Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!att!cbnews!cbnews!military
From: bcstec!shuksan!major@uunet.UU.NET (Mike Schmitt)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: U.S. Army rank insignia question
Message-ID: <1991Mar12.232428.69@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 12 Mar 91 23:24:28 GMT
References: <1991Mar6.041957.25008@cbnews.att.com>
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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