Insignia on Collar Again?

2014-01-25T09:25:57-05:00

Whenever we do go to a new utility uniform, should we put rank and possibly branch insignia back on the collar?<div><br></div><div>Personally, I feel we should put insignia back on the collar rather than on the chest.  I feel there are Soldiers out there that are uncomfortable looking to see what rank a female Soldier is and have to look at their chest to do so.  I know we are professional most do not think of this in a negative way to do so.  But why should it be there in the first place.  When the insignia was on the collar, we didn't have to worry about it at all.  It almost seems it could be construed that we give Soldiers an excuse to stare, even though we all know its not, and when they get caught they just state I was seeing what rank you were.</div><div><br></div><div>I'm just trying to gauge what other leaders think on the subject in this discussion.</div>

Response by Lt Col Luis A. Rojas made Jan 25 at 2014 10:36 AM

2014-01-25T10:36:52-05:00

CPT Risher; I personally prefer the rank ensignia on the collar and hat. I find it easier to see plus it would be standardized with the other services, especially if we go to one uniform for all services.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 25 at 2014 10:40 AM

2014-01-25T10:40:26-05:00

I wholeheartedly agree, but we need to get rid of this worthless uniform we have now and get back to one that allows for a professional look.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 25 at 2014 11:01 AM

2014-01-25T11:01:09-05:00

I agree with adding rank and branch back to the collar. I like the idea of knowing the branch of who I may be working with outside of my unit, so that I may also know their frame of reference and general knowledge base. I also like the element of pride that comes with it.

This would have to be something considered in the initial design of a uniform since this would be relatively challenging on the current collar design.

Response by CPT Jacob Swartout made Apr 11 at 2014 9:39 PM

2014-04-11T21:39:41-04:00

I always liked the rank and insignia on the collar. You were able to see which branch the officer was assigned in. I would also hope that the next uniforms do not have any velcro on them either. I always thought it was a bad idea. The BDUs looked sharped because everything was sewn on. When I was enlisted and wore the BDUs, I was counseled each month to wear the uniform with pride and I did for many years. What bothers a lot of people is when you see Soldiers wearing ACUs with name tapes curled up on both sides and about to fall off. Worst is when many of us may have corrected someone for the name tapes being on the wrong side of the chest. With sew on patches this would never happen.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2014 11:28 PM

2014-04-11T23:28:13-04:00

I'm an advocate for rank on the collar among many other uniform changes.  However, if we are going to keep the same style uniform with a different pattern I would prefer to wear my branch insignia in the same manner as an Army chaplain: centered above the name tape.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Apr 11 at 2014 11:32 PM

2014-04-11T23:32:10-04:00

I would love to identify my branch on my utility uniform. MP CORPS ALL THE WAY!

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2014 12:18 PM

2014-07-28T12:18:39-04:00

Honestly, I never even thought of the female chest thing until you brought it up here. Chest, sleeves, collar...whatever. As long as there's rank on there. Branch, nah. Not a fan. It feeds the impending branch-isms and body checks when you meet someone who cares more about what you are wearing than giving you a chance to succeed based on your job performance. There's a good reason the Cavalry strips everyone of their branches and gives them Cavalry brass. Everyone is equal under the Sabers.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Jul 28 at 2014 1:54 PM

2014-07-28T13:54:24-04:00

I'd much prefer rank on sleeves. Lets go old school..

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 2 at 2014 12:20 AM

2014-08-02T00:20:48-04:00

As long as officers wear they're rank on one side and branch on the other to eliminate the guessing games where you can't tell what's what until they're right up on you, I'm ok with it.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 21 at 2014 5:23 PM

2014-08-21T17:23:27-04:00

I agree, rank on sleeves would be epic!!.... But seriously collar would be the right way to go

Response by PFC Zanie Young made Nov 27 at 2014 10:14 AM

2014-11-27T10:14:33-05:00

I wholeheartedly agree! I wouldn't want to be smoked for trying to see the rank on a female's chest, either!

Response by LCpl Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 4 at 2015 3:09 PM

2015-01-04T15:09:28-05:00

Checking for female officers and NCOs ranks while working in joint environments (my jaunt out to Fort Belvoir) was always really awkward, I just started looking for cover insignia.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 11 at 2015 6:49 PM

2015-03-11T18:49:40-04:00

Yes. And enlisted rank on sleeves. It's all about battlefield recognition.

With insignia on collars, you get a full package of information--face, rank, branch, all at once. you can rapidly identify if this is who you are looking for or if they can be of help to you.

When enlisted have their rank on their sleeves, there are few angles from which one would be unable to tell not only that they are enlisted, but what rank they in fact are.

And if you see no rank on the sleeves its either a PV1 or an officer, and carriage and age will usually narrow that down for you.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2015 10:59 PM

2015-03-17T22:59:51-04:00

bring this one back

Response by SPC Lukas Jones made Mar 19 at 2015 3:48 AM

2015-03-19T03:48:45-04:00

This may sound petty sir, but I think the rank on the chest is terrible! My seatbelt crosses right over my rank and I often hear MPs tell me that until they see a CaC card, they don't know what rank they are addressing!

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 19 at 2015 5:21 AM

2015-03-19T05:21:39-04:00

I'm happy being Aviation. Along with Chaplains, we also wear our branch on our uniforms via our Aviation Wings. Officers have Aviator (aka Pilot) Wings, and Enlisted (all 15 Series) have Aviation Wings.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 15 at 2015 4:07 AM

2015-04-15T04:07:38-04:00

I think both rank and branch on collar would be a great change.

Response by LTC Gavin Heater made Apr 27 at 2015 8:58 PM

2015-04-27T20:58:36-04:00

When the ACUs and the Multi-cams were created, they were intended to be universal, similliar to other countries, including several European countries and Canada. Unfortunately, I think that instead of making everyone look the same, the change actually made key distinctions go away, i.e Officer vs. Enlisted, and one branch vs. all Army or Navy, etc. There are times when I think that at least branch insignia should come back, so you know who you are talking to vs. what they tell you they are. On the other point you make, I never had a problem promoting a female Soldier, or being accused of looking the wrong way at a female Soldier's rank, but then again, I was usually senior to everyone.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Apr 29 at 2015 9:49 PM

2015-04-29T21:49:49-04:00

I'm guessing the Velcro rank on the chest was designed to be removed in a combat environment. Does anyone actually do that?

I vote for officer rank on collar. Enlisted on sleeves.

Response by SGT Anthony Rossi made Apr 29 at 2015 9:59 PM

2015-04-29T21:59:24-04:00

I personally miss the old look of having your rank on your arm.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 30 at 2015 12:17 AM

2015-04-30T00:17:46-04:00

Just get it off of the chest. I would prefer we all wear the same utility with different nametapes like we used to, MARPAT would be a money-saving endeavor. At least lose the Velcro on the sleeve pockets and go with all buttons. I could go on for days on this uniform crap.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 11 at 2015 10:23 PM

2015-11-11T22:23:59-05:00

I agree whole-heartedly. With the design of the collar on the new ACU in OCP, NOW is the time to make that change.

Response by SPC Greg Campbell made Feb 20 at 2019 9:43 PM

2019-02-20T21:43:32-05:00

dont remember ociffers having branch insignia on their collars on the OD green permanent sweat/freeze uniforms.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 27 at 2020 6:52 PM

2020-09-27T18:52:06-04:00

Yes and the branches they belong in.