Posted on Nov 13, 2015
How many of us had trouble distinguishing the rank of approaching commissioned, non-commissioned or warrant officers on field uniforms??
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Fatigue, battledress and other work and combat uniforms had subdued rank most of the time. Some ranks are very distinctive such as Captain [double bars], Colonel [eagle], and General Officer [black star or multiple]. However 1st LT and Warrant Officer looked very close and sometimes Majors and Lieutenant Colonels looked very close especially in the rain, snow, etc.
When I was a private in the 1970s I couldn't tell sometimes if a LT or a Chief Warrant Officer was approaching me. I would salute usually and wasn't sure at that time if I was supposed to salute Warrant Officers.
Did you have trouble recognizing officer rank?
When I was a private in the 1970s I couldn't tell sometimes if a LT or a Chief Warrant Officer was approaching me. I would salute usually and wasn't sure at that time if I was supposed to salute Warrant Officers.
Did you have trouble recognizing officer rank?
Rank
Troops
Edited >1 y ago
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 125
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Only times I've ever confused rank was a Navy PO3 and an O-6....because from far away they look pretty damn similar. Army SPC and LTC can sometimes be confusing too, especially if there is a dark background behind the rank insignia. CW4/CW5 and 1LT could potentially be confusing, but since I'm a LTC, I would react to either of them the same way in passing (ie wait for them to salute).
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LTC Paul Labrador
Also distinguishing between 1SG, SGM and CSM can be difficult as all you see from far away is solid black. I am one to give respect where respect is due and senior NCOs definitely have earned their titles. I don't like accidentally calling a CSM a first sergeant.
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When I arrived at my first unit in September of 1984 my first formation after Headstart I was sent toe Range 301 in Grafenwoer to be an ammo guard. I did not know about leader tabs and wearing the unit crest on the old green field jackets. I was saluting everyone that walked by the pad wearing that combo. Finally the 1SG of the unit on the range, I think it was K-troop, asked me why the fuck I was saluting all his NCOs. He then gave me a lesson on the green field jackets and leader tabs.
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LTC Stephen F.
I am glad the 1SG of the unit on the range set you straight SFC Joseph Weber and explained the leader tabs which were part of the green field jackets uniform.
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I saluted a (Master/Senior) Chief Petty Officer on a couple of occasions, away from my command and in poor visibility conditions, but they just saluted back and didn't even say anything. I have heard others tell similar variations, and it happens occasionally to just about everyone. I remember one of them gave a knowing smile as he passed me.
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CWO2 Richard Rose
A salute is a sign of respect. As a Chief Petty Officer I was saluted a number of times by my sailors. A Chief Petty Officer should return the salute and carry on.
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The C/Amn epaulettes at the USAFA looks similar to a full bird. At night from 15 feet was very misleading. I was once saluted by a major he could have been a LtCol - in either case he was not trilled with my "as you were sir."
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Maj Daniel Pempel
Those are the prep school cadet candidates. I had completely forgotten about them, but at first glance, they can be confused for young looking colonels, especially since it is a very uncommon rank.
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Lt Col Robert Canfield
My father (a WWII Army Officer) used to joke about a sign displayed in their Officers club bar: "All minors under 21 and Air Force Colonels must be accompianied by their parents". Because Army Air Force pilots had a high mortality rate, promotions came pretty fast and it was not uncommon to see an AAF colonel in his early 30s.
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The biggest problem I had distinguishing rank was in Afghanistan where the Air Force had their rank the same color as Major's rank. I can't remember how many SSgts and TSgts I saluted at BAF and KAF lol.
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It can be difficult to see with the subdued hues of rank at a distance. Only when I was maybe 2 paces away could I see and distinguish, then I rendered my salute.
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From a distance, it is hard to tell the difference between a specialist, a LTC, and a BG (especially is the specialist is an older Soldier). All you see is a black mark that becomes clearer hopefully soon enough to render or not render a salute.
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The only ranks that are hard for me to recognize are Air Force E7 through E9.
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CMSgt Richard B.
Sgt, AF E7s have one stripe up (like PFC), E8s two (like Corporal) and E9s three up (like a Sgt). One, two, or three up are Senior NCOs. Also if you count the stripes and add 1 you'll get the paygrade.
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Sgt Cody Dumont
CMSgt Richard B. - But the real confusing part is for each E7 - E9 there are 3 ranks. While in the Marines and Army there are two for E8 and E9. The rank insignia is very different. While the Air Force is also different the names are confusing. First Sgt with diamond is simple and same across all three, the Sr Master Sgt and Chief Master Sgt and so forth, just always confused me.
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In the AF, enlisted and officer ranks on field uni's are pretty hard not to recognize. In the mid 90's we went to the aircrew style name patch on BDUs and that left a lot of officers without a salute, but it didn't last long.
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