History Of The Marine Gunnery Sergeant Rank!

History:
The Gunnery Sergeant Rank USMC

by R.W. "Dick" Gaines, GySgt USMC (Ret.)
1952-72
All Rights Reserved-Copyright 1998

The rank of the venerable Gunnery Sergeant is now unique to the Marine Corps. In 1775 the basic enlisted ranks of private, corporal and sergeant were used by Marines. Later, at varying times, the more senior ranks of Sergeant Major, First Sergeant, Master Sergeant, etc. were adopted. But the Marine Gunnery Sergeant rank (adopted in 1898) has remained distinctive to the Marine Corps.
After the World War, the Marine Corps added to its rank structure the ranks (first used by the army) of Staff Sergeant, Technical Sergeant, and Master Sergeant. The Marines' rank of Master Technical Sergeant, for instance, came about by combining the rank titles of two previous ranks.

There is much interesting information concerning the history of the enlisted rank structure in the Marine Corps, including the fact that the Marine Corps used both lance corporals, and lance sergeants, as far back to the Indian Wars of the 1830s, and possibly even before that. Interestingly, "recruit lance corporals" were also used at Parris Island during the 1930s. Most of this is information is documented here and on my other Gunny G Sites, and others, on rank history, where there is shown the numerous enlisted rank chevrons and insigne since 1900.

The information on this page is some of my own commentary, plus quotes shown and references indicated. GyG information on USMC ranks history has been on the Internet, in some form or other, on several different websites since 1998. This is merely the latest version of this particular topic--websites are not forever, and for various reasons I have changed information from one website to another with the availability of additional information, etc.

The following is a compendium of available information regarding the establishment and history of the rank of gunnery sergeant in the U.S.Marine Corps. it is intended as a history on the origin, evolution of, and other information relating to the rank of gunnery sergeant in the U. S. Marine Corps.

"...The rank of gunnery sergeant ('gunny') was created in 1898. By World War I it was used as the platoon sergeant rank, and was identified by crossed rifles and a flaming bomb. It originally denoted a shipboard sergeant proficient in smallarms, signalling and naval gunnery, and institution of the rank played a symbolic part in the Navy's internal struggle over whether the Marines were primarily to stay on board ship and serve as part of the vessel's guncrew. In 1900 half of the Corps was based on board ships; By 1914 only 5% were so based, making a landward shift in the strategic direction of the Corps..."

Note: The Rank Chart on page 45 of the above reference shows that the insignia and chevron for gunnery sergeants consisted of both the flaming bomb and crossed rifles. However, it should be pointed out that there was only three stripes, no rockers/bars as one might expect. The insignia of rank for First Sergeant, was also three stripes (w/diamond) only, w/o rockers/bars. -RWG

(The above quotes pertain to Reference 1 in the References Listing).

"A new rank, dating from the time of the Spanish War, also appeared in the 1900 regulations -- the gunnery sergeant. The original insignia prescribed for the gunnery sergeant was to be of short life and in appearance was unique anong Marine insignia. The design prescribed for the gunnery sergeant consisted of three chevrons and three bars with the "device of the school of application" -- a crossed rifle and naval gun behind a globe, anchor and eagle --in the center. This insignia gave way in the the next revision of the regulations, in 1904, to the design by which the gunnery sergeant was to be traditionally known, the bursting bomb and crossed rifles on a scarlet field set in the angle of three chevrons."
Re "Enlisted Rank Insignia in the U.S. Marine Corps 1798-1958" by Michael O'Quinlivan

"A law enacted on 3 March 1899 provided for 5 sergeants major, 1 drum major, 20 quartermaster sergeants, and 72 gunnery sergeants. "Here, the legislators paused to place the gunnery sergeants on a par with first sergeants in everything but pay. The 'gunny' was to receive $35 each month to the latter's $25. (105) Presumably, the extra ten dollars was in recognition of the gunnery sergeant's skill with naval ordnance..."

"Thus, by July 1899, the Marine Corps enlisted rank structure definitely had been altered. Drawing $34 each month, the sergeant major headed the list. Next, at the same salary came the quartermaster sergeant, then the drum major at $25 per month. Ranked with the first sergeant was the gunnery sergeant whose monthly pay, fixed by law at $35, was the highest of any Marine noncommissioned officer. First sergeants had to be content with $25 per month, sergeants with $18, corporals $15, and drummers, trumpeters, and privates with $13. (111) In brief, the first sergeant had assumed a more logical relationship, as far as pay was concerned, to the sergeant major. The gunnery sergeant, however, was being paid more than his rank would indicate, but this, perhaps, could be justified on the grounds of his technical abilities."

