It could always be more complicated. I mean the Air Force has 4 of
In WW2 they created the Technical rank such as
Technical 4th Grade which was 3 stripes with a "
T" in the center. This was a method of promoting soldiers who had special training but it came without the command responsibility. You saw this technical rank worn by a lot of gunners on bomber crews and HQ staff who had training as interpreters and radio operators and such.
I think the Specialists ranks came out in the late 1950's and used through Viet Nam.
This is a
Tech 3 with 4 stripes. A little confusing:
Tech 5 had 2 stripes.
View attachment 320332
s Corporal. Here in Germany we have 6, however two of those are OR-4/E-4 as well. The number of enlisted ranks, both Privates and NCOs, swelled over the last centuries with professional militaries becoming more complicated and more formalized in their organisation, even excluding specific ranks for each branch or speciality (which btw was also more or less done by the Romans). But as said it could always be worse - for example Italy greatly expanded its ranks and its Navy and Coast Guard currently have, I think, some 18 enlisted ranks (as
In WW2 they created the Technical rank such as
Technical 4th Grade which was 3 stripes with a "
T" in the center. This was a method of promoting soldiers who had special training but it came without the command responsibility. You saw this technical rank worn by a lot of gunners on bomber crews and HQ staff who had training as interpreters and radio operators and such.
I think the Specialists ranks came out in the late 1950's and used through Viet Nam.
This is a
Tech 3 with 4 stripes. A little confusing:
Tech 5 had 2 stripes.
View attachment 320332
Dixie Rifles, thanks for the photo and information provided.
I have seen those technician ranks insignia in photos and movies. From the early 1920s to 1947 (I think) pay grades were reversed. So grade 1 was the the highest, with grade 7 being the lowest, very confusing when dealing with today E1 - E9 pay grade.
Respectfully,
Kyle Kalasnik