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General George Washington began the long heritage of US Army rank insignia when he said in 1775: "As the Continental Army has unfortunately no uniforms, and consequently many inconveniences must arise from not being able to distinguish the commissioned officers from the privates, it is desired that some badge of distinction be immediately provided for instance, that the field officers may have red or pink colored cockades in their hats, the captains yellow or buff, and the subalterns green." Washington further directed his Brigadier and Major Generals to wear one and two silver stars on epaulets repectively, thus starting the current system of insignia. In the United States, the tradition of rank insignia dates back to the first American soldiers during the Revolutionary War. Insignia for rank dates back to the early armies of Europe, in which almost anything may have been used as a symbol of a person's power or position, from swords to horses. The United States Army, as the oldest branch of the US military, thus has the longest history and heritage of military rank.
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All branches of the United States Armed Forces use rank insignia, but with different appearance and regulations for wear and location. The insignia that represents the rank is a symbol designed to immediately identify the rank of someone without ambiguity. The rank structure is a ladder system, which means that one ascends in rank and gains leadership, responsibility, and authority. Military rank is a badge of leadership, command, and determines whom has authority over others. Military insignia is an outward sign of an individual's rank.