Wear of Awards, Insignia and Accoutrements on the Uniform

The United States Army is a uniformed service where World War I

discipline, esprit de corps and morale is judged by how
the individual wears the uniform. Therefore, there are
very precise regulations governing the wear of awards,
insignia and accoutrements on the uniform. Army regu-
lation 670-1 is the governing military publication. The
following pages provide examples of insignia placement
on Army uniforms since World War I.

Wound Stripe
(gold), right arm

Service stripes, one

World War II for each 6 month,
on the left arm

WW II officer insignia lined up as shown

U.S. U.S.

After WW II Overseas
bars were moved to
the right sleeve

Unit Awards
Army Meritorious Unit over right
Commendation - Original pocket
Configuration

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 World War II
WW II Enlisted

Korean and Vietnam War Era

Korean War Vietnam War

Officer uniform Enlisted uniform
shown shown

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 Uniforms - Male Officer
U.S. is worn 5/8" above
lapel notch and parallel to
the inside edge of the lapel

Branch insignia is worn 1

1/4" below U.S. insignia.
Align so center line of
branch insignia bisects
the center line of the U.S.
and is parallel to the inside
edge of the lapel.

Regimental insignia worn

centered 1/8" above pocket
or 1/4" above unit awards Ribbons are centered
1/8" over the left breast
pocket, normally three to
a row; with no space
Unit awards are centered or 1/8" between rows.
1/8" above the right
breast pocket
Combat and skill badges
Identification badges are are worn 1/4" above
centered on the pocket between ribbons or below top of
the bottom of the pocket and pocket 1/2" apart.
the bottom of the pocket flap

Overseas bars are centered

on the bottom half of the right Full size medals may
sleeve 1/4" above the braid be worn on blue uniform
Foreign badges are
worn 1/8" above the
right pocket or 1/4"
above unit awards

Blue Uniform

Up to three miniature
class1-5 combat or skill
Black shoulder marks are badges may be worn
4" long while sweater
Green shoulder marks are 3 1/4" long Regimental insignia worn Miniature medals
marks obsolete on right lapel centered are centered 1/2"
as of Sept 1992 1/2" below notch. below notch

Regimental Crests
are worn 1/8"
above the right
pocket or 1/4"
above unit awards
Identification
badges are
centered
between the
first and second
button

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 Uniform - Female Officer

Womens ribbons and badges are

aligned with the plastic nameplate. The
On the female blue uniform a single plate is adjusted to individual figure
branch insignia is worn on the left differences. The nameplate is centered
lapel only 1" below the notch. Align horizontally on the right side between
parallel to the inside edge of the one and two inches above the top
lapel. A single U.S. is worn on the button of the coat. Individual service
right lapel aligned as the branch ribbons are aligned parallel to the
insignia. bottom of the name plate.

Regimental insignia worn centered Combat and skill badges

1/2" above nameplate or 1/2" above are worn 1/4" above ribbons
unit awards or foreign badges on or below 1/2" apart
green and blue uniform
Ribbons are centered as shown,
Unit awards are centered normally three to a row; with no
1/2" above nameplate space or 1/8" between rows
Identification badges are centered
across from the third button as shown

Overseas bars are

centered on the bottom
half of the right sleeve
1/4" above the braid

Wear of foreign Full size medals may

awards 1/2" above be worn on blue uniform
nameplate

Blue Uniform

Green shoulder marks Up to three miniature class 1-5

obsolete as of Sept 1992 combat or skill badges may be worn

Regimental Black Regimental insignia Miniature medals

Crest are worn shoulder marks worn on right lapel centered are centered 1/2"
1/4" above the 1/2" below notch. below notch
nameplate or 1/2"
above unit awards

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 Uniform - Male Enlisted

US is worn 1" above the left

lapel notch and parallel to
the inside edge of the lapel
the branch insignia is worn
on the right lapel using the
same alignment DUI (crest) is centered between
button outer edge and inside
edge of rank insignia

Combat and skill

badges are worn 1/4"
above ribbons or below
top of pocket 1/2" apart.

Ribbons are centered

1/8" over the left breast
Regimental insignia worn pocket, normally three to
centered 1/8" above pocket a row; with no space
or 1/4" above unit awards or 1/8" between rows.

Unit awards are

centered 1/8" above Rank is sewn on
the right breast pocket the sleeve halfway
between the shoulder
seam and the elbow
Identification badges
are centered on the pocket
between the bottom of
the pocket and the bottom
of the pocket flap

Hashmarks are placed 4"

above the bottom of the
Overseas bars are left sleeve centered
placed 4" above the on the sleeve
bottom of right sleeve
centered on the sleeve

Blue Uniform

Pin on rank is Full size medals may

centered 1" be worn on blue
up from the or white uniform
collar points

Up to three
Green shoulder miniature class
marks obsolete as of
Regimental insignia
worn on right lapel
Mess Uniform 1-5 combat or
September 1992 centered 1/2" below notch skill badges
Black shoulder marks are may be worn
4" long while sweater
marks are 3 1/4" long

Miniature medals
are centered 1/2"
below notch

Old Blue Uniform

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 Uniform - Female Enlisted
U.S. is centered on the
right collar 5/8" above lapel
notch and parallel to the DUI (crest) is centered between
inside edge of the lapel button outer edge and inside
edge of rank insignia
Branch insignia is centered
and is parallel to the inside
edge of the right lapel Crest is centered 1"
from front crease on
the left hand side

Regimental insignia worn

centered 1/2" above
nameplate or 1/2" above Bottom of name
unit awards or foreign tag lines up with
badges ribbon

Unit awards are centered

1/2" above nameplate Rank is sewn on
the sleeve halfway
between the shoulder
seam and the elbow
Womens ribbons and badges
are aligned with the plastic
nameplate. The plate is adjusted
to individual figure differences.
The nameplate is centered
horizontally on the right side
between one and two inches Identification badges are
above the top button of the coat. centered across from the
Individual service ribbons are third button as shown
aligned parallel to the bottom of
the name plate.
Hashmarks are placed 4"
above the bottom of the
Overseas bars are left sleeve centered on
placed 4" above the the sleeve
bottom of right sleeve
centered on the sleeve

Full size medals may

Pin on rank is be worn on blue
These rules apply to the Blue uniforms or white uniform
centered 1" up from
the collar points

Regimental
Crest are worn
1/2" above the
nameplate or 1/2" Regimental insignia Miniature medals
Green shoulder above unit awards worn on right lapel centered are centered 1/2"
marks obsolete as of 1/2" below notch below notch
September 1992
Black
shoulder marks

Up to three miniature
class 1-5 combat or skill
badges may be worn

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