How many of us had trouble distinguishing the rank of approaching commissioned, non-commissioned or warrant officers on field uniforms??

New uniforms have gone to cloth insignia, so this problem may not exist now. But when working around ammunition or high voltage motors/switchboards, I removed all metal from my uniform. Not uncommon to go hours without any insignia aboard ship. When conducting boardings at sea, entire team would remove insignia to not make rank obvious to the detainees. While in port, I would briefly leave the ship in plain navy blue coveralls without collar devices, but wearing a ball cap with the CG officer "Eagle" device. It would confuse many on Navy bases. Never bothered me that few new I was an officer.

Never had a problem of identifying the officers, TOP always told us that as enlisted men, we were responsible to know all our officers, and to recognize an officer with respect.
And don't even let the CSM, get on your case about not respecting the officers, he spit out FIRE.

I couldn't see what the person was and I ran into a tree while looking for his rank. Turned out it was a Private!!! Then I got yelled at by this very buxom Butter Bar for staring at her chest, even though I just trying to detect her rank (for fifteen minutes). I can't win for losing. AND I'M RETIRED!!!

LTC Stephen F., when I got out of Boot Camp and was on the way home, I was saluting and asking Bi your leave sir to anything that even looked like an Officer, this included airline pilots who had dark jackets with a couple of gold stripes on the sleeves. Looking back I have got to admit just how funny that is. LMAO

The only ranks I have trouble distinguishing at times are 1SGT and SGM. It’s hard to tell if it’s a little bitty diamond or a little bitty star until your up close and personal.

Because of my poor eye site, I saluted several eldely SPC (s) when the ACU came out :)

And another good story. When I retired and was on my first contract I was in Habbainyah in Iraq. The Marines were trainers and mentors for the Iraqi Army and coordinated for me on Maintenance and getting the Iraqis to bring in their vehicles. There was a Marine Warrant Officer That everyone was calling Gunner. I did not know that was a nickname for Marine Corp Warrants. I thought his little red bar was Lieutenant rank. One day I needed to talk to him so I went to the Marine 1SG I dealt with all the time and asked him where I could find 'Lieutenant Gunner'. Once again education for me from the First Sergeant and a Marine Staff Sergeant. No pushups this time. Just lots of mocking and laughter.

When I was a Petty Officer First Class my unit (a Seabee detachment at the time) was conducting training at an Army National Guard post. As a group of us were entering the chow hall we encountered a bunch of junior soldiers (E-1 to E-4s). As we passed them they all rendered smart salutes with "Good morning sir" which I smartly returned with a "Good morning Private/Specialist". The other guys with me were dumb founded and quickly caught up with me and asked what was going on. Having been prior service in the Army I knew exactly what had happened and passed it on to the other 5 PO1's. The soldiers had only seen the "crow" (eagle actually) at the top of our rank insignia and not the stripes underneath. They thought they were passing 6 full bird Colonels going into the mess hall as they were leaving. Probably thought it was the biggest gathering of Colonels they had ever seen. Rather than correct them I just chose to satisfy their desires to salute.

Mine was always Navy Chiefs and Naval Officers. No clue how many Chief got saluted outside the NAS North Island Chow Hall.

I was an enlisted Coastie. I spent most of my time at DINFOS returning salutes from senior officers.