2-9
REVIEW 3 QUESTIONS
Q1.
What is the maximum length of hair for male
Sailors when headgear is removed?
Q2.
What size earrings are authorized for female
Sailors?
PETTY OFFICER’S INSIGNIA
Learning Objective: Identify the correct manner of
wearing a petty officer’s insignias.
As a petty officer, you should set an example for
subordinates both in conduct and in appearance. An
important part of your appearance is the manner in
which you wear your uniform and insignia. The term
insignia includes cloth rating badges, which are worn on
the left sleeve of your uniform, collar insignia, and
insignia worn on military headgear.
RATING BADGES
Rating badges for petty officers differ according to
paygrade, specialty, size, and color. They consist of
a perched eagle with extended wings pointing upward
and its head facing right. As shown in figure 2-3,
chevrons, indicating the wearer's rate, and a specialty
mark, indicating the wearer's rating, make up the badge.
Rating badges worn on blue working jackets and
chambray shirts have no specialty mark. Chambray iron-
on or sew-on rating badges are permitted on chambray
shirts. Chevrons on rating badges for men, E-4 through
E-6, measure 3 1/4 inches wide. Chevrons on women's
rating badges measure 2 1/2 inches wide and their rating
insignia are three fourths of the size of men's insignia.
The men's size rating badge is worn on the pea coat
whether the pea coat is worn by a man or a woman.
Figure 2-3.—E-4, E-5, and E-6 rating badges.
Standard navy blue rating badges have embroidered
backgrounds and are worn on navy blue uniforms. You
may wear navy blue badges mounted on fabric which
matches the fabric color and cleaning characteristics of
the uniform on which it is worn. Rating badges with
white backgrounds match the fabric of uniforms on
which they are worn. Colors of the eagle, specialty mark,
chevrons, and service stripes for prescribed uniforms
and components are described in table 2-1.
Rating badges are worn on the left sleeve of the
garment, centered vertically between the shoulder seam
and the elbow, as shown in figure 2-4.
COLLAR DEVICES
Petty officers in paygrades E-4 through E-6 wear
pewter miniature collar devices on collar tips of the blue
windbreaker and the blue raincoat. The collar device
depicts a perched eagle over chevrons indicating the
wearer’s rate. Center the insignia 1 inch from the front
and lower edges of the collar and place the vertical axis
of the insignia along an imaginary line bisecting the
angle of the collar point, as shown in figure 2-5. The
perched eagles face toward the front (inward).
CAP DEVICES
You are already familiar with the cap device for E-l
through E-6 personnel. It consists of an oxidized, silver,
spread eagle, with oxidized silver block letters "USN"
placed horizontally between the wing tips and centered
above the eagle’s head.
This device is worn on the women’s combination
hat, garrison cap, and beret. It also is worn on the
tropical helmet.
