sowa@amdew.llnl.gov (Erik C. Sowa) (03/06/91)
From: sowa@amdew.llnl.gov (Erik C. Sowa) The insignia designating rank on desert-storm battle dress uniforms seems (from my TV at least) to be all black. How does one distinguish between major and lieutentant colonel, or between 1st and 2nd lieutenant (normally distinguished by the colors gold and silver)? -- "One way or another..." erik sowa (sowa@amdew.llnl.gov)
major@uunet.UU.NET (Mike Schmitt) (03/13/91)
From: bcstec!shuksan!major@uunet.UU.NET (Mike Schmitt) > From: sowa@amdew.llnl.gov (Erik C. Sowa) > > The insignia designating rank on desert-storm battle dress uniforms > seems (from my TV at least) to be all black. How does one distinguish > between major and lieutentant colonel, or between 1st and 2nd > lieutenant (normally distinguished by the colors gold and silver)? This is called 'subdued' color ranks. Subdued LTC is black. Subdued Major is brown. Subdued 1LT is black - subdued 2LT is brown. Kinda hard to tell - salute everybody. In garrison, senior NCOs always request officers wear full-color rank insignia on their soft caps, so the soldier don't get into trouble when they can't tell the rank. Subdued division insignia is also worn. It took a direct order from the Army Chief of Staff to force the 1st Infantry Division to wear a subdued patch - the full color patch is olive drab with a 'big red one'. As one general of the 1st ID said, "we're the big red one - not the big black one". The issue was forced with the introduction of camouflage fatigues. mike schmitt