Insignia, << ihn SIHG nee uh, >> are emblems of metal or cloth worn by a person in uniform. These emblems identify the wearer’s rank or grade, branch of service, duty assignment, or honors. Insignia may also take the form of a wound stripe, a length-of-service stripe called a “hash mark,” or a fourragere, a braided cord looped over the shoulder.
Officers in the United States Army and United States Air Force wear insignia of rank on each shoulder, in the form of small gold or silver bars, oak leaves, eagles, or stars. Army officers wear branch-of-service insignia on blouse lapels, and, on some uniforms, insignia of rank and branch of service on their shirt collars. Enlisted personnel of both services wear cloth chevrons on both arms as insignia of rank. In the Army, they wear metal branch-of-service insignia on their blouse lapels. Army engineer officers wear distinctive buttons bearing the motto Essayons, meaning Let us try. United States Army insignia date from 1775, when George Washington directed militia officers to wear colored rosettes on their hats to indicate rank.
Naval officers wear gold stripes on their cuffs or shoulder boards. On some uniforms, they wear miniature metal insignia, similar to those of army officers, on their shirt collars. The insignia of rating for enlisted personnel are short diagonal stripes on the upper left sleeve. The petty officers’ insignia of rating, an eagle and chevrons, also appear on the upper left sleeve. The specialty insignia are between the eagle and chevrons.
The Western world’s use of insignia probably started in 1097, when the Crusaders besieging Antioch used shield symbols for identification. Later, barons adopted insignia as family coats of arms and orders of knighthood. These emblems included heavily jeweled necklaces, medals studded with precious stones, and other elaborate ornaments. The Order of the Garter, the highest and oldest order of knighthood in the United Kingdom, has a dark blue velvet garter as part of its insignia. The order is awarded for achievements in many fields, including the arts, industry, and public service.
