Additional definitions as applied in this article:
"Chevron" means an approximately V-shape design. The term as used herein does not distinguish between chevrons that point up or down, or between those that have straight edges or curved edges, or other minor variations. It applies to the style of rank device worn by members of the air forces of the US, Turkey and the Dominican Republic, which are curved (rather than pointed) in the centre. It also applies to "chevrons" that have horizontal ends.
Chevrons and stripes of different widths are referred to: "regular", "semi-wide", and "wide". Semi-wide chevrons/stripes are conspicuously broader than "regular" chevrons/stripes, and wide chevrons/stripes are conspicuously broader than semi-wide chevrons/stripes. Precise breadths differ from service to service. In determining breadths, services should ensure that potential for mistaking a regular chevron/stripe for a semi-wide chevron/stripe, a semi-wide chevron/stripe for a wide chevron/stripe, etc. is minimal. Note that these definitions are separate from similar definitions applied elsewhere.
"JNCO ranks" means junior NCO ranks (e.g. corporal ranks).
"NCO ranks" means non-commissioned officer ranks.
"Rank class" means:
- WO ranks;
- SNCO ranks; or
- JNCO ranks;
except that in some cases all NCO ranks are identified as a single rank class.
"SNCO ranks" means senior NCO ranks (e.g. sergeant ranks).
"WO ranks" means enlisted warrant officer ranks, i.e. a class of enlisted ranks that is above and distinct from NCO ranks of the same service (e.g. in French, adjudant). (It does not refer to American-style WO ranks, which are not enlisted ranks.) A service may have an additional SNCO rank instead of, and equivalent to, a WO rank (depending on the traditions of the service concerned).
Number and seniority of WO/NCO ranks:
Enlisted/other ranks/non-officer rank structures vary considerably. Some services have a number of WO/NCO levels that is way beyond what is necessary. For the purposes of this article it is necessary to determine an effective and efficient maximum number of WO/NCO levels, and then determine insignia systems in accordance with that number.
The purpose of NCOs is to provide leadership or supervision. Therefore the lowest NCO rank should be that typically held by those holding the lowest-level (genuine) leadership/supervisory positions. Thus the lowest NCO rank should be commensurate with leadership of an infantry fire-team (which comprises four or more men). Therefore there is no requirement for more than four enlisted ranks above the lowest NCO rank. Note that the number of salary levels (or other classifications) can exceed the number of ranks, so there is no need for the number of ranks to coincide with the number of salary levels.
Seniority:
- "rank A" means the typical rank of a commander of at least three other people;
- "rank B" means the typical rank of a commander of at least seven other people;
- "rank C" means the typical rank of the senior non-commissioned member of a platoon-level organisation;
- "rank D" means the typical rank of the senior non-commissioned member of a company-level organisation;
- "rank E" means the typical rank of the senior non-commissioned member of a battalion-level or greater organisation.
If additional ranks are desired the insignia systems described herein can accommodate them by the inclusion of segmented stripes, half-width chevrons/stripes/arcs, or other devices, for the additional ranks. Adding ranks should not alter the correlation between the seniority of ranks and designs that represent them as specified below.
Miscellaneous:
It is important to recognise the distinction between a WO rank and an equivalent NCO rank. An NCO rank must be represented only as an NCO rank, and a WO rank must be represented only as a WO rank. That an NCO of one service is equivalent to a WO of another does not entitle the NCO to distinctions of WO rank. Potential for NCOs to be mistaken for WOs or vice versa should be avoided.
Individual services determine whether their chevrons point up or down (according to each service's own tradition).
In a number of insignia systems stripes may be disposed horizontally or diagonally (with the lowest end towards the wearer's front).
There may be any number of grades below the lowest NCO rank. A number of services apply rank insignia to levels below the lowest NCO rank. Such designs are beyond the scope of this article. However, if rank insignia are to be used for any grade below the lowest NCO rank, it's preferable that they be limited to only the highest such grade.
N.C.O. SYSTEM 1: STRIPES
Note. This system would normally be used in conjunction with a WO rank (though five stripes are possible for a WO-equivalent NCO rank).
Specifications by rank:
Rank A. 1 regular stripe.
Rank B. 2 regular stripes.
Rank C. 3 regular stripes.
Rank D. 4 regular stripes.
Example:
1.
2.
N.C.O. SYSTEM 2: STRIPES
Note. Designs for SNCO ranks include a semi-wide stripe and designs for JNCO ranks don't.
Specifications by rank:
Rank A. 1 regular stripe.
Rank B. 2 regular stripes.
Rank C. 1 semi-wide stripe.
Rank D. 1 semi-wide stripe + 1 regular stripe.
