CITIZENS' DEFENSE CORPS RANKS AND TITLES: United States. World War II. A detailed systems of ranks and titles was developed by the Office of Civilian Defense as part of the organization of volunteers for community protection, as shown in Tables 1 through 3 below.

Table 5-1. Civil Defense Ranks and Insignia Through Platoon Level

Service One Triangle* Two Triangles* Three Triangles*
equivalent Army rank Private 1st Class Non-Commissioned Officer Lieutenant
Air Raid Warden First Class Senior or Sector Warden Zone Leader
Auxiliary Fireman First Class Squad Leader Platoon Leader
Auxiliary Policeman First Class Squad Leader Platoon Leader
Bomb Squad First Class Squad Leader ---
Rescue Squad First Class Squad Leader Depot Leader
Medical Field Units First Class Team Leader Squad Leader
Medical Auxiliaries (Stretcher Teams) First Class Team Leader Squad Leader
Nurses' Aides --- --- ---
Emergency Food and Housing First Class Unit Leader Depot Leader
Drivers Units First Class Convoy Leader Depot Leader
Messengers First Class Senior Messenger Platoon Leader
Road Repair Crews First Class Crew Leader Depot Leader
Demolition and Clearance First Class Crew Leader Depot Leader
Decontamination Squads First Class Squad Leader Station Leader
Fire Watchers --- --- ---
Repair Crews First Class Crew Leader Service Leader
Local Staff First Class as required as required
State Staff First Class as required as required
United States Staff First Class as required as required

* Note: Based on inspection of actual devices this triangle appears to be a black triangle on a dark blue disc.  This appears to be consistent with the existing diagram of the rank structure which shows a black triangle.

Table 5-2. Civil Defense Ranks and Insignia Through Senior Supervisory Level

Service One Triangle** Two Triangles** Three Triangles**
equivalent Army rank Captain Major Colonel
Air Raid Warden Group Leader Chief Warden State Warden
Auxiliary Fireman Company Leader Fire Chief State Fire Coordinator
Auxiliary Policeman Company Leader Chief of Police ---
Bomb Squad Company Leader Chief of Police ---
Rescue Squad Company Leader Fire Chief ---
Medical Field Units Unit Leader Chief of Emergency Medical Services State Medical Director
Medical Auxiliaries --- --- ---
Nurses Aides --- --- ---
Emergency Food and Housing Company Leader Chief Warden ---
Drivers Units Company Leader --- ---
Messengers Company Leader --- ---
Road Repair Crews Company Leader Chief of Emergency Work Service ---
Demolition and Clearance Company Leader Chief of Emergency Work Service ---
Decontamination Squads Company Leader Chief of Emergency Work Service ---
Fire Watchers --- --- ---
Repair Crews --- Chief of Utilities ---
Local Staff Staff Unit Leader Controller Commander
State Staff as required as designated as designated
United States Staff as required as required as designated

** Note: Although no actual emblem has been encountered, the existing rank chart shows a white triangle, and this insignia may be a white triangle on a dark blue disc.

Table 5-3. Civil Defense Ranks and Insignia Through Executive Level

Service One Star*** Two Stars*** Three Stars*** Four Stars***
equivalent Army rank Brigadier General Major General Lieutenant General General
Local Staff Coordinator --- --- ---
State Staff Assistant Coordinator Coordinator --- ---
United States Staff as designated as designated Regional Director or Principal Assistants United States Director

*** Note: Although no actual emblem has been encountered, the existing rank chart shows a black star, and this insignia may be a black, red, or white star on a dark blue disc.

Sources: United States, Office of Civilian Defense, A Handbook for Demolition and Clearance Crews, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America, U. S. Government Printing Office, 1941.  Item 04-1-US-21, armband, collection of The Physical Archive of Civil Defense, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America, University of Richmond, The Physical Archive of Civil Defense.

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