U.S. NAVY MASTER E-9 CHIEF PETTY OFFICER COAT RANK DEVICE

Master Chief Petty Officers wear metal grade rank insignia on the epaulets of the Black Relax Fit Jacket and single- and double-breasted All Weather Coats (the insignia is not worn on Reefers and Overcoats, however). These MCPO coat rank devices are the same size as those worn on the Garrison Cap and are centered fore and after with the bottom edge of device roughly 3/4-inch from the squared (shoulder) end of the epaulet.

The fouled anchor surmounted by the “USN” initialism has served as the insignia for Chief Petty Officers since the rate was officially established, but when the Navy introduced the two higher CPO rates of Senior CPO (E-8) and Master Chief (E-9) the question of whether new, distinct insignia should be created for them arose—and was quickly resolved. Rather than new designs, the Navy decided to retain the CPO insignia, but augment it with a star for each of the new higher grades. Thus, Master Chief Petty Officers have two silver stars mounted on the anchor stocks reflecting their status two grades above Chief Petty Officer, and Senior Chiefs have a single star centered on the eye of the anchor.