Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!spool.mu.edu!news.cs.indiana.edu!att!cbfsb!cbnewsc!cbnews!cbnews!military
From: bcstec!shuksan!major@uunet.UU.NET (Mike Schmitt)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Military Insignia question
Message-ID: <1991Mar6.042306.25220@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 6 Mar 91 04:23:06 GMT
References: <1991Mar4.212349.9497@cbnews.att.com>
Sender: military@cbnews.att.com (william.b.thacker)
Organization: The Boeing Co., MMST, Seattle, Wa.
Lines: 42
Approved: military@att.att.com



From: bcstec!shuksan!major@uunet.UU.NET (Mike Schmitt)


> From: dennett@Kodak.COM (Charlie Dennett)
> After watching General Swartzkopf the other day, I noticed what
> appeared to be a short leather strap hanging from his right shirt
> pocket.  On this there were four items, all black.  There were two
> stars.  I couldn't make out the other two items.  I've seen the same
> leather strap on a few other officers.  What is this and what is the
> significance of the items that are attached to the strap.

  I believe what you are describing is the rank insignia of a Saudi
  full general.  The Saudis use a series of crossed swords, stars, and
  wreaths to depict rank.  This is common in a multi-national force to
  wear your counterpart's insignia.  It might be confusing to the officers
  and men of the other nation's trying to figure out whether they are
  talking to a general or a lieutenant.  Many foreign armies use the star
  to denote the lower ranks - lieutenant to senior lieutenant - then add
  a wreath to denote field-grade ranks - then a sword or 'red' to denote
  general rank (or something more elaborate).  Not that I should think
  anybody would mistake General Schwartzkopf for a major.   :-) 
  I believe 4-stars is the rank for a Spanish Senior Captain.

  In Vietnam we all wore our counterpart rank insignia on our right pocket.
  And we wore the FWMAF patch (Free World Military Assistance Forces)

  When I was a liaison officer to the German 12th Panzer Division and to
  the 35th PanzerGrenadier Brigade - I wore the equivalent German rank
  insignia along with the 12th PzDiv patch.  However, when I was liaison 
  with the 13th French Commandos, we didn't wear ANY insignia.

  Someone's going to come out with a book called "Insignia of the Gulf War".


  mike schmitt