NCO Rank Insignia location on Combats 70s-80s

[Scott Bentley]

Hello Gents,

I'm trying to narrow down the period of time when NCO Rank Insignia slip-ons were worn on the shoulder epaulets of the Combat Uniform. Specifically between the early 70s and the late 80s.

I've got many photographs from the early 70s (October Crisis) showing rank chevrons sewn on the sleeves. Then at some point they went to the shoulder epaulets in i'm assuming in the late 70s or early 80s, and then went back to the sleeves again in the mid 80s. Plenty of photos of the rank back on the sleeves in the mid 80s, I'm assuming because the P82 Webbing covered the shoulder epaulets to a greater extent.

Anyway, anyone know with some authority on what years this covered?

Thanks

[Ed Storey]

Scott:

The combat rank moved to the slip-ons in 1984 and by 1986 had returned to the sleeves.

The original intent was to save wear-and-tear on the combat uniforms especially as removing the rank on promotion (if not done professionally) usually ended up messing up the sleeve. As you surmised, the introduction of the 1982 pattern Web with the wide Yoke shoulder straps covered completely the epaulet so the rank moved back to the sleeve.

ED

[Scott Bentley]

Originally Posted by Ed Storey

Scott:

The combat rank moved to the slip-ons in 1984 and by 1986 had returned to the sleeves.

The original intent was to save wear-and-tear on the combat uniforms especially as removing the rank on promotion (if not done professionally) usually ended up messing up the sleeve. As you surmised, the introduction of the 1982 pattern Web with the wide Yoke shoulder straps covered completely the epaulet so the rank moved back to the sleeve.

ED

Excellent. Clears that up.
Thanks Ed.

[maple_leaf_eh]

I remember getting salutes in 1982 from soldiers who couldn't see my slipons. The idea of sewing a rank on a slipon was around in the late 70s too because we needed something on our British army sweaters and parkas.