The United States Army's enlistedrank insignia that was used during World War I differs from the current system. The color scheme used for the insignia's chevron was olive drab for field use uniforms or one of several colors depending on the corps on dress uniforms. The chevron system used by enlisted men during World War I came into being on July 17, 1902,[1] and was changed to a different system in 1919. Specification 760, which was dated May 31, 1905, contained 45 different enlisted insignia that varied designs and titles by different corps of the Army. General Order Number 169, which was enacted on August 14, 1907, created an even larger variety of enlisted rank insignia. Pay grades similar to the current system were not yet in use by the U.S. Army, and instead, the pay system reflected the job assignment of the soldier rather than their rank. By the end of World War I, the system contained 128 different insignia designs.[2]
The ranks used by the army during the war (1917-1918), by branch, were:
Cavalry
Regimental Sergeant Major
Band Leader Until December 1917
Band Leader December 1917 to May 1918
Band Leader After May 1918
Supply Sergeant, regimental
Squadron Sergeant Major
First Sergeant
First Sergeant (Drum Major)
Assistant Band Leader until December 1917
Assistant Band Leader December 1917 to May 1918
Assistant Band Leader After May 1918
Sergeant Bugler Until December 1917
Sergeant Bugler December 1917 to May 1918
Sergeant Bugler After May 1918
Color Sergeant
Sergeant
Supply Sergeant Until May 1918
Supply Sergeant after May 1918
Mess Sergeant Until May 1918
Mess Sergeant After May 1918
Stable Sergeant until May 1918
Stable Sergeant After May 1918
Band Sergeant Until December 1917
Band Sergeant After December 1917
Corporal
Corporal Bugler After July 1918
Band Corporal Until December 1917
Band Corporal After December 1917
Cook
Horseshoer
No Insignia
No Insignia
No Insignia
Saddler
Wagoner
Mechanic
Musician First Class Until May 1918
Musician Second Class Until May 1918
Musician Third Class Until May 1918
Musician First Class After May 1918[3]
Musician Second Class After May 1918[3]
Musician Third Class After May 1918[3]
Bugler First Class After July 1918
Bugler After December 1917
Private First Class
No Insignia
Private
Infantry
Regimental Sergeant Major
Band Leader Until December 1917
Band Leader December 1917 to May 1918
Band Leader After May 1918
Supply Sergeant, regimental
Battalion Sergeant Major
First Sergeant
First Sergeant (Drum Major)
Assistant Band Leader until December 1917
Assistant Band Leader December 1917 to May 1918
Assistant Band Leader After May 1918
Sergeant Bugler Until December 1917
Sergeant Bugler December 1917 to May 1918
Sergeant Bugler After May 1918
Color Sergeant
Sergeant
Supply Sergeant Until May 1918
Supply Sergeant after May 1918
Mess Sergeant Until May 1918
Mess Sergeant After May 1918
Stable Sergeant until May 1918
Stable Sergeant After May 1918
Band Sergeant Until December 1917
Band Sergeant After December 1917
Corporal
Corporal Bugler After July 1918
Band Corporal Until December 1917
Band Corporal After December 1917
Cook
Saddler
No Insignia
No Insignia
No Insignia
Wagoner
Musician First Class Until May 1918
Musician Second Class Until May 1918
Musician Third Class Until May 1918
Musician First Class After May 1918[3]
Musician Second Class After May 1918[3]
No Insignia
Musician Third Class After May 1918[3]
Bugler First Class After July 1918
Bugler After December 1917
Private First Class
Private
Coast Artillery Corps[4]
Sergeant Major Senior Grade
Master Electrician
Band Leader Until December 1917
Band Leader December 1917 to May 1918
Band Leader After May 1918
Engineer
Supply Sergeant, Regimental
Sergeant Major JuniorGrade
First Sergeant
Electrician Sergeant First Class Until May 1918
Electrician Sergeant First Class After May 1918
Assistant Engineer
Master Gunner
Assistant Band Leader until December 1917
Assistant Band Leader December 1917 to May 1918
Assistant Band Leader After May 1918
Sergeant Bugler Until December 1917
Sergeant Bugler December 1917 to May 1918
No Insignia
No Insignia
Sergeant Bugler After May 1918
Oiler, Mine Planter Service After July 1918
Steward, Mine Planter Service After July 1918
Electrician Sergeant Second Class Until May 1918
Electrician Sergeant Second Class After May 1918
Radio Sergeant Until May 1918
Radio Sergeant After May 1918
Sergeant
Supply Sergeant Until May 1918
Supply Sergeant after May 1918
Mess Sergeant Until May 1918
Mess Sergeant After May 1918
Band Sergeant Until December 1917
Band Sergeant After December 1917
Fireman Until December 1917
Fireman After December 1917
Corporal
Corporal Bugler After July 1918
No Insignia
No Insignia
Band Corporal Until December 1917
Band Corporal After December 1917
Cook
Mechanic
Assistant Steward Mine Planter Service After July 1918
Musician First Class Until May 1918
No Insignia
No Insignia
Musician Second Class Until May 1918
Musician Third Class Until May 1918
Musician First Class After May 1918[3]
Musician Second Class After May 1918[3]
