The chart below shows the current enlisted rank insignia of the United States Army, with seniority, and pay grade, increasing from right to left. The enlisted ranks of corporal (E-4) and higher are considered non-commissioned officers (NCOs). The rank of specialist is also in pay grade E-4, but does not hold non-commissioned officer status; it is common that a soldier may never hold the rank of corporal, and instead be promoted from specialist to sergeant, attaining junior NCO status at that time.

In the beginning, U.S. Army enlisted rank was indicated by colored epaulets. The use of chevrons came into being in 1821, with the orientation changing over time from point-down to point-up and then back to point down again seen in the American Civil War. Around the turn of the 20th century, point-up wear of chevrons returned and has remained so.

History 1775–1821: epaulets

From the creation of the United States Army to 1821, non-commissioned officer (NCO) and staff non-commissioned officer (SNCO) ranks was distinguished by the wearing of usually worsted epaulets.

From 1775 until 1779, sergeants and corporals wore one epaulet on the right shoulder, corporals wore green epaulets, and sergeants wore red epaulets.Continental Army General Order July 23, 1775

In 1779, staff sergeants (or senior NCOs) were authorized to wear two silk epaulets for cavalry NCO never came in wide use while the wearing of white epaulettes prevailed.

By 1783/84, the Continental Army was discharged. For a few weeks, only 55 artillerymen at West Point and 25 men at Fort Pitt were to remain. In August 1784, the 700 men strong First American Regiment (including two companies of artillery) was organized as a temporary replacement for the Continental Army. In October 1786, with the approval of Congress, this force was to be expanded into a Legionary Corps of additional infantry, rifle troops, artillery, and dragoons. But this project never materialized. In 1791, the Second Regiment of Infantry was raised and organized as the First Regiment. The two regiments were consolidated into the Legion of the United States in 1792 including artillery and dragoons (the first federal mounted force since the discharge of the Continental Light Dragoons in 1783), that then transformed into the US Army in 1796.

Uniform regulations dated January 30, 1787 prescribed, SNCOs wore two silver silk epaulets, sergeants two worsted and corporals one worsted. In the same year, the epaulets' color of cavalry NCOs officially changed from blue to white.Us Army Uniform Regulations January 30, 1787 At that time the federal mounted force of two troops of dragoons existed only on paper and never got beyond the planning stage (see above).

In 1799, red worsted epaulets were prescribed for all NCOs in all branches: SNCOs on both shoulders, sergeants on the right shoulder, corporals on the left. Chief musicians were identified by two white epaulets.Emerson, William K.. U.S. Army Soldiers and Their Chevrons: An Illustrative Catalog and History from the Revolutionary War to Present. United States: R. James Bender, 2013., P. 22 Shortly after, in the year 1800, the color of the epaulets was changed to yellow, for chief musicians in to blue.Emerson, William K.. U.S. Army Soldiers and Their Chevrons: An Illustrative Catalog and History from the Revolutionary War to Present. United States: R. James Bender, 2013., P. 23 In reality, the artillery NCOs ignored the order of 1799 and maintained their yellow epaulets, as did a company of bombardiers, sappers, and miners recruited during the War of 1812. In 1802 the infantry NCOs switched back to their former white epaulets. By 1808 dragoons were wearing white and riflemen yellow. SNCOs probably wore two worsted epaulettes with crescent, sergeants two plain worsted epaulettes, and corporals wore one epaulette on the right shoulder. Sergeants were given two epaulets once again in 1812.Emerson, William K.. U.S. Army Soldiers and Their Chevrons: An Illustrative Catalog and History from the Revolutionary War to Present. United States: R. James Bender, 2013., P. 24

1821–1832: chevrons and "wings" vs. epaulettes From 1821 to 1832, enlisted personnel wore dark blue "wings" trimmed in yellow (infantry, in white) on each shoulder and a horizontal row of four yellow (infantry, white) buttons on each cuff. This precluded the use of epaulets. Rank was shown by a single, point up, chevron. Sergeants major and quartermaster sergeants wore the chevron on both upper sleeves, principal musicians and sergeants on both lower sleeves and corporals on the right upper sleeve. The chevrons were yellow for artillery and white for infantry. The regulations prescribe black chevrons for riflemen but that regiment had been abolished.General Regulations for The Army, March 2, 1821, Article 65, Paragraph 18, Page 157

In 1825 this system was changed. Sergeants major, quartermaster sergeants and principal musicians now wore a chevron and an arc on both upper sleeves, sergeant a chevron on both upper sleeves and corporals a chevron on both lower sleeves.General Regulations for The Army, March 1, 1825, Article 65, Paragraph 839, Page 158-159

1832–1851: epaulettes and slash flaps The above system was superseded in 1832. At that time, enlisted personnel wore a pair of yellow (infantry, white) cloth epaulets with 2 1/2" long and 1/2" in diameter gold (possibly silver for infantry) fringe for senior NCOs, 1/4” diameter worsted fringe for sergeants and 1/8’ inch worsted fringe for corporals (privates wore very short fringe). Senior NCOs wore a coat with two rows of ten buttons that ended 3 1/2" above the knees, while all other enlisted personnel had single-breasted coats with nine buttons that ended 7" above the knees. Senior NCOs would have worn a crimson colored sash and a yellow or white aiguillette.

