This page covers grade insignia for enlisted personnel, including insignia descriptions, nonsubdued sew-on grade insignia, nonsubdued pin-on grade insignia, subdued pin-on grade insignia, and how enlisted grade insignia is worn.
Senior Enlisted Grade Insignia
Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
The SEAC grade insignia has three chevr¬ons above three arcs with a gold eagle device centered between four five-pointed stars centered horizontally between the chevrons and arcs.
Sergeant Major of the Army
The SMA grade insignia has three chevrons above three arcs with the eagle from the Great Seal of the United States centered between two five-pointed stars centered horizontally between the chevrons and arcs.
Command Sergeant Major
The CSM grade insignia has three chevrons above three arcs with a five-pointed star within a wreath between the chevrons and arcs.
Sergeant Major
The sergeant major grade insignia has three chevrons above three arcs with a five-pointed star between the chevrons and arcs.
→ Read full Senior Enlisted insignia guide
Senior NCO Grade Insignia
First Sergeant
The first sergeant grade insignia has three chevrons above three arcs with a pierced lozenge between the chevrons and arcs.
Master Sergeant
The master sergeant grade insignia has three chevrons above three arcs.
Sergeant First Class
The sergeant first class grade insignia has three chevrons above two arcs.
Staff Sergeant
The staff sergeant grade insignia has three chevrons above one arc.
→ Read full Senior NCO insignia guide
Junior NCO Grade Insignia
Sergeant
The sergeant grade insignia has three chevrons.
Corporal
The corporal grade insignia has two chevrons.
→ Read full Junior NCO insignia guide
Junior Enlisted Grade Insignia
Specialist
The specialist grade insignia is shaped like an inverted chevron at the bottom with an eagle device in the center.
Private First Class
The private first class grade insignia has one chevron above one arc.
Private Second Class
The private second class grade insignia has one chevron.
Private
The private wears no grade insignia.
→ Read full Junior Enlisted insignia guide
Nonsubdued Sew-On Grade Insignia
Embroidered, sew-on grade insignia is a golden-light color with a back-ground in Army blue or white cloth for the ASU.
Embroidered, sew-on grade insignia is heritage tan 566 with a background in heritage green 564 for the AGSU.
→ Read full Sew-On Grade Insignia guide
Nonsubdued Pin-On Grade Insignia
Polished brass nonsubdued pin-on grade insignia for all enlisted personnel is identical in design to the nonsubdued sew-on grade insignia described above, except that the width of each chevron and arc is 3/32 inch with a 1/16-inch open space between the chevrons and arcs.
→ Read full Pin-On Grade Insignia guide
Subdued Grade Insignia
Subdued metal pin-on grade insignia is identical to the nonsubdued pin-on grade insignia described above, except the insignia has a dull, flat black finish.
→ Read full Subdued Grade Insignia guide
How Enlisted Grade Insignia Is Worn
Army Service Uniform (ASU)
Enlisted nonsubdued cloth grade insignia is sewn on each sleeve of the ASU coat and on each sleeve of the mess jacket.
→ Read full ASU Enlisted Rank Placement guide
Army Green Service Uniform (AGSU)
Enlisted nonsubdued cloth grade insignia is sewn on each sleeve of the AGSU coat and short- and long-sleeved shirts.
→ Read full AGSU Enlisted Rank Placement guide
Utility Uniforms and ECWCS Jackets
All enlisted personnel will wear subdued grade insignia on utility uniforms and on the ECWCS jackets.