Subdued grade insignia was introduced long before the Army unveiled the Army Combat Uniform, or ACU, in 2004, but it did not take long after the ACU was officially introduced that Soldiers began calling the subdued insignia “ACU Rank” or “ACU insignia.” Subdued grade insignia comes in a pin-on metal version or embroidered in black on a cloth backing in a camouflage pattern so the actual insignia per se needn’t be sewn directly onto the uniform.
At The Salute Uniforms, we offer three Styes of subdued embroidered insignia, with descriptive titles to help you select the type for your particular uniform need. They come in two patterns of camouflage: the Universal Camouflage Pattern (UCP) originally used to manufacture the ACU and utility uniforms, and the Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP) introduced as its replacement in July 2015. The wear-out date for Army Combat Uniforms using the UCP was 30 September 2019.
Select Rank with Velcro if you need First Lieutenant subdued grade insignia for a Utility uniform or the ECWCS parka. The reverse side of these insignia have hook-and-loop (Velcro) fasteners that allow them to be attached to the hook-and-loop face pads found on all Utility uniforms and the ECWCS jacket, which is also referred to as the “Gore-Tex” Parka.
Choose Cap with Rank for First Lieutenant insignia embroidered on camouflage-pattern fabric that is sewn directly onto the Patrol Cap or Sun Hat rather than being attached with Velcro. Soldiers are responsible for any costs incurred in sewing this insignia onto the headgear. Soldiers also have the option to use this type of insignia in place of Velcro-backed insignia on the ECWCS jacket and Utility uniforms, but sewing on rank insignia requires that both the nametape and Army tape also be sewn on, and Soldiers are responsible for all sewing costs.
The Gore-Tex insignia is a subdued cloth rank insignia tab with an opening at the bottom that allows it to be slid in place over a tab found on the front of the ECWCS parka.
More Army 1st Lieutenant Rank Insignias