Chief Master Sergeant shoulder marks are worn on the epaulets of the 50/50 acrylic-wool pullover sweater and the blue or white cardigan sweaters.
The Chief Master Sergeant grade of E-9 is the highest of the enlisted grades (along with E-7 Master Sergeant, E-8 Senior Master Sergeant, and E-7 to E-9 First Sergeants) authorized to wear their insignia of grade on shoulder marks, a privilege that at one time was also extended to include the shirts and blouses worn with the Service Dress, Semi-Formal Dress, and Blue Service uniform.
Permission to wear shoulder marks on the epaulets of those shirts and blouses was withdrawn based due to the redesign of the insignia of the chevrons in 1991/1992, but not until fifteen years had elapsed. October 1, 2006 marked the date that SNCOs were once again required to wear metal grade insignia on epaulets in lieu of shoulder marks.