Military Insignia

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

devices in form the of badges, epaulets, straps, chevrons, buttons, braid, mottoes, and the like , worn to differentiate the ranks and divisions of the military and naval forces. Insignia for these purposes are to-day in use in the forces of all nations, though differing according to the country to which the army and navy belong. In all countries the insignia are identical for officers or non-commissioned men of the same rank, though they differ according to the branch of the service. In the United States the devices used in the army and navy underwent con siderable changes during the period intervening between the Revolution and the Civil War, but from the period of the Civil War the process has been rather of development than of change, and the insignia employed have been largely the same. The letters U. S. are worn by officers on the collar, volunteers being distinguished by the addition of the letter V. Officers of the National Guard wear the initial letter of their States. To indicate the various corps or departments devices relating to the work of each are employed. Thus the General Staff Corps is indicated by the U. S. coat of arms on a silver star; Adjutant-General's Department by a shield; Judge-Advocate General's Department by crossed sword and pen; Medical Corps by a caduceus; Engineers by a turreted castle. The insignia indicating ranks are worn on the sleeves and shoulders. The der insignia are as follows: two silver shoulstars, a major-general; one silver star, a brigadier-general; , colonel; one silver leaf, lieutenant-coloone silver eagle ner; one gold leaf, major; two silver bars, captain; one silver bar, first lieutenant; one gold bar, second sleeve insignia are as follows: two silver lieutenant. The stars, major-general; one silver star, brigadier-general; five strands of gold wire lace in the form of a knot, colonel; four strands, lieutenant-colonel; three strands, major; two strands, captain; one strand, first lieutenant; without gold lace, second lieutenant. The devices employed in ranks and divisions in the United States distinguishing army are largely modeled on those which obtain in other countries. In the German army crescent-shaped the distinguishing mark of the commisepaulets are sioned officer, combinations stars being used to indicate the higher of batons and ranks, while the arms of the service are indicated by the color of the tunic lace, and the state by the color of the cockade. In the British army the royal arms, arms of cities and counties, castles, antelopes, guns, bugles, crosses, and the like used to designate the various regiments. are Stripes of gold or silver braid are the main devices used to indicate rank in the French, Italian, Spanish, and Japanese armies. In Europe generally the branches and departments of the army are distinguished more by the uniform than by distinctive badges. MILITARY ORDER OF FOREIGN WARS, an American organization founded in New York, Dec. 27, 1894, by vete- 1 2 officers of the army, navy, or marine corps of the United States who partici pated in any of the foreign wars of the United States. The latter are direct lineal descendants in the male line only of commissioned officers who served honorably in any of the said wars. The National Commandery was instituted 3 4 HXX 5 36 7 6 US US USRUS 13 12 14 DROITET AVANT 15 16 18 19 MILITARY INSIGNIA-COLLAR INSIGNIA OF UNITED STATES ARMY OFFICERS 1. Engineer Corps 8. All Officers of Regular Army 2. Adjutant 3. Field Artillery 4. Coast Artillery 5. Cavalry 6. Infantry '7. Adjutant of Infantry 9. All Officers of National Army (World War) 10. All Officers of Reserve Army 11. All Officers of National Guard 12. Quartermaster Corps 13. Signal Corps rans and descendants of veterans of one or more of the four foreign wars which the United States had been engaged in, to wit: The War of the Revolution, the War with Tripoli, the War of 1812, and the Mexican War. By an amendment to the constitution all American officers who participated in the war with Spain in 1898 are rendered eligible to membership as veteran companions. Members are entitled "companions" and are either "veteran companions" or "hereditary companions." The former are commissioned 14. Inspector-General's Department 15. Adjutant-General's Department 16. General Staff Corps 17. Medical Corps 18. Veterinary Corps 19. Judge Advocate-General's Department March 11, 1896, by the officers of the New York, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut commanderies. In 1914 there were 1,500 companions, leading officers of the army and navy.