PETTY OFFICER’S INSIGNIA

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.