NCO chevrons

[Johnny Lloyd]

To all:

I am a 1998 graduate of The Citadel. The grey chevrons you have above look exactly like upside-down cadet corporal chevrons from the 1870-1900 period of the Citadel or possibly the same period for another military school (VMI, West Point, etc.). They might be postwar. But I had a pair when I was a cadet corporal at Citadel on the forearm of my dress blouse that pointed upward. Those look suspiciously like they are postwar, though. I can tell they are old though.

The modern picture of Citadel cadets is a picture of current school president Gen. Rosa. The one on the far left is a cadet sergeant (two stripes facing upward on the upper arm) and not a corporal. I was a cadet sergeant as well.

Not saying that they might be period militia, but I think they look just the like chevrons I once wore on my uniform. Same texture of material and color that go on the dress blouse (no tails, but a high collar), not the full dress blouse (the one with tails to it).

I'd post a picture, but I don't know how.

Check this link for more of what I speak. There is a historical section to it with pics if you can find it.

www.citadel.edu

Thanks- Johnny Lloyd

[John E. Tobey]

Some units had huge problems getting their NCO's to wear chevrons at all. Inspection reports filed by Brigade OD's (available at the National Archives) commonly refer to regiments in which "almost none" of the sergeants have chevrons on their uniforms. This problem seemed to be worse at the end of summer campaigns, and was rectified during the chicken-sh*t period known as winter quarters. At least we know that orders were issued to get the men to sew on chevrons...hard to tell if the guys actually did it.

John Tobey

[Rebel Yell1863]

I agree, in combat non descript is the way to go. The people in your unit should know you're an NCO, why make your self a target.

Why not just leave them off?

[Frenchie]

Just as an aside, the 3rd US Infantry's unit history says the regulations didn't state that NCO fatigue blouses were to have chevrons. In November '62 the NCOs burned the frocks they'd been wearing since the Peninsula and went to fatigue blouses without insignia, but this caused confusion among the volunteers and some younger Regular officers, so they put them on for the '63 Spring campaign season. There's no mention of the blue stripes on the trousers.