U.S. ARMY COMBAT UNIFORM (ACU) MAJOR RANK INSIGNIA

Officially designated subdued grade insignia, the embroidered sew-on insignia attached to Utility uniforms and headgear often goes by the shorthand name “ACU rank” or “ACU insignia” because it is worn on the Army Combat Uniform, introduced in 2004. The reason for the close association actually has more to do with the insignia’s hook-and-loop fastener system, popularly known by the trade name Velcro, that the Army introduced at the same time as the ACU.

We offer three Styles of subdued cloth grade insignia in two camouflage patterns that you may choose from using the selection boxes to the right based upon your uniform need.
 

All three types of insignia come in either the current Universal Camouflage Pattern (UCP) or the Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP); the latter was introduced in Julye 2015, while uniforms made in UCP could no longer be worn after 30 September 2019.
 

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The Army rank of “Major” is derived from the term “Sergeant Major,” but it is only peripherally related to that Noncommissioned Officer rank. In the monograph "Why is the Colonel Called Kernal?" by Raymond Oliver, curator of the McClellan Aviation Museum at McClellan Air Force Base outside Sacramento, he explains that the rank of Sergeant Major arose in the 15th or 16th century to describe the second or third in command of a large unit, such as a regiment. This was because when the French formed regiments, they would combine several companies, each led by Captains, into a single column commanded by a Colonel. In some instances, writes Oliver, the Captains of the companies would themselves name one of their own as the column’s Colonel, naming another as Lieutenant Colonel (second in command) and another as Sergeant, while each of them still maintained command of their own companies.

More Army Major Insignias
Coat Rank Insignia
Garrison Cap / Beret Rank Insignia
Shoulder Marks
Embroidered Bullion Rank Insignia
AGSU Officer Service Cap Device
ASU Male / Female Officer Service Cap Device

This is straightforward enough, but military commanders were frequently involved in political intrigues during that time in history, and head Colonels would often be absent from their troops as they sought political favor and support for their troops at the courts of rulers. This made the Lieutenant Colonel the de facto commander of the regiment and the Sergeant Major essentially the second in command (and senior to the other Captains). One of the key duties that fell upon the Sergeant Major was aligning the various companies into regimental formations and maintaining them during marches or in battle.

Ultimately, and for reasons left unexplained by Oliver or any historians, the “Sergeant” part of the title fell away (Oliver speculates that junior Captains resented reporting to a Sergeant when they had Sergeants reporting to them!), and the Major became the regimental staff officer—a role that Majors still fill to this day.