In addition, there were on the cuffs a slash flap with yellow (infantry, white) lace and a vertical row of several golds (infantry, silver) buttons depending on grade: senior sergeants wore four flaps and buttons, sergeant wore three flaps and buttons, corporals and privates wore two flaps and buttons. A sergeant-major of artillery had a red plume on the dress hat and a sergeant major of infantry a white plume; quartermaster sergeants in both branches had a light blue plume. Principal or chief musicians were only in the infantry and wore a white plume. A first or orderly sergeant had no plume but wore the uniform of a sergeant with a red waist sash.

By 1834 the epaulets for senior NCOs were the same as those for lieutenants (gold for artillery or silver for infantry with 1/8” wide fringe). Unlike lieutenants the fringe was worsted in yellow for artillery and white for infantry.

When a regiment of dragoons was added in 1833, the prescribed uniforms had a simple pointed cuff and metal shoulder scales. Senior NCOs were distinguished by aiguillettes and yellow sashes. Sergeants wore three yellow point down chevrons on both upper sleeves and corporals two. The yellow sash was also worn by first sergeants.General Order 38, May 2, 1833

By 1839 ordnance sergeants wore the uniform of an artillery sergeant major with no aiguillette and a dark blue trouser stripe.REGULATIONS FOR THE UNIFORM AND DRESS OF THE ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, Washington, June, 1839.

In 1845, horse artillery companies were allowed dragoon-like uniforms with red chevrons.Emerson, William K.. U.S. Army Soldiers and Their Chevrons: An Illustrative Catalog and History from the Revolutionary War to Present. United States: R. James Bender, 2013., P.44

Chevrons on fatigue jackets 1833–1847 The use of the sergeant's and corporals's chevrons by dragoons beginning in 1833 is described in regulations as part of the description of the dress coat.General Regulations for the Army 1834, Article 54 p. 223 This would seem to indicate that they were not worn on the fatigue jacket. However a price list from the era shows higher prices for sergeant's and corporal's jackets due to the addition of the chevrons.Emerson, William K.. U.S. Army Soldiers and Their Chevrons: An Illustrative Catalog and History from the Revolutionary War to Present. United States: R. James Bender, 2013., p. 45 Therefore, it is probable that sergeants and corporals wore the chevrons on their fatigue jackets with first sergeants and senior NCOs being distinguished by their sashes.

This would have also applied to the Regiment of Mounted Riflemen created in 1846, especially since they were only allowed the fatigue jackets.

It is also possible, if not probable, that sergeants and corporals of other branches were wearing chevrons on their jackets prior to 1847.

Chevrons 1851–1902

In 1851 the army did a major overhaul of its uniforms. This introduced colors for each branch. Chevrons were to be of these colors. The 1851 colors were Saxony blue for infantry (changed to sky blue by 1857), red for artillery, yellow for engineers, orange for dragoons, green for mounted riflemen and crimson for ordnance.

Chevrons were now worn point down.General Order 31, June 12, 1851

In 1872 the construction of chevrons was changed to a single piece of colored cloth with the chevrons and arcs outlined in heavy black stitching. At this time engineers switched from yellow that they had shared with cavalry since 1858 to red with the stitching done in white. This began the concept of some branches having two colors.General Order 76, July 27, 1872

In 1884 the chevrons on dress uniforms were changed to a single piece of colored cloth with the chevrons and arcs made of gold lace. Engineers added white stitching around the lace.General Order 107, September 12, 1884

Chevrons were worn on coats, but were not worn on shirts. In fact shirts are barely mentioned in regulations. During the Spanish–American War in 1898 shirts were worn without coats due to the warm climates in which it was fought. The army allowed chevrons on shirts in July.Circular 26, July 25, 1898 The large coat chevrons did not fit on shirt sleeves so soldiers began to fashion smaller versions of their chevrons. The army gave preliminary approval of smaller chevrons in 1900.Emerson, William K.. U.S. Army Soldiers and Their Chevrons: An Illustrative Catalog and History from the Revolutionary War to Present. United States: R. James Bender, 2013., p. 93 Full implementation was superseded by a change in uniforms in 1902.

1902–present: chevrons point up

1902–1920

With the 1902 uniform change the smaller shirt sized chevrons were prescribed for all uniforms. They were to be worn point up. The chevrons were in the branch colors on a blue, white, khaki or olive drab background.General Order 81, July 17, 1902, Paragraph 78

The branch colors in 1902 were, Cavalry: Yellow Artillery: Red Infantry: Light Blue Quartermaster’s Department (including USMA Detachment): Buff Substance Department: Grey Medical Department & Hospital Corps: Maroon and White Corps of Engineers: Red and White Ordnance Department: Black and red Signal Corps: Orange and White

There were 34 enlisted ranks to be shown in these nine colors, each on four different backgrounds. This was more than the army's supply system could handle. In 1904 the colored chevrons were restricted to the dress blue coat. On olive drab, khaki and white uniforms the chevrons would be made of olive drab shirting flannel on the appropriate colored background to match the coat.General Order 197, December 31, 1904, Paragraph 89

Implementation of the new chevrons was slow. In 1905 the army ordered that any of the older larger chevrons still in use would also be worn point up.War Department Circular 61, November 30, 1905

According to Army Regulations of 1904Regulations for the Army of the United States, September 15, 1904, Article III, Paragraph 9, Page 10 the ranks and grades were:

12. Regimental Sergeant Major, Sergeant Major Senior Grade, Master Electrician, Master Signal Electrician.

13. Ordnance Sergeant,