Why does silver colored insignia indicate a higher rank than similar gold colored insignia in the US military in the case of 1st Lt vs. 2nd Lt bars and Lt. Col vs. Major oak leaves (and the corresponding Navy ranks), when gold is the more precious metal so presumably would indicate higher status, and gold is in general associated with officer insigina/badges/etc. (compared to silver colored enlisted versions of the same) and uniforms to indicate higher rank?
In the Good Old Days, officers wore epaulets enlisted people did not. All the officer’s insignia were silver. A second lieutenant wore a plain epaulet, a first lieutenant added a silver bar, a captain two. A major wore an embroidered field-grade epaulet with no insignia. A lieutenant colonel added an oak leaf. When WWI came along, this system confused our allies, so as a temporary wartime measure second lieutenants and lieutenant colonels adopted gold insignia.
The US Army adopted the gold bar in December 1917. Then they never changed back.
During the Civil War, U.S. Army majors wore gold oak leaves and lieutenant colonels wore silver oak leaves.
major: U.S. Army Regulations Illustration: Link 49 Major's Shoulder Strap
lieutenant colonel: U.S. Army Regulations Illustration: Link 121 Lieutenant Colonel's Shoulder Strap
Here is where you can find a definitive answer from the Institute of Heraldry.
Former USAF Officer with US Army cross-service duty …
The two most useless ranks in the Army & USAF are 2Lt & Major. i.e. the ones with gold insignia. A coincidence? We all thought not.
Why useless? They are both esssentially apprentice ranks, where you are more learning to do the next job than being a journeyman at your current one. Captains & Colonels are journeymen at their level of responsibility. 2Lts and Majors are mostly clueless bumblers.
I don’t have as much experience with how the Navy guys think about this, but the above was certainly conventional wisdom, albeit a bit toungue in cheek, for both USA & USAF when I was in.
Interesting, I agree.
What do you feel about Warrant Officers (if they still have them)?
I just got out of the army. For the most part warrant officers were a rare sight. I think we only had one warrant officer in my squadron (about 500 people.) Outside of flight units warrants are so rare that no one really thinks about them.
Bwah? That’s news to me. I had plenty of WOs at Brigade HQ with me. I think you should ammend your answer to “flight units and commands”.
Yup, agree with that here. But, like everyone, you have to start somewhere.
As for Warrants, even in the Navy as a whole they are fairly rare. This probably because those duties are fulfilled with LDO positions. I have only seen a handful and I was on a ship with 1200 people. Now, I am at a flag command and we had three at one point and now back to one. Oh, and a Chief just made Warrant as well… So, for a bit we will have two. All in all, more Warrants at this command then at any other time prior.