"Rank insigna in the field" Topic

16 Posts

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Gunfreak	11 Jul 2019 6:22 a.m. PST
Did NCOs use their chevrons in the field?
Major Mike	11 Jul 2019 6:29 a.m. PST
Yes, link
Old Wolfman	11 Jul 2019 6:40 a.m. PST
In subdued colors.
brass1	11 Jul 2019 7:02 a.m. PST
Depends on the service and the year. In 1968, the Army began using subdued rank insignia pins on the collar. LT
StoneMtnMinis	11 Jul 2019 9:36 a.m. PST
They were flat, non-reflective black. I still have mine.
Gunfreak	11 Jul 2019 10:27 a.m. PST
Thanks, would it be om noth shoulders?
Legion 4	11 Jul 2019 10:49 a.m. PST
Yes, certainly depends on the year and in subdued black/colors. As pointed out by many here. The larger colored insignia of any kind would make you a target.
StoneMtnMinis	11 Jul 2019 1:23 p.m. PST
They were worn on the collar.
Legion 4	11 Jul 2019 2:27 p.m. PST
Yes, when I started ROTC in '75. All Rank was worn on the collar for Fatigues. That picture MAJ Mike posted was early in the Vietnam War. With the subdued rank [and unit patch], on the sleeve.
Major Mike	11 Jul 2019 2:55 p.m. PST
4th ID, 1968, you can see the corporal stripes on the soldier on the right with the brownish helmet cover. link
Major Mike	11 Jul 2019 2:58 p.m. PST
This is a 1970 picture from the Americal Division. You can see the rank clasps under the collar flaps of this soldier.
brass1	11 Jul 2019 4:44 p.m. PST
The larger colored insignia of any kind would make you a target. Sure did. While BGen Joseph McDonough was in command of the 196th Infantry Brigade there was no authorized subdued version of the brigade insignia, so people in the field were expected to operate with a blue, red, and yellow patch on their shoulders that a blind sniper couldn't miss. We took them off as soon as we hit the ground and put them back when we got back to the rear. I suppose we could have gotten in trouble if the general ever caught us but being in the field was a pretty good way to avoid generals in those days. LT
Oberlindes Sol LIC	11 Jul 2019 4:45 p.m. PST
The original question isn't limited to US forces. I'm not sure about the answers for ARVN, ROK, ANZAC, Thai, and PAVN. I think that the VC didn't wear rank insignia, but I could be wrong.
Legion 4	12 Jul 2019 6:57 a.m. PST
LT +1 Also I was told some units e.g. SF, etc., would at times "go sterile" – wear no insignia what so ever … BTW Great pics MAJ Mike !
Oberlindes Sol LIC	12 Jul 2019 8:48 p.m. PST
I have heard of the sterile uniform, too. Tom Clancy did, too, and added it to A Clear and Present Danger.
Legion 4	13 Jul 2019 8:44 a.m. PST
A guy I knew in the 101, he was the Co XO. He told us when he was going thru Airborne School at Benning. Said there were a few guys at the school who wore sterile jungle fatigues and had long hair & beards. They were told not to have any contact with them, talk to, ignore, etc.. He figured they were CIA going thru parachute training … That made sense to us.