"No attempt was made to adjust the relationship among the top noncommissioned grades until 1908. In the spring of that year, the base pay of sergeants major, quartermaster sergeants, first sergeants, and drum majors was raised to $45 per month, while gunnery sergeants continued to draw $35." (112)

"In creating the grade of gunnery sergeant, the Marine Corps had recognized the fact that techniques of warfare were changing rapidly. On the eve of World War I, a conflict which would point out the need for enlisted specialists, a candidate for the grade of gunnery sergeant was tested primarily in the mysteries of naval ordnance, but with the development of new signal equipment, some gunnery sergeants were trained in operating and maintaining radios. Still others specialized in telephone communications or in using electrically controlled coast defense mines." (113)

"Unfortunately, not every specialist could be a gunnery sergeant. Cooks,
gunpointers and signalmen posed a special problem for, although they had certain
valuable skills, they could not be promoted to the higher enlisted grades without
working a grave injustice. The Marine Corps, in other words faced the problem
of rewarding skills without giving the specialist more authority than he could
handle. The answer was found in 1908, when the Corps was authorized to give
additional pay to certain enlisted men.....This system sought to reward
proficiency with weapons as well as special skills."

"From 1908 until the armistice of 11 November 1918, there were but two major
changes in the Marine Corps enlisted rank structure. By 1 January 1914, the
gunnery sergeant had been returned to the top pay grade along with the sergeant
major, drum major, quartermaster sergeant, and first sergeant; (115) and in
1917, the grade of private first class was authorized." (116)

(paraphrased)
WWI had emphasized the need for technicians as well as troop leaders. On 10 June 1922 a new law was passed which prescribed seven enlisted pay grades. (Note that, at that time, the top enlisted pay grade, the first, pertained to the top grade, not the bottom, or the rank of private, as is now the case). Due to problems involving changes to the rank structure, specialist pay, etc., there existed problems in the Corps' hierarchy of noncommissioned officer ranks. For a time, the third pay grade had no corresponding rank to that of the Army; many desired to scrap the idea of specialist pay altogether, but more and more technicians were authorized additional pay; many were promoted to gunnery sergeant as a means to more authority and pay, notwithstanding a knowledge of naval ordnance; first sergeants saw sergeants, and even corporals, jumped over them to sergeant major or quatermaster sergeant to be assigned technical duties. (131); gunnery sergeants were sometimes assigned duties other than naval ordnance, etc.

The Marine Corps recognized these problems and began acting to correct them. In the Spring of 1923 the first group of staff sergeants filled the gap in the previously vacant third pay grade; the rank of master technical sergeant was created in the top pay grade, and supply sergeant in the second pay grade, etc. -RWG

"...At the same time, the Commandant prohibited the employment of gunnery sergeants as clerks, orderlies, or chauffeurs, or in any type of duty connected with messes, commissaries, post exchanges, guards, or police. Instead, they were required to qualify in some phase of engineering or post maintenance, aviation, communications, motor transportation, or ordnance. To correct the existing injustices in promotion policies, the Commandant decreed that sergeants major should be selected from the list of first sergeants and gunnery sergeants." (138)

"...Many of the "housekeeping" duties once performed by disgruntled gunnery sergeants were assigned to staff sergeants..."

"...Technical Sergeant, like gunnery sergeant a rank in the second pay grade, was authorized for noncommissioned officers holding the title of gunnery sergeant but performing duties entirely divorced from ordnance..."

"By the eve of World War II, the titles and pay grades used by Marine Corps noncommisioned officers were varied and, because of the practice of inserting in parenthesis after the title the nature of any special duty, they were both repetitive and confusing...This sudden mushrooming of subtitles within the seven paygrades was a result of the need for specialists during World War II. Since the old system of special pay had been abolished effective 1 June 1942, the Marine Corps could no longer separate technical skill from leadership ability....the Marine Corps made a constructive move in advancing the first sergeant to the highest enlisted pay grade. Thus, on 10 February 1943, the first sergeant regained the ascendancy which that rank had held during World War I. (161) The sergeant major continued, however, to take precedance over all other enlisted men in the first pay grade. None save first sergeants were eligible for promotion to sergeant major." (162)

By the end of WWII the Marine Corps once again saw the need to revise the enlisted rank structure, so...
"Effective 1 December 1946, the new designations of rank went into effect. Branch titles such as commissary were abolished, but old titles, such as first sergeant or platoon sergeant, could be used when applicable in informal conversation. The "square" or staff chevron was ordered discarded as soon as the supply was exhausted. In the future, all staff noncommissioned officers would wear the same "rocker" type chevron...Although a drastic departure from tradition, this change accomplished its purpose of standardizing the enlisted rank structure."
(Note: This change effected the rank of gunnery sergeant changed to technical sergeant, although in many cases, T/Sgts were called "gunny." Staff NCO ranks now consisted of only SSgt, TSgt, and MSgt. Gone were the titles of SgtMaj, 1stSgt, MGySgt, MTSgt, QMSgt,PMSgt,MStew, MCook, GySgt, DrMaj,SupSgt, Stew1Cl, Cook1Cl,PltSgt, ChCook,Stew2Cl,Cook2Cl, FldMusSgt,FldCook, Stew3Cl, Cook3Cl, AstCook, FldMusCpl, etc. -RWG)

