Posted on Oct 12, 2014
Should the NCO rank be on the sleeve (like USAF) on the combat uniform?
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BLUF: Should the NCO rank be on the sleeve (like USAF) on the combat uniform? (and Class B)?
I heard an interesting theory a couple weeks ago. NCOs are the "backbone" of the Army. (and the rest of the services). On the current ACU uniform as well as the Class B, you really have to be "right up on" someone in order to see the rank. The perspective I received (from another service officer) is that the Army is "reducing" the value of the rank by making it harder to distinguish. Take the example of an E8 and E9 rank on the ACU. We have all mis-identified that.
I heard an interesting theory a couple weeks ago. NCOs are the "backbone" of the Army. (and the rest of the services). On the current ACU uniform as well as the Class B, you really have to be "right up on" someone in order to see the rank. The perspective I received (from another service officer) is that the Army is "reducing" the value of the rank by making it harder to distinguish. Take the example of an E8 and E9 rank on the ACU. We have all mis-identified that.
Posted in these groups: 
Uniforms
Uniforms
Edited 11 y ago
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 41
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I think we should go back to the way it was in WWII where rank was worn on the sleeve of every uniform.
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Unless the Army is going to redesign the uniform to fit the rank on the sleeve or give us a uniform that we can press, we need to leave well enough alone.
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I may be out now, but even the old collar tabs were hard to see at times... (besides alcohol related moments) They should go back to the sleeve or the collar. But in the middle of the chest seems dumb...
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SGT (Join to see)
I agree, as well as find it redundant that rank is worn center mass and center of the PC. Had a good conversation with a buddy about instead of puttting rank on the PC, maybe go back to what they did in Civil War days where branch insignia was worn instead.
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CSM (Join to see), I know just what you mean. It's tough to know whether to call a senior NCO First Sergeant or Sergeant Major, based on the rank as it is. (Is that a diamond or a star? Very hard to tell.) Nevertheless, I think the rank insignia is where it belongs.
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I'm in favor of sleeves in dress uniforms, to include shirts. On the combat uniform, I'm in favor of emblems on the collar, but not on headgear. Why? For the same reason I'm in favor of eliminating unit patches. Why give the enemy more intel then we have to. The larger the rank (sleeves would make for some large rank indeed) the easier it is for enemy marksmen to eliminate unit leadership...
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CSM (Join to see), I had a thought along that line regarding when the Marines wear the woodland patterned CCU ... All the ranks just looks like a black blob (officers included when they do the subdued field rank)!
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Working in a joint environment It gets really hard to distinguish when identifying ranks especially during the early hours and when the sun goes down. To be more specific the NAVY ranks are the hardest to identify due to E7 chiefs where most SM assume they are offers when they see shiny. I love the Air force because the enlisted ranks are in the sleeves and the officer ranks is in their collars
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CSM,
I have to disagree with this one. The Marine Corps has the smallest ranks of any of the other services but the respect they have for the ranks is one of the best I have seen. I don't think the size or location of the rank reduces the value of the rank at all.
I have to disagree with this one. The Marine Corps has the smallest ranks of any of the other services but the respect they have for the ranks is one of the best I have seen. I don't think the size or location of the rank reduces the value of the rank at all.
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Suspended Profile
I'm mixed on if it should go on the sleeve or back on the collar. You literally have to be a couple feet away to distinguish a 1SG and SGM/CSM. I have even at times had A hard time distinguishing SFC/MSG.
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