Collar Insignia.—The corps, department or arm of the service of enlisted men of the U. S. Army is shown by insignia on the coat collars.
For blue dress and white coats these insignia, of gilt metal, worn on each side of the neck opening, consist of block letters and special devices in rear of the letters. The letters “U. S.” for Regular Army, “U. S. V.” for Volunteer Army, “U. S. R.” for Enlisted Reserve Corps, “U. S.” with “N. G.” superimposed for National Guard drafted into the Federal service and “U. S.” with “N. A.” superimposed for National Army. The special devices are:
Band Musician—A lyre with the numbers or letters surcharged upon the face indicating the corps or regiment to which the band belongs; for the Coast Artillery the number of the band, for Engineer bands a castle, for Infantry, Cavalry and Field Artillery bands the number of the regiment, for the Military Academy band the letters “M. A.,” for bands of the Native Troops in the Philippines the letter “P,” for the band of the Porto Rico regiment the letters “P. R.,” for bands of Disciplinary Barracks the letters “D. B.” and for the Recruiting Service bands the letters “R. S.”
Cavalry—Two sabers in their scabbards crossed with the edges up, with the number of the regiment in the upper angle and the letter of the troops in the lower angle.
Coast Artillery—Two cannon crossed with the muzzles up, without the number of the company.
Field Artillery—Two cannon crossed with the muzzles up, the number of the regiment in the upper angle and the letter of the battery in the lower angle.
General Recruiting Service.—The letters “R. S.” enclosed in a wreath with number of company below.
Electricians—A symbol representing forked lightning.
Engineers—The turretted castle device of the Engineer Corps with the number of the regiment above it and the letter of the company on the face of the device.
Hospital Corps—The caduceus device.