"Between 1946 and 1958, there were only three major alternations in the enlisted rank structure. First, the Career Compensation Act of 12 October 1949 turned the pay grade numbering system upside down by placing privates in pay grade E-1 amd master sergeants in grade E-7. (172) Second, the Marine Corps announced in December 1954 the establishment of two additional titles within grade E-7. The rank of sergeant major was to take precedence over the newly resurrected first sergeant, who, in turn, was placed above the master sergeant. (173) This last change was made to give recognition to noncommissioned officers acting in these important billets; the job of first sergeant or sergeant major was too important to be classed merely as an administrative specialty. This re-emphasis on the role of the senior noncommissioned officers was followed by a sweeping revision of enlisted ranks and grades of the Marine Corps in 1958 after Congress amended the Career Compensation Act of 1949 and authorized two new pay grades, E-8 and E-9. (174)..."

"The solution to...plus other desirable changes, was ordered by the Commandant on 25 November 1958, to be effective 1 january 1959. (178) Substantially, it followed the recommendations of a study the Enlisted Rank and Pay Structure Board, convened to adapt the new legislation to the Marine Corps..."

"A transitional period of dual grade structure, to end entirely on 1 January 1965, was worked out to insure that no Marine would lose stripes. This was achieved by establishing "acting" ranks, so that all Marines would be able to retain their existing titles, insignia, and privileges. Upon promotion, they would assume the new rank titles. The prefix "acting," however, wasabolished by the Commandant on 1 August 1960, and the end of the transitionalperiod for all grades was moved up to 1 July 1963." (179)

"...Since technical adeptness was now required of quite a few others besides the technical sergeant, this title ceased to have value and it was deleted. Marines holding that rank were designated acting gunnery sergeants."

"The occasion also enabled the Marine Corps to reapply its colorful history to the grade structure. The title of lance corporal, first used by Marines in the Indian Wars of the 1830s was revived. Now, for the first time, it was a permanent rank. In addition, the memorable "Gunny"--the gunnery sergeant and the master gunnery sergeant --was exhumed."

"In E-7, the gunnery sergeant was used in place of the master sergeant, partly to restore the traditional rank and to move the title "master sergeant" from pay grade E-7 to E-8. As for the first sergeant, no change was involved except to raise the rank from E-7 to E-8. The rank of master gunnery sergeant, revived to provide leadership in occupational fields, was put at the top in E-9, alongside the sergeant major, raised from E-7 to E-9 and still the senior NCO."

"Prior to 1958, the Marine was engaged in a seemingly endless struggle to develop an enlisted rank structure which offered privileges and pay commensurate with responsibility and skill. As the need evolved, new noncommissioned officer ranks were created, such as orderly sergeants and lance corporals. Later, improvements in naval ordnance brought the gunnery sergeant into being as well as proficiency pay for gun pointers."

"Viewed from its entirety, the new enlisted structure enhanced career attractiveness which, for more than a century, had drawn volunteers to the Marine Corps. There was full acknowledgement of the modern military picture, yet no Marine could sadly say that "things aren't like they were in the old Corps."

(Note: The above quotes are from Referce 2; Notes are my own. -RWG)

REFERENCES (below)
All information in the text shown within quotation marks pertain to the below references; those without quotation marks are my own remarks, and/or paraphrased from the references. -RWG

1. US Marine Corps In World War I 1917-1918, Henry-Pavlovic, Osprey 1999
2. United States Marine Corps Ranks And Grades 1775-1969, HQMC 1970
3. Leatherneck magazine, August 1936
4. US Marine Corps 1941-45, Rottman-Chappell, Osprey 1995
5. US Marine Corps Since 1945, Russell-Carroll, Osprey 1984
6. National Geographic magazine, June 1943
7. Marine Vignettes By GyG, Vignette #51, "Acting," by DickGaines
8. Decorations, Medals, Ribbons, Badges and Insignia of the U. S. Marine Corps World War II to Present, by James G. Thompson, MOA Press 1998
9. US ArmyInsigniaHP
10. Gunnery Sergeant USMC-circa1918
11. U.S. Army Noncommissioned Officer MuseumWebsite
12. USMC Warrant OfficerHistory
13. The Lance Corporal Rank In TheU.S.M.C.
14. The Origin of The Ranks/Insignia Used By U.S. ArmedForces
15. Enlisted Rank Insignia in the U.S. Marine Corps 1798-1958, By Michael O'Quinlivan

The rank of gunnery sergeant from its inception in 1898 through its last change in 1958 (effective 1Jan59) has undergone several revisions. First of all, "A new rank, dating from the time of the Spanish War, also appeared in the 1900 regulations -- the gunnery sergeant, The original insigne prescribed for the gunnery sergeant was to be of short life and in appearance was unique among Marine insignia. The design prescribed for the gunnery sergeant consisted of three chevrons and three bars with the 'device of the school of application'-- a crossed rifle and naval gun behind a globe, anchor and eagle -- in the center..." ClickHere!

"This insigne gave way in the next revision of the regulations, in 1904, to the design by which the gunnery sergeant was to be traditionally known, the bursting bomb and crossed rifles on a scarlet field set in the angle of three chevrons." ClickHere!

"The 1929 regulations altered the insignia of the first sergeant and gunnery sergeant by the addition of two arcs to each..."

"...Thus, in 1937, enlisted rank insignia was set up according to pay grade. Three basic types of insignia were prescribed: plain chevrons, chevrons with bars and chevrons with arcs...
Second Grade, Line (three chevrons and two arcs): first sergeants, gunnery sergeants..."

"...latter part of 1946...removal of the bars from the old style 'square' chevrons..."

Note: Although the above further states that "This reorganization had little effect upon the insignia system established in 1937..." -- it fails to mention that this is where the title of gunnery sergeant fell by the wayside! (for a time). There was no longer--between the years 1946 through 1958--the title of gunnery sergeant in the enlisted rank structure. Of course, the technical sergeant (three chevrons and two arcs) was usually referred to, informally, as "Gunny." And then between 1959 and 1963, the former technical sergeant was designated "Acting Gunnery Sergeant."

Therefore, it was not until 1January, 1959 that the title of gunnery sergeant was restored to the enlisted rank structure (in its present form with three chevrons, two arcs, and the now added crossed rifles; this occurred when the "new rank structure" as it was usually referred to became effective, and is still in effect as of this writing (1998).
-RWG

The above quotes are from Enlisted Rank Insignia in the U.S. Marine Corps, 1798-1958, by Michael O'Quinlivan, unless otherwise indicated.

For numerous additional webpages on the topic of Marine Rank History, please see my GyG Sites listing.
For the serious reader/viewer, the writings of BGen. Robert H. Williams, and others, may be of particular interest.
And there is my own Pictorial History of The Marine GySgt Rank!

In his book, Soldiers Of The Sea, Col. Robert D. Heinl, Jr. desribes two familiar types of Marines between the world wars; the so-called "Polish gunnery sergeants"--a broken-English breed mainly recruited from durable Central Europeon immigrants with soldiering experience in the old country--and the enlisted Aviation Pilots, known colloquially as "NAPs." Col. Heinl was one of the foremost historians and detailed writers of Marine Corps history, and in his writings you will find numerous tidbits of note that I have not seen mentioned by others. For instance: "The Marines in the ranks (superbly portrayed in one of John Thomason's stories, 'The Marine And The Emerald Sweeps') were largely a long-service, competent, experienced group led by senior NCOs who frequently had had service in World War I or, in many cases, as Guardia or Gerndarmerie offices in the Caribbean...

...The enlisted rank structure of the Corps, though not the rank titles, was assimilated to that of the Army in 1922 as a result of legislationwhich provided seven pay grades for both services...1st Grade: Sergeant Majoe; quartermaster sergeant--2d Grade: First sergeant; gunnery sergeant--3d Grade: Staff Sergeant (added in 1923)--4th Grade: Sergeant--5th Grade: Corporal--6th Grade: Private first class--7th Grade: Private, drummer; trumpeter...

...This structure assumed many characteristics of the Christmas tree as the weapons and organization of the Marine Corps became more complex, thus necessitating more specialists for whom additional families of titles were required. Among ratings introduced (or reintroduced) up to World War II were: master technical sergeant; drum major; paymaster sergeant; technical sergeant; supply sergeant; platoon sergeant; chief cook' field cook; field music corporal; field music (in place of the drummer and trumpeter). To reward technical skills not requiring the leadership qualities of noncommissioned rank, nonrated specialists were given extra 'specialist pay' without promotion, while any enlisted Marine could increase his monthly pay by $3 to $5 through qualifying as sharpshooter or expert rifleman, a mighty incentive to proficiency in arms which survived the war only to fall a casualty to the administrative turmoil produced by unification... "