The most recent edition (May 2017) of the Army’s primary set of uniform regulations specifies that nonsubdued sew-on grade insignia—the familiar golden chevrons seen on various types of Army dress uniforms—are to be manufactured on either a or blue or white background. Golden chevrons on a white background are designed to be attached to the sleeves of the White Mess jacket; chevrons on blue are to be sewn onto the sleeves of the Blue Mess and Army Service / Dress Uniform jackets.
In addition to these two types of nonsubdued sew-on rank insignia, we also offer tan chevrons on a Heritage Green background for wear on the Army Green Service Uniform (AGSU) and golden-yellow chevrons on a green background for customers who own the Class A Army Green Uniform, which was replaced by the blue Army Service Uniform at the end of September 2015.
Chevrons are to be placed midway between the jacket’s shoulder seam and the elbow on each sleeve. Here at The Salute Uniforms, we offer a chevron-sewing service and sleeve alerations for our customers ordering any of our dress uniform jackets.
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When the United States Army established the position of Sergeant Major of the Army in July 1966, it had not yet approved a rank insignia for the new office. Since the position was rooted in the rank of Sergeant Major, the first holders of the officer wore the SGM’s insignia of three chevrons, three arcs, and a star. Shortly after the establishment of the Sergeant Major rank, the Army created another derivative of the Sergeant Major rank, Command Sergeant Major, and in 1968 it authorized an insignia for this position consisting of the SGM insignia but with the star encircled by a wreath. Still lacking a distinct insignia, the Sergeant Major of the Army was authorized to wear this new insignia until it was given its own unique and permanent rank insignia.
It wasn’t until nearly a dozen years passed that the Sergeant Major of the Army received its own insignia: the design featured the three chevrons/arcs of the Sergeant Major insignia but had two stars centered between the bottom chevron and topmost arc. Fifteen years later—and nearly 30 years after William O. Wooldridge was sworn in as the first Sergeant Major of the Army—the insignia underwent another change with the addition of the obverse of the Great Seal of the United States between the two stars (reduced in size to make room for the new object).
Although the book The Sergeants Major of the Army states the change “brought the Sergeant Major of the Army insignia into line with that worn by other services” because it now had an eagle, this was not true at the time: the insignia for the Air Force’s most senior enlisted Airman, the Chief Master Sergeant of the Force, did not have an eagle in it until 2004.
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