a. Design. The jacket is made from an approved specification or pattern.
b. General description. The jacket is single-breasted with a natural-waist length and a shawl-type collar. It has a two-piece front on each side, and a two-panel back. The front pieces have three 20-ligne buttons on each side, and the shoulders have two loops for the attachment of shoulder boards or shoulder knots.
c. Shoulder ornamentation and insignia.
(1) General officers. Detachable shoulder knots are worn on each shoulder, fastened to the shoulder loops and positioned with the button on the inside shoulder seam nearest the collar. A description of shoulder knots is provided in para 25â5d(1). All general officers will wear the shoulder knots attached to the shoulders of the Army black mess jacket.
(2) Other commissioned and warrant officers. Detachable shoulder boards are worn on each shoulder snapped to the jacket through the shoulder loops, with the square end of the shoulder board positioned on the outside shoulder seam. (See para 28â8c for a general description of shoulder boards.)
d. Sleeve ornamentation.
(1) General officers wear a cuff of blue-black velvet braid, 4 inches in width, positioned 1â8 inch from the bottom edge of each sleeve. A band of oak leaves in groups of two, 1 inch in width, are embroidered on each cuff of braid, 1 inch below the upper edge, in gold bullion, synthetic metallic gold, or gold-colored nylon or rayon. General officer grade insignia is centered on the outside of the sleeve, 1 inch above the upper edge of the cuff braid. When general officers wear their branch insignia, it is centered on the outside of the sleeves 1 inch above the upper edge of the cuff braid. Grade insignia is positioned 1 inch above the branch insignia. If branch insignia is worn, general officers will wear the non-subdued, metal pin-on insignia. Grade insignia is embroidered silver bullion. General officer stars are 1 inch in diameter and are worn with one point facing upward. The following describes general officer stars:
(a) General insignia is four stars, with 11â4 inches between the midpoints, centered horizontally on the outside of the sleeves (see fig 25â4).
(b) Lieutenant general insignia is three stars, with 13â8 inches between the midpoints, with the middle star centered horizontally on the outside of the sleeves (see fig 25â5).
(c) Major general insignia is two stars, with 2 inches between the midpoints, centered horizontally on the outside of the sleeves (see fig 25â6).
(d) Brigadier general insignia is one star centered horizontally on the outside of the sleeves (see fig 25â7).
(2) Other commissioned and warrant officers wear a band of black mohair braid or black mercerized cotton braid, 1â2 inch wide, sewn on each sleeve, with the lower edge parallel to, and 3 inches above the bottom edge of each sleeve. Detachable shoulder boards are worn on each shoulder, snapped to the jacket through the shoulder loops, with the square end of the shoulder board positioned on the outside shoulder seam. (See para 28â8c for a description of shoulder boards.)