sergeant Major of the Corps (since 1957)

[SGT7477]

Whew you done a job I like our rank structure of today.

[PatriotGirl422]

Wow, I didn't realize how much it's changed over time. I like our current rank structure, seems a lot more simple than some of the past ones.

[LeonardLawrence]

I don't know to be a 1917 PFC with some crossed rifles is pretty slick.

Thanks for the post Sgt. Interesting material.

I will take the crossed rifles over the harp any day

[Sgt Leprechaun]

Imagine reciting the 1929 rank structure in recruit training!

I'll post more of the rank structure history as I come across it.

[Sgt Leprechaun]

Thought I'd post a couple more chevrons here. These are photos, not drawings.

1stSgt. Likely made before 1942.


Gunnery Sergeant.

[Sgt Leprechaun]

SSgt. WWII era or 1930's

Dress blues:


Khaki:

[Sgt Leprechaun]

Pre WWII 1st Sgt:
(It's reversed, showing the construction)





1stSgt, WWII era on khaki:

[Sgt Leprechaun]

The latter few pictures came from US Militaria Forums.

[Sgt Leprechaun]

Courtesy of HH Booker. Love the pay scale. This is a pocket chart, BTW which is why it's so small. Dated 1939.

[SGT7477]

We have come a long way do you have a pay scale of today?

[Sgt Leprechaun]

Yep.

I'm not smart enough to do a 'side by side' but here's the link to the current pay charts:

http://www.dfas.mil/militarypay/mili...ayCharts35.pdf

[Sgt Leprechaun]

Couple more before I call it a day:

Corporal, worn on a single sleeve, likely dating from the 1870's.



Sergeant:



1st Sgt: