The insignia embossed on the anodized gold buttons worn on USMC Dress Uniform jackets dates back to 1804, when buttons on Marine uniforms featured an eagle perched atop a fouled anchor, with thirteen stars even spaced out along the periphery of the button’s upper half. Back then, the stars were six-pointed; these were later changed to the five-pointed style seen today, but six-pointed stars are still used by some USMC organizations such as the Marine Corps History Division.
Button sizes vary depending upon the type of jacket. Use the guide below to make your selections:
- Male Enlisted Dress Blue Jacket : 6 size 40 Ligne buttons and 12 size 27 Ligne buttons
- Male Officer Dress Blue Jacket : 4 size 40 Ligne buttons and 6 size 27 Ligne buttons
- Male SNCO Evening Dress Jacket : 6 size 27 Ligne buttons and 2 size 27 Ligne buttons
- Male Officer Evening Dress Jacket : 13 size 27 Ligne buttons and 2 size 27 Ligne buttons
- Female Enlisted / Officer Dress Blue Jacket : 4 size 40 Ligne buttons and 2 size 27 Ligne buttons
- Female Evening Dress Jacket : 4 size 27 Ligne buttons