Rank E (NCO). 1 semi-wide stripe + 2 regular stripes.
Examples:
1.
2.
N.C.O. SYSTEM 3: CHEVRONS
Note. Designs for SNCO ranks include a semi-wide chevron and designs for JNCO ranks don't.
Specifications by rank:
Rank A. 1 regular chevron.
Rank B. 2 regular chevrons.
Rank C. 1 semi-wide chevron.
Rank D. 1 semi-wide chevron + 1 regular chevron.
Rank E (NCO). 1 semi-wide chevron + 2 regular chevrons.
Examples:
1.
2.
N.C.O. SYSTEM 4: CHEVRONS
Notes:
1. The outer ends of a stripe line up with the outer corners of a chevron on the open side of the chevron.
2. Stripes may be supplanted by arcs (curved away from the chevrons) or additional chevrons (which point in the opposite direction to the first three).
3. All chevrons, stripes and arcs are of equal thickness.
4. Additional devices may be placed between the chevrons and the stripes/arcs/additional chevrons to represent something other than grade (e.g. occupational specialty or certain appointments).
5. Designs for SNCO ranks include three chevrons pointing in the same direction and designs for JNCO ranks don't.
Specifications by rank:
Rank A. 1 regular chevron.
Rank B. 2 regular chevrons.
Rank C. 3 regular chevrons.
Rank D. 3 regular chevrons + 1 regular stripe.
Rank E (NCO). 3 regular chevrons + 2 regular stripes.
Examples:
1.
2.
3.
N.C.O. SYSTEM 5: CHEVRONS
Note. This system would normally be used in conjunction with a WO rank. (Other systems present a tidier appearance for more than four NCO ranks.)
Specifications by rank:
Rank A. 1 regular chevron.
Rank B. 2 regular chevrons.
Rank C. 3 regular chevrons.
Rank D. 4 regular chevrons.
Examples:
1.
2.
N.C.O. SYSTEM 6: BRITISH ARMY-STYLE
Notes:
1. Current users include Commonwealth armies and air forces.
2. This system is to be used in conjunction with WO System 3.
Specifications by rank:
Rank A. 1 downward-pointing regular chevron.
Rank B. 2 downward-pointing regular chevrons.
Rank C. 3 downward-pointing regular chevrons.
Rank D. 3 downward-pointing regular chevrons below a small crown (monarchies) or national emblem (republics).
Examples:
1.
• Applies to a service of a nation that has does not have a reigning monarch, hence the national emblem.
2.
• Applies to a service of a nation that has a reigning monarch, hence the crown.
N.C.O. SYSTEM 7: ROYAL NAVY-STYLE
Notes:
1. Current users are Commonwealth navies.
2. This system is applicable to maritime services only.
3. This system is to be used in conjunction with WO System 3.
4. Rank "A" is often omitted. The device rank described below for this rank is the best of those currently used. (See this page for more information).
5. Normally both options for rank "D" would be used in the one service for different garments. The alternative to the forearm buttons is an embroidered badge (option II) on the upper arm.
6. The badge design for rank "D" should not be confused with the cap or beret badge design for this rank (cap/beret design includes a circlet and has a conspicuously different style of wreath).
7. Services that use these designs normally use headdress insignia designs that are specific to several of these ranks. These are beyond the scope of this article.
Specifications by rank:
Rank A. 2 lengths of rope loosely entwined in a reef knot formation disposed vertically.
Rank B. Vertical foul anchor.
Rank C. 2 crossed foul anchors below a small crown (monarchies) or national emblem (republics).
Rank D. Option I. 3 gold buttons disposed horizontally on outer side of forearm part of sleeves. Buttons are the same as those worn on the front of the garment.
Rank D. Option II. Vertical foul anchor within a wreath below a small crown (monarchies) or national emblem (republics).
Examples:
1.
2.
N.C.O. SYSTEM 8: STARS WITH RANK CLASS INDICATOR
Notes:
1. Ranks are represented using stars with ranks of different rank classes having the same number of stars. To distinguish ranks that have the same number of stars from each other there is something else (or an absence thereof) that is distinctive to a particular rank class that does not on its own represent an individual rank (referred to here as a "rank class indicator"). A "rank class indicator" may consist of one or more components and designs vary greatly.
2. The lowest rank class to which this system is applied may be denoted by a rank class indicator or by the absence of one. The latter has greater efficiency and clarity and is therefore preferable.
3. Stars could be supplanted by devices of a different design that are used in the same way.
4. Either all JNCO ranks are represented according to "option I" or "option II", not a mixture.
5. See additional notes regarding rank class indicators.
Specifications by rank:
Rank A. Option I. 1 star.
