FamilyTree Magazine today emailed a link to a nice article titled "Military Rank and Insignia: How To Decode Your Ancestor’s". It includes some very nice charts and simple explanations of many terms that confuse a lot of people. This is all FREE. Check it out at:
https://www.familytreemagazine.com/records/military/military-insignia-acronyms/
It associates arm patches and lapel insignia to military rank and pay grade and covers all branches of service, and enlisted personnel and officers.
Once you navigate around the advertisements (they have bills to pay also) there are links to several equally useful short articles including:
- Military Acronyms Reference Chart
- The Genealogists Guide to Military Service Records
- Display Your Ancestor Military Heirlooms.
You could bookmark the pages, print them, or copy portions you find useful.
The Military Rank and Insignia information appears to be Vietnam era forward. Earlier ranks included now-discontinued insignia, but most are still valid. Enjoy
(NOTE: Wichita Genealogical Society has no connection with FamilyTree Magazine. This is simply a news item we are passing on)