USMC Rank Chevrons through the ages..since 1917
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  1. #1

    USMC Rank Chevrons through the ages..since 1917

    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




  2. #2

    USMC Rank Chevrons 1929-1946

    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




  3. #3

    1946-Present day

    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)



  4. #4
    Whew you done a job I like our rank structure of today.


  5. #5
    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.


  6. #6
    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


  7. #7
    Imagine reciting the 1929 rank structure in recruit training!

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


  8. #8

    A few more

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

    1stSgt. Likely made before 1942.


    Gunnery Sergeant.



  9. #9
    SSgt. WWII era or 1930's

    Dress blues:


    Khaki:



  10. #10
    Pre WWII 1st Sgt:
    (It's reversed, showing the construction)





    1stSgt, WWII era on khaki:



  11. #11
    The latter few pictures came from US Militaria Forums.


  12. #12


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


  13. #13
    We have come a long way do you have a pay scale of today?


  14. #14
    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





  15. #15
    Couple more before I call it a day:

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



    Sergeant:



    1st Sgt:




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