Rank A. Option II. JNCO rank class indicator + 1 star.
Rank B. Option I. 2 stars.
Rank B. Option II. JNCO rank class indicator + 2 stars.
Rank C. SNCO rank class indicator + 1 star.
Rank D. SNCO rank class indicator + 2 stars.
Rank E (NCO). SNCO rank class indicator + 3 stars.
Example:
• In this case JNCO ranks are distinguished by an absence of a bar and SNCO ranks have one bar.
N.C.O. SYSTEM 9: STARS WITH RANK CLASS INDICATOR
Notes:
1. Ranks are represented using stars with ranks of different rank classes having the same number of stars. To distinguish ranks that have the same number of stars from each other there is something else (or an absence thereof) that is distinctive to a particular rank class that does not on its own represent an individual rank (referred to here as a "rank class indicator"). A "rank class indicator" may consist of one or more components and designs vary greatly.
2. This system is basically the same as NCO System 8, the difference being that it doesn't divide the NCO rank class between SNCO and JNCO classes.
3. The lowest rank class to which this system is applied may be denoted by a rank class indicator or by the absence of one. The latter has greater efficiency and clarity and is therefore preferable.
4. Stars could be supplanted by devices of a different design that are used in the same way.
5. Either all NCO ranks are represented according to "option I" or "option II", not a mixture.
6. See additional notes regarding rank class indicators.
Specifications by rank:
Rank A. Option I. 1 star.
Rank A. Option II. NCO rank class indicator + 1 star.
Rank B. Option I. 2 stars.
Rank B. Option II. NCO rank class indicator + 2 stars.
Rank C. Option I. 3 stars.
Rank C. Option II. NCO rank class indicator + 3 stars.
Rank D. Option I. 4 stars.
Rank D. Option II. NCO rank class indicator + 4 stars.
Rank E (NCO). Option I. 5 stars.
Rank E (NCO). Option II. NCO rank class indicator + 5 stars.
Example:
• In this case NCO ranks are distinguished by an absence of a rank class indicator.
W.O. SYSTEM 1: STRIPE
Note. This system is intended to be used in conjunction with NCO System 1 or 2.
Specifications by rank:
Rank E (WO). 1 wide stripe.
Examples:
1.
2.
W.O. SYSTEM 2: CHEVRON
Note. This system is intended to be used in conjunction with NCO System 3, 4 or 5.
Specifications by rank:
Rank E (WO). 1 wide chevron.
Examples:
1.
2.
W.O. SYSTEM 3: BRITISH-STYLE
Notes:
1. This system applies to the armed forces of Commonwealth nations.
2. This is a resurrection of the arrangement that existed in Imperial armies up to World War I: a single WO rank called Warrant Officer. Inherent in this proposal is the abolition of other WO ranks and a resumption of appointing staff/colour sergeants and their equivalents to company sergeant-major and equivalent positions.
3. Up to World War I the badge of the sole WO rank was either a crown or a crown within a wreath, depending on the type of appointment that a WO held. However, as it is increasingly common for WO and officer rank insignia to be worn in the same way it is proposed that, to avoid confusion with the officer rank that is represented by a lone crown/national emblem (major), the wreath be included in all cases.
Specifications by rank:
Rank E (WO). Crown (monarchies) or national emblem (republics) within a wreath.
Example:
• Applies to services of countries whose monarch is that of the United Kingdom (hence the crown of St Edward).
W.O. SYSTEM 4: STAR WITH RANK CLASS INDICATOR
Notes:
1. Ranks are represented using stars with ranks of different rank classes having the same number of stars. To distinguish ranks that have the same number of stars from each other there is something else (or an absence thereof) that is distinctive to a particular rank class that does not on its own represent an individual rank (referred to here as a "rank class indicator"). A "rank class indicator" may consist of one or more components and designs vary greatly.
2. The lowest rank class to which this system is applied may be denoted by a rank class indicator or by the absence of one. The latter has greater efficiency and clarity and is therefore preferable.
3. Stars could be supplanted by devices of a different design that are used in the same way.
4. See additional notes regarding rank class indicators.
Specifications by rank:
Rank E (WO). Option I. 1 star.
Rank E (WO). Option II. WO rank class indicator + 1 star.
Examples:
1.
• In this case SNCO ranks are distinguished by one bar and WO by two.
2.
• In this case the WO class is distinguished by a border.
W.O. SYSTEM 5: DEVICE UNIQUE TO RANK CLASS
Note. This system employs a device of a design that is unique to the WO rank class.
Specifications by rank:
Rank E (WO). 1 WO device.
Example:
