Civil Defense Organization, Insignia, and Ranks

Civil Defense Organization, Insignia, and Ranks
by Ryan Crierie, assistance by Bruce E. Dorsey of Pakuranga, New Zealand.

All artwork, except for the rank insignia, was originally published in a series of Civil Defense publications in the 1940s; and much of the description of the Corps and their duties also comes from those publications.

Civil Defense Branch Insignia
Insignia	Job/Unit	Description/Duties
OR	Staff Corps	All enrolled civilians assigned to Staff and Administrative duties wear the official emblem of Civilian Defense. Percentage of Personnel required per 1,000 of Population: 4 Men, 2 Women
	Staff Corps, National	Personnel assigned to the following offices: The Office of Civilian Defense, Washington D.C. Civilian Defense Regional Directors Are permitted to wear this insignia:
	Staff Corps, State	Personnel assigned to the various State and Local Civil Defense Councils are permitted to wear this insignia.
	Drivers Corps	Persons willing to offer their cars as well as their own time are grouped as a Drivers Corps. Women are often enrolled for this work. Cars and drivers are assigned by the Coordinator to First Aid Squads, Casualty Clearing Stations, Control and Message Centers, and to the staff of the Local Defense Coordinator. Instruction in driving under blackout and other air-raid conditions is necessary. The size of the Corps depends upon the service required by other civilian defense groups. The steering wheel identifies members of the Drivers Corps. Percentage of Personnel required per 1,000 of Population: 5 Women
	Messenger Corps	A reliable and efficient messenger group is vital to organization for civilian defense. Messengers are assigned to Air Raid Warden posts, to Control and Message Centers, to hospitals and First Aid posts, to fire stations, and police precincts. The size of this group depends upon local conditions and available personnel ; the use of boys or girls from 15 to 21 years of age is desirable. Bicycle equipment is useful. Members of the Messenger Corps wear the 'lightning flash" insignia. Percentage of Personnel required per 1,000 of Population: 1 Men, 1 Women, 6 Youths
	Rescue Squad	Air attacks provide special problems in the saving of persons caught in burning or shattered buildings, and the turning off of utilities in an emergency. Such responsibilities fall upon the Public Works, Fire, and other appropriate municipal departments. Rescue Squads must be organized to rescue persons trapped in debris and to shut off broken gas, electric, and water lines. Each squad consists of about 10 men, equipped with suitable protective clothing and the necessary tools and equipment for shoring up, tunneling, and minor demolition work and for rendering emergency first aid. The "ladder" identifies members of a Rescue Squad. Percentage of Personnel required per 1,000 of Population: 2 Men
	Auxiliary Policemen	In many communities, volunteers—men and women— are needed to aid the regular police force in performance of its duties. The number necessary is determined by the Chief of Police. Police functions in which volunteers assist include: (1 )Enforcement of emergency restrictions on lighting and prohibitions on trespassing (2) guarding of docks, bridges, and factories to prevent sabotage (3) traffic duty to facilitate movement of essential vehicles (4) prevention of looting of partially demolished shops and homes (5) assistance to air-raid protection services before, during, and after a raid. Auxiliary Police are properly armed and identified by police shields and brassards. Percentage of Personnel required per 1,000 of Population: 4 Men
	Bomb Squad	Some of the bombs dropped in a modern air attack may fail to explode or may have delayed-action fuses. They must be removed at once to a place where they may he exploded without harm. Since this work requires an unusual degree of knowledge, skill, and devotion, it usually falls to a small group of picked men of the regular police force who have been carefully trained for this dangerous work. The airplane identifies members of a Bomb Squad. Percentage of Personnel required per 1,000 of Population: 1 Men
	Air Raid Warden	The Air Raid Warden is to many people the personal representative of Civilian Defense. He is not a policeman and does not have police powers, hut he usually functions as part of the police force and with its help. An Air Raid Warden's post is organized to serve a unit of 500 people. It is accessible and plainly marked. Since at least one person is always on duty, four Air Raid Wardens usually are assigned to each post. The Air Raid Warden's duties include: (1) Observing lights showing during a blackout and warning occupants of the building (2) directing persons in the street to shelter (3) reporting to the control center any fallen bombs (4) reporting fires to the control center and assisting in lighting incendiary bombs as soon as they fall (5) detecting and reporting to the control center the presence of gas (6) administering elementary first aid (7) assisting victims in damaged buildings. The position of Air Raid Warden may be filled either by a man or woman, provided the person chosen is capable of performing the duties. One of the most important duties is to set an example of controlled activity and cool efficiency under all conditions. Training is given all Air Raid Wardens in gas and fire-bomb defense, first aid, and general organization of air-raid services. The stripes in the insignia of Air Raid Wardens signify "many duties." Percentage of Personnel required per 1,000 of Population: 6 Men, 2 Women
