The distinctive silver bar with the thin black enamel line in the center has adorned the nonsubdued pin-on metal rank insignia of Chief Warrant Officers 5 since 1991, but the design was approved over twenty years earlier in 1970; in fact, it was created before the rank of CW5 even existed. It is authorized for wear on the shoulder loops of the Army Green Service Uniform Coat, the Black or Green All-Weather Coat, and the Black or Green Windbreaker. The insignia is worn shoulder loops, 5/8-inch from the outside shoulder seam and centered front to back (see
Figure 21-41 of DA PAM 670-1).
Sold in pairs, this pin-on CW5 rank insignia is also authorized for wear as part of the sleeve ornamentation on the White or Blue Mess jackets, where it’s worn vertically and centered in the area formed by the lower two curves of the jacket’s trefoil (knot) meeting the sleeve braid. However, regulations authorize Chief Warrant Officers 5 (as well as all Commissioned and Warrant Officers, in fact) to wear embroidered insignia instead of this nonsubdued metal insignia on both Mess and Evening Mess. We recommend our embroidered bullion CW5 rank insignia (see link below) for wear on those uniform items.
More CWO 5 Rank Insignia Pre-2004 Warrant Officer Branch Items