Nonsubdued cloth grade insignia is embroidered on cloth manufactured in a camouflage pattern. Like all nonsubdued grade insignia for officers (with the exception of 2nd Lieutenant and Major), the actual rank insignia is embroidered in black thread on a swatch of cloth featuring the Universal Camouflage Pattern (UCP) employed on the Army Combat Uniform, or ACU; this is why “ACU rank” became shorthand for this type of cloth insignia.
Nonsubdued grade insignia is worn not only on the Army Combat Uniform, but also on jackets and headgear, and consequently is manufactured in a variety of styles to facilitate attaching it to different garments. Additionally, in 2015 the Army announced it was phasing out ACUs manufactured with the UCP camouflage and replacing them with uniforms employing the Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP). Please use the Pattern drop-down selector to choose the type of camouflage found on the uniform for which you are purchasing this insignia.
Rank with Velcro: Nonsubdued Lieutenant Colonel insignia embroidered on a cloth with hook-and-loop, or Velcro, backing; the insignia is placed on Velcro pads found on the ACU and the parka worn with the Extended Cold Weather Clothing System. (Since 2011, Officer and Enlisted personnel have had the option of using sew-on insignia rather than Velcro-backed insignia, but when doing so must sew it onto the Velcro face pad on the uniform item.)
Cap Rank: The Lieutenant Colonel rank insignia is embroidered on a cloth that is sewn directly onto headgear such as the Patrol Cap or the Sun Hat (boonie).
GorTex: Subdued cloth rank insignia tabs may be worn on the ECWCS parka by sliding them over the front tab found on the parka. “GorTex” is a reference to the material (Gore-Tex®) used to manufacture the parka.