	Auxiliary Firemen	Since fire is one of the greatest threats in air attack, augmentation of the regular fire-fighting forces is necessary. A practical plan, used in Britain and already under way in a number of American cities, is the establishment of three auxiliary fire stations around each existing engine company. One officer or first-grade fireman is placed in charge of each auxiliary fire station and up to 30 enrolled volunteers, assigned on the platoon system, are allotted at each such station. Auxiliary Firemen must be men of good character and physique, not subject to military draft. Their duties are similar to those of the regular fire-fighting forces. In addition to identifying insignia showing the maltese cross, they are equipped with suitable protective clothing similar to that worn by the regular forces. Percentage of Personnel required per 1,000 of Population: 4 Men
	Fire Watchers	The menace of the fire bomb calls for unceasing vigilance and prompt, intelligent action. Fighting incendiary bombs as they fall is a duty in winch all able-bodied citizens need training. After the Fire Department has trained its own auxiliary forces, it instructs citizens in the area under each Air Raid Warden's post in the method of fighting fire bombs. The Air Raid Warden of each post then selects and enrolls the most alert and suitable persons to act as Fire Watchers. The number depends upon the character of neighborhood. During an air-raid alarm, the Watchers take up posts on roofs, in doorways, and at other vantage points in order to spot and reach fallen bombs quickly. The "'new flame" identifies Fire Watchers. Percentage of Personnel required per 1,000 of Population: 10 Men
	Demolition and Clearance Crew	After an air raid, Streets may be filled with rubble, walls of partially demolished buildings may tilt dangerously, and streets may be blocked by bomb craters. Husky crews of enrolled volunteers, added to existing clearance forces, remove rubble from the streets and fill craters made by bombs or broken pavements. They are provided with equipment to dynamite unsafe walls and buildings. These crews operate ordinarily under the Public Works Department. They wear "the pick"' insignia. Percentage of Personnel required per 1,000 of Population: 2 Men
	Road Repair Crew	Street or road repair crews, augmented by civilian volunteers, restore normal flow of traffic as rapidly as possible after an air raid. These crews operate ordinarily under the Street or Public Works Department following up the rough clearance of the demolition squads. They smooth the road surfaces, repave with available material and restore road markings. They wear "the shovel" insignia. Percentage of Personnel required per 1,000 of Population: 2 Men
	Decontamination Squad	The possibility that an attacking enemy may use war gas makes a Decontamination Corps necessary. Provision must be made for special treatment of clothing and equipment and also for chemical neutralization of contaminated streets and walls. Specialized training and equipment are needed for this work. Instructors for the local defense organization receive training at Civilian Defense Schools conducted by the War Department. The Health Department is particularly concerned with decontamination work. Members of the Decontamination Corps are identified by insignia showing the chemical retort. Percentage of Personnel required per 1,000 of Population: 1 Men
	Emergency Food and Housing Corps	Food and shelter must be provided for those whose homes have been damaged or destroyed by air raid or other disaster. Usually the Welfare Department has general responsibility for coordinating such emergency services. It is assisted by enrolled personnel and private organizations equipped to render assistance. Qualified women often are enrolled for the Emergency Food and Housing Corps, identified by the "coffee cup" insignia. Percentage of Personnel required per 1,000 of Population: 1 Women
	Medical Corps	In the event of an air raid or any oilier disaster, the care of the injured will he the responsibility of Medical Field Units. These Field Units are organized by hospitals and are composed of several squads of physicians, nurses, and nursing auxiliaries. Upon receiving the alarm from the Control Center, a medical emergency squad or squads will proceed to the scene of the disaster and will set up a Casualty Station at a designated site. When necessary, a team of one or more physicians, nurses, and nurses' aides may be dispatched from the Casualty Station to establish a subsidiary First Aid post at another appropriate site. All enrolled personnel assigned to the work of the Emergency Medical Service (Medical Field Units) are entitled to wear the Caduceus symbol. The insignia for physicians will be the Caduceus surmounted by the initials M. D. and for registered nurses by the initials R. N. Percentage of Personnel required per 1,000 of Population: 1 Men, 2 Women
	Nurses' Aides Corps	Volunteer Nurses' Aides are intended to assist the nurse so that she may be able to serve a greater number of patients. Special training by the Red Cross is necessary before women volunteers can serve in this field. Upon completion of this course of training, which has been prepared by the Office of Civilian Defense in collaboration with the American National Red Cross, Volunteer Nurses' Aides will become eligible to assist in wards and out-patient clinics of hospitals, or