Uniforms & Insignia | Ranks & Organization | Misc. | Contact
The specialty devices that had been used on earlier Marine Corps chevrons had been eliminated in the Uniform Regulations of 19371, but the USMC in World War II still had a fairly complex system of ranks and insignia. There were three main color schemes for enlisted chevrons, for dress blue, winter service and overcoat (forestry green) and summer service (khaki). Examples of each are shown below, but only winter service insignia are shown in the table of ranks.
In 1943, First Sergeant was moved up from the second grade to the first, "Mess" was re-titled "Commissary," the Commissary grades were re-aligned, and the Steward Branch was introduced.2
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| Line, Ordnance | Quartermaster | Paymaster | Aviation, Engineering, Communications, Special Staff | Mess | Music | |
| Grade 1 |  Sergeant Major, Master Gunnery Sergeant |
 Quartermaster Sergeant |
Paymaster Sergeant |
Master Technical Sergeant |
Master Technical Sergeant |
Master Technical Sergeant |
| Grade 2 |  First Sergeant, Gunnery Sergeant |
 Technical Sergeant, Supply Sergeant |
Technical Sergeant |
Technical Sergeant |
Technical Sergeant |
Drum Major, Technical Sergeant |
| Grade 3 |  Platoon Sergeant |
 Staff Sergeant |
Staff Sergeant |
Staff Sergeant |
Staff Sergeant |
Staff Sergeant |
| Grade 4 |  Sergeant |
Sergeant |
Sergeant |
Sergeant |
Mess Sergeant, Chief Cook |
Field Music Sergeant |
| Grade 5 |  Corporal |
Corporal |
Corporal |
Corporal |
Mess Corporal, Field Cook |
Field Music Corporal |
| Grade 6 |  Private 1st Class |
Private 1st Class |
Private 1st Class |
Private 1st Class |
Assistant Cook |
Field Music 1st Class |
| Grade 7 | (no insignia) Private |
(no insignia) Private |
(no insignia) Private |
(no insignia) Private |
(no insignia) Private |
(no insignia) Field Music |
| Line, Ordnance | Quartermaster | Paymaster | Aviation, Engineering, Communications, Special Staff | Commissary | Music | Steward | |||||
| Grade 1 |
|
Quartermaster Sergeant |
Paymaster Sergeant |
Master Technical Sergeant |
Master Technical Sergeant |
Master Technical Sergeant |
Master Steward, Master Cook |
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| Grade 2 | Gunnery Sergeant |
Technical Sergeant, Supply Sergeant |
Technical Sergeant |
Technical Sergeant |
Technical Sergeant |
Drum Major, Technical Sergeant |
Steward 1st Class, Cook 1st Class |
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| Grade 3 | Platoon Sergeant |
Staff Sergeant |
Staff Sergeant |
Staff Sergeant |
Staff Sergeant, Chief Cook |
Staff Sergeant |
Steward 2nd Class, Cook 2nd Class |
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| Grade 4 | Sergeant |
Sergeant |
Sergeant |
Sergeant |
Field Cook |
Field Music Sergeant |
Steward 3rd Class, Cook 3rd Class |
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| Grade 5 | Corporal |
Corporal |
Corporal |
Corporal |
Assistant Cook |
Field Music Corporal |
Steward's Assistant 1st Class |
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| Grade 6 | Private 1st Class |
Private 1st Class |
Private 1st Class |
Private 1st Class |
Private 1st Class |
Field Music 1st Class |
Steward's Assistant 2nd Class |
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| Grade 7 | (no insignia) Private |
(no insignia) Private |
(no insignia) Private |
(no insignia) Private |
(no insignia) Private |
(no insignia) Field Music |
(no insignia) Steward's Assistant 3rd Class |
Notes:
All text and images © Justin T. Broderick, 2013 unless otherwise indicated.
