When was the rank of chief petty officer established

In , the merger of the Revenue Cutter Service and the U. Life Saving Service into the modern Coast Guard brought about many changes. The initial ratings of the Chief Petty Officer, as they first appeared in U. The fouled anchor with a shield superimposed to its shank the emblem of the Officers of the Revenue Cutter Service is still worn on the shoulder boards of Coast Guard Flag Officers.

The anchor is the identifying authority of the Chief Petty Officer and is emblematic of a Chief. It represents stability and security. The historical significance of the shield dates back to the Revenue Cutter Service, when the U. The petty officers were the assistants to the senior officials. There were Petty Officers in the British navy in the Seventeenth Century and perhaps earlier but the rank did not become official until They did not have uniforms or rank insignia, and they usually held their appointments only while serving on the ship whose Captain had selected them.

No arm badges but rather worn on the collar with some exceptions for artificer CPOs. The rank of CPO was introduced to replace the following ranks:.

Pay and conditions were also improved along with this rank. Skip to content. Walters Nordstrom M. Elaine Toms Chancellor A. Upshur - David Henshaw - Thomas W. Gilmer John Y. Mason George Bancroft - William B.

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