Musician Third Class After May 1918[3]
Bugler First Class After July 1918
No Insignia
No Insignia
Bugler After December 1917
Deckhand Mine Planter Service After July 1918
Private First Class
Private
Field Artillery
Regimental Sergeant Major
Band Leader Until December 1917
Band Leader December 1917 to May 1918
Band Leader After May 1918
Supply Sergeant, regimental
Battalion Sergeant Major
First Sergeant
First Sergeant (Drum Major)
Assistant Band Leader until December 1917
Assistant Band Leader December 1917 to May 1918
Assistant Band Leader After May 1918
Sergeant Bugler Until December 1917
Sergeant Bugler December 1917 to May 1918
Sergeant Bugler After May 1918
Color Sergeant
Sergeant
Supply Sergeant Until May 1918
Supply Sergeant after May 1918
Mess Sergeant Until May 1918
Mess Sergeant After May 1918
Band Sergeant Until December 1917
Band Sergeant After December 1917
Corporal
Corporal Bugler After July 1918
Band Corporal Until December 1917
Band Corporal After December 1917
Cook
Horseshoer
Saddler
Wagoner
No Insignia
No Insignia
No Insignia
Chief Mechanic Until May 1918
Chief Mechanic After May 1918
Mechanic
Musician First Class Until May 1918
Musician Second Class Until May 1918
Musician Third Class Until May 1918
Musician First Class After May 1918[3]
Musician Second Class After May 1918[3]
Musician Third Class After May 1918[3]
Bugler First Class After July 1918
Bugler After December 1917
Private First Class
No Insignia
Private
Signal Corps
Aviator Until creation of the Air Service in July 1918
Master Signal Electrician Until May 1918
Master Signal Electrician After May 1918
Sergeant First Class Until May 1918
Sergeant First Class After May 1918
Chauffeur First Class (Rank Created July 24, 1917)[5]
Sergeant Until May 1918
Sergeant After May 1918
Chauffeur (Rank Created July 24, 1917)[5]
Corporal Until May 1918
Corporal After May 1918
Cook
No Insignia
Horseshoer
Private First Class
Private
Corps of Engineers
Regimental Sergeant Major
Master Engineer Senior Grade
Band Leader Until December 1917
Band Leader From December 1916 to May 1918
Band Leader After May 1918
Master Engineer Junior Grade
Supply Sergeant, regimental
Battalion Sergeant Major
Supply Sergeant, Battalion
First Sergeant
Sergeant First Class Until May 1918
Sergeant First Class After May 1918
Assistant Band Leader Until December 1917
Assistant Band Leader From December 1916 to May 1918
Assistant Band Leader After May 1918
Sergeant Bugler Until December 1917
Sergeant Bugler From December 1916 to May 1918
Sergeant Bugler After May 1918
Color Sergeant
Sergeant
Supply Sergeant Until May 1918
Supply Sergeant After May 1918
Mess Sergeant Until May 1918
Mess Sergeant After May 1918
Stable Sergeant Until May 1918
Stable Sergeant After May 1918
Band Sergeant Until December 1917
Band Sergeant After December 1917
Corporal
Corporal Bugler After July 1918
Band Corporal Until December 1917
Band Corporal After December 1917
Cook
Horseshoer
Saddler
Wagoner
No Insignia
No Insignia
No Insignia
Musician First Class Until May 1918
Musician Second Class Until May 1918
Musician Third Class Until May 1918
Musician First Class After May 1918[3]
Musician Second Class After May 1918[3]
Musician Third Class After May 1918[3]
No Insignia
Bugler First Class After July 1918
Bugler
Private First Class
Private
Medical Department
Master Hospital Sergeant
Hospital Sergeant Until May 1918
Hospital Sergeant After May 1918
Sergeant First Class Until May 1918
Sergeant First Class After May 1918
Sergeant Until May 1918
Sergeant After May 1918
Corporal Until May 1918
Corporal After May 1918
Cook
Farrier
Horseshoer
No Insignia
Saddler
Mechanic
Private First Class
Private
Ordnance Department
Ordnance Sergeant Until October 1917
Ordnance Sergeant From October 1917 to May 1918
Ordnance Sergeant After May 1918
Sergeant First Class August 1917 to May 1918
Sergeant First Class After May 1918
Sergeant Until May 1918
Sergeant After May 1918
Corporal Until May 1918
No Insignia
Corporal After May 1918
Private First Class
Private Second Class
Quartermaster Corps
Quartermaster Sergeant, Senior Grade
Quartermaster Sergeant, Quartermaster Corps Until May 1918
Quartermaster Sergeant, Quartermaster Corps After May 1918
Sergeant First Class Until May 1918
Sergeant First Class Until After 1918
Sergeant Until May 1918
No Insignia
Sergeant After May 1918
Corporal Until May 1918
Corporal After May 1918
Cook
Private First Class
Private
Air Service (Created May 24, 1918)
Aviator
Master Signal Electrician
Sergeant First Class
Chauffeur First Class
Sergeant
Chauffeur
No Insignia
Corporal
Cook
Horseshoer
Assistant Chauffeur
Private First Class
Private
Gas Service Created on July 5, 1917 then changed to Chemical Warfare Service on June 28, 1918
The organization of the Gas/Chemical Warfare service is based on a table in a report by the director of the service, Major General William Sibert to the Adjutant General of the Army,[6] Dated September 26, 1918. One column of the table does show the service’s organization as of October 30, 1918, despite the date of the report.
The complex enlisted organization starting in July 1918 is confirmed by War Department General Order 62, dated June 28, 1918, that states “The rank, pay, and allowances of the enlisted men of the Chemical Warfare Service, National Army, shall be the same as now authorized for the corresponding grades in the Corps of Engineers.”
Insignia for the service was prescribed by Change No. 3 to Special Regulation 42 on February 19, 1918. Prior to that engineer insignia was probably used.
Master Engineer Senior Grade After July 1918
Master Engineer Junior Grade After July 1918
Regimental Sergeant Major After July 1918
Regimental Supply Sergeant After July 1918
Battalion Sergeant Major After July 1918
Battalion Supply Sergeant After July 1918
First Sergeant After April 1918
Sergeant First Class Until May 1918
Sergeant First Class Until After May 1918
Mess Sergeant After July 1918
Supply Sergeant after July 1918
Stable Sergeant After October 1918
Sergeant Until May 1918
Sergeant After May 1918
Corporal Until May 1918
Corporal After May 1918
Bugler After July 1918
Cook After July 1918
No Insignia
Mechanic After July 1918
Wagoner After July 1918
Horseshoer After October 1918
Saddler After October 1918
Private First Class
Private
Tank Corps (Created in late 1917)[7]
Master Engineer Senior Grade February to May 1918
Master Engineer Senior Grade After May 1918
Master Engineer Senior Grade After May 1918 Alternate Version
Sergeant First Class
Sergeant
Corporal
No Insignia
Private First Class February to May 1918
Private First ClassAfter May 1918
Private
Motor Transport Corps (Created August 15, 1918)
Master Engineer Senior Grade After September 1918
First Sergeant[8]
Sergeant First Class
Sergeant
Corporal
Cook[8]
No Insignia
Private First Class After September 1918
Private
Judge Advocate General’s Department (Enlisted Men Added July 12, 1918[9])
Regimental Sergeant Major
Battalion Sergeant Major
Sergeant
Corporal
Corps of Intelligence Police created August 13, 1917
As far as can be determined, the only enlisted men in the Corps of Intelligence Police were sergeants.
Sergeant Until May 1918
Sergeant After May 1918
Corps of Interpreters Created July 14, 1917[10]
As far as can be determined the only enlisted men in the Corps of Interpreters were sergeants
Sergeant Until May 1918
Sergeant After May 1918
U.S.Military Academy Detachment
Band Sergeant and Assistant Leader Until May 1918
Band Sergeant and Assistant Leader After May 1918
First Sergeant
Field music Sergeant Until May 1918
Field music Sergeant After May 1918
Sergeant
No Insignia
No Insignia
No Insignia
Corporal
Cook
Musician First Class Until May 1918
Musician Second Class Until May 1918
Musician Third Class Until May 1918
Musician First Class After May 1918
No Insignia
No Insignia
Musician Second Class After May 1918[3]
Musician Third Class After May 1918[3]
Private First Class After June 27, 1918[11]
Private Second Class After June 27, 1918[11]
Private
Service School Detachments
Regimental Sergeant Major
Sergeant Major Senior Grade
Master Electrician
Master signal Electrician
Engineer
Quartermaster Sergeant, Quartermaster Corps
Supply Sergeant, regimental
Battalion Sergeant Major
Sergeant Major Junior Grade
First Sergeant
Sergeant First Class
Electrician Sergeant First Class
Master Gunner
Electrician Sergeant Second Class
Sergeant
Supply Sergeant
Stable Sergeant
Fireman
Corporal
Corporal Bugler (created on July 9, 1918)
Cook
Horseshoer
Saddler
Wagoner
Chief Mechanic
Mechanic
Bugler First Class (created on July 9, 1918)
Bugler
Private First Class
Private
Service school detachments wore the same insignia as other branches with privates first class using the same insignia as privates first class at West Point.
Other rank insignia
In 1918 the army added insignia for privates first class serving at army of corps headquarters and with the general recruiting service.
Private First Class General Headquarters
Private First Class General Recruiting Service
Change number 4 to Special Regulation 42 dated May 7, 1918, prescribes insignia for the rank of motor sergeant. It, along with the insignia for chauffeurs is listed under general application for all branches. An article in the Army and Navy Register from July 4, 1918[12]
states that the rank of motor sergeant had been created under authority granted to the president to reorganize the army as needed during the war. The article goes on the state that there was a law before congress that would create the rank of motor sergeant in all branches and expand the chauffeur ranks also to all branches. This law did not pass.
Various general orders from the American Expeditionary Force do show chauffeurs in various organizations, but as a rank, only in the Signal Corps. However the title of motor sergeant is never mentioned. Nor is it used in army order from the War Department itself. Assistant chauffeurs are listed on tables of organization as privates with duty as chauffeurs in division trains and various organizations in the Coast Artillery Corps.
Motor Sergeant
Assistant Chauffeur
Order of Precedence
Article III, paragraph 9 of the Regulations for Army of the United States 1913, Corrected to April 15, 1917, gives the order of precedence for officers and noncommissioned officers as:
1. Lieutenant General
2. Major General
3. Brigadier General
4. Colonel
5. Lieutenant Colonel
6. Major
7. Captain
8. First Lieutenant
9. Second Lieutenant
10. Aviator, Signal Corps
11. Cadet
12. (a) Sergeant Major, Regimental
Sergeant Major, Senior Grade, Coast Artillery Corps
12.(b) Quartermaster Sergeant, Senior Grade, Quartermaster Corps
Master Hospital Sergeant, Medical Department
Master Engineer Senior Grade, Corps of Engineers
Master Electrician, Coast Artillery Corps
Master Signal Electrician
Band Leader
12.(c) Hospital Sergeant, Medical Department
Master Engineer Junior Grade, Corps of Engineers
Engineer, Coast Artillery Corps
13.Ordnance Sergeant
Quartermaster Sergeant, Quartermaster Corps
Supply Sergeant Regimental
14. Sergeant Major, Squadron and Battalion
Sergeant Major Junior Grade, Coast Artillery Corps
Supply Sergeant, Battalion, Corps of Engineers
15.(a) First Sergeant
15.(b) Sergeant First Class, Medical Department
Sergeant First Class, Quartermaster Corps
Sergeant First Class, Corps of Engineers
Sergeant First Class, Signal Corps
Electrician Sergeant First Class, Coast Artillery Corps
Electrician Sergeant, Artillery Detachment, United States Military Academy
Assistant Engineer, Coast Artillery Corps
Master Gunner, Coast Artillery Corps
Master Gunner, Artillery Detachment, United States Military Academy
Band Sergeant and Assistant Leader, United States Military Academy Band
Assistant Band Leader
Sergeant Bugler
Electrician Sergeant Second Class, Coast Artillery Corps
Electrician Sergeant Second Class, Artillery Detachment, United States Military Academy
^"U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry-History of Enlisted Ranks". Archived from the original on 2010-06-29. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p qSpecial Regulations 42, Change 4, May 7, 1918
^Berhow, Mark. Insignia of the Coast Artillery Corps (PDF). Coast Defense Study Group Reprint. pp. 11–12. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
^ a b40Stat244
^Service, Chemical Warfare (1918). "Annual Report of the Chief".
^"Table 256 Tank Brigade, Tank Corps" (PDF). www.militaryresearch.org. 23 September 1918. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
^ a bCorps, Motor Transport (1919). "Report of the Chief of the Motor Transport Corps to the Secretary of War".
^General Order 66, July 12, 1918
^General Order 93, July 14, 1917
^ a b40 Stat621
^Army-Navy-Air Force register and defense times, v.64 1918, July 4, 1918, p. 2
External links
Roots Web World War I Army Rank Insignia Identification
Roots Web World War I Uniforms
Military Historians-Chevrons
U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry-History of Enlisted Ranks
Emerson, William K. (Winter 2004). "The Army's Last Set of Confusing Chevrons". Military Collector & Historian. 56 (4): 219–233. Retrieved 22 April 2019.