Why did the army choose stripes and chevrons for it's rank insignia?

Question

Why did the army choose stripes and chevrons for it's rank insignia?

Answer 1

This web site might explain it for you.

http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/rank_p...

Answer 2

Actually, this is a common misconception.  The military insignia identifies GRADE not RANK  So, someone with three stripes (in the US Air Force) has the grade of Senior Airman.  However, not every Senior Airman is of the same Rank.  Rank is determined by when you were promoted.  So, say you and I are both Senior Airmen, but you got promoted to it before me (this could be years before or simply because you are Al Smith and Ben Smith and alphabetically you are before me on the same day).  We both wear the Grade of Senior Airman, but you out Rank me.  The Rank crosses over the Grades as well but it depends on Grade.  So, say I'm Senior Airman and you are a Staff Sergeant (four stripes).  Even though I got promoted before you, you have the higher Grade, so you still out rank me.  Think of Rank as a hugh list of everyone in the military in order Grand and sorted by when the were promoted.  Get it?

Answer 3

Instead of using extravagent uniforms or other strange forms of rank identification, the United States has used a system of symbols, worn as pins or patches, to designate rank. Furthermore, the location of rank is standardized on each uniform. This makes it easy to take a quick glance at a uniformed soldier and immediatley identify their rank and correlating level of authority