Why don’t we put rank back on uniform collar?

Forgive me but I'm about to wander into the weeds here. And no, I'm not joking. Obviously, in any encounter, those on active duty are inclined to glance at the rank of someone with whom they are not familiar, even in passing to determine if a salute is needed. That means men are forced to stare at the chests of female service members and that tends to get me in trouble with women in civilian life. Is it the same in the active military?

This is one time I think the Air Force has it right. For a very long time in US history, the Army, Navy, and Marines wore enlisted rank on the sleeve. (At some point the Navy decided to put enlisted rank on only one sleeve, but on the sleeve none the less.) The Air Force inherited enlisted rank placement from the Army of 1947--on the sleeve. Exactly why the other three services started moving rank around on their uniforms I can't explain, but it's time to go back to the future. Put enlisted rank on the sleeve. It can be subdued for combat uniforms and work uniforms, but I don't recall a report anywhere of enlisted rank on the sleeve of a uniform giving away to presence of an enlisted person in a combat environment. I can be corrected on this, but I don't remember seeing anything about it. We do know that shiny officer rank on helmets or hats is a bad idea. It helps the bad guys identify who to shoot first and there are documented cases of this happening from at least the Revolutionary War onward--shooting the officers first that is. So officers should wear subdued rank on collars and hats of work uniforms and perhaps no rank on headgear of combat uniforms. Service dress uniforms jackets (a.k.a. blouses) take care of themselves for all services. Shirts for service dress (Class B) sometimes end up with enlisted rank on the collar, bad idea.
I'm for keeping it simple: enlisted rank on the sleeve on all uniforms, coats, jackets, blouses, etc. Officer rank on the shoulder or collar. Subdued rank on work, combat, and special purpose uniforms. Colorful rank on service dress uniforms. Clean, simple, easy to remember, easy to teach.

I had this discussion with a coworker yesterday. With the rank on the collar it is easier to distinguish enlisted from officers.

I have never much liked the rank being placed on the chest. I would at least want it back on the collar but I would really like for it back on the sleeves.

I believed they took it off due to the change of style of the battle dress uniform. The collar was meant to cover the neck in combat condition. Other armies such as France have worn their rank at chesh level going back decades. I'd like to see rank back on the sleeves again, not little collar size but full size to be worn in garrison and slick in combat zones.

I do agree that it does cause a shift in the eyes. Having never had that brought to my attention on before I retired, I will say that I would have run it up through the SMAs office. If you are currently serving I recommend you do the same. Thank you for your service. Of depending on your level, you may want to speak with the Dovision or State CSM first.

CSM (Join to see) - as a soldier who joined after rank moved to the chest, having looked at pictures of when rank was on the collars, I don’t know how you did it. To me, the chest rank placement is front and center, easily aligned and visible.
You came up on a different standard, and when the standard changed, it scrambled your default program. Definitely makes sense. Happens all the time. Why do the kids text message all the time? Just leave a voicemail, for crying out loud. Just a different standard they were raised on.

In 25 years, when rank is moved to the arms, or wherever else the good idea fairy decides to place it, the Sergeants Major of the day (who are on the ship line to basic at this very moment) will be like, “why can’t rank just go back to the chest. It was fine before and better placed on the chest in my opinion.”

Honest Truth, my only real gripe with army rank is you cannot tell a diamond or star from more then 1 foot away, cannot tell you how many times I was corrected in an indignant fashion for saying "Good Morning 1SG" to an unknown SGM. Sorry Guys, but there needs to be a clearer delineation between 1SG's rank and SGM rank.

I've been wondering this very thing the first moment I saw a female Soldier in ACUs many years ago.

It is also frustrating when someone is wearing their kit, or taking on TV and the rank is out of the view of the shot.

I am curious about the thoughts of the good idea fairy that came up with the notion of placing the rank there in the first place.

Maybe it was a cost factor. We only use 2/3 of the metal rank now.