At The Salute Uniforms, we offer Staff Sergeant pin-on metal insignia manufactured in 22K gold-plated metal or stamped black metal. Pin-on metal insignia are primarily worn on epaulettes and collars of coats and sweaters, with the exception being the Extended Cold Weather Clothing System parka: it has specially designed pad on the zipper flap where the black metal Staff Sergeant insignia is centered.
On epaulettes, the insignia is worn with the chevrons pointing inboard (i.e., toward the neck) and centered between the front and read edges of the epaulette (USMC regulations also call epaulettes “shoulder straps”), with the base of the insignia 3/4” from the armhole seam. (Note that the only uniform item on which the gold-plated Staff Sergeant insignia is worn is the Blue Dress sweater.) On collars, the insignia is worn vertically (chevrons pointing to neck) and positioned so that it is bisected by an imaginary line that also bisects the collar at its tip. The left and right sides of the insignia will be 1/2-inch from the edge of the collar.
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The Marine Corps’ Staff Sergeant insignia has been unchanged since 1958-1959 when the Corps revamped its enlisted rank structure and insignia to accommodate the addition of the E-8 and E-9 grades while ensuring that no Marine would lose a stripe (chevron).
From 1943 to 1946, the Staff Sergeant insignia had a flat base with the bottommost chevron attached, forming a triangle with two chevrons above it. In 1947, the flat base was replaced with a curved bottom that quickly became known as a “rocker,” and Staff Sergeant was made the designation for the E-5 grade (previously called Grade 3 in the old system in which higher grades had lower numbers, e.g., Private was Grade 7 and Sergeant Major was Grade 1).
The final modification in 1958 was applied not only to Staff Sergeant insignia, but also to every enlisted insignia from Lance Corporal (E-3) to Master Sergeant (E-9): a pair of crossed M1 Garand rifles, muzzles up, was centered below the bottom chevron. This was also the year that Staff Sergeant became the E-6 rank, replacing the disestablished Technical Sergeant rank.
More USMC Staff Sergeant Insignia/Devices
Staff Sergeant Sew-On Chevrons
Staff Sergeant Scarlet and Gold Tie Tack
Staff Noncommissioned Officer Accouterments
SNCO Cuff Links
SNCO Chain-Link Buttons for Evening Dress Jacket
SNCO Waist Plate
More USMC Enlisted Insignia/Devices
Enlisted Dress Cap Insignia
Enlisted Service / Garrison Cap Insignia
Enlisted Dress Uniform Collar Device
Enlisted Service Uniform Collar Device
Enlisted Gold Tie Tack
Enlisted / NCO Cuff Links
Service Stripes