Cadet Life at West Point

by Hugh T. Reed

For a Sergeant,[54] 2 bars.

For a Corporal,[55] 2 bars.

Commissions are not given to the cadet officers, i. e., the captains and lieutenants, and warrants are not given to cadet non-commissioned officers, i. e., the sergeants and corporals. Two of the sergeants are designated as color sergeants, the one carries a United States flag called the colors, the other marching on his left carries the Corps banner.

Cadet Captain’s Chevron

(Rear.) (Front.)

Cadets now wear gilt service straps on their coat sleeves as follows, to wit: Third classmen, one stripe; second classmen, two stripes; first classmen, three stripes.

BUTTON.

In June, 1893, the Association of Graduates adopted a miniature bell button to be worn by members in the upper buttonhole of civilian coats; the part nearest an observer is a gold plate with the year of graduation on it, next is a gray stone, then a gold band with the class motto on it, then a dark blue stone; the date plate being fastened by a shank to a circular metal base on the under side of which are the owner’s name and the letters U. S. M. A. In June, 1904, this button was substituted by another showing the West Point colors, gray, black and gold. In June, 1910, the bell button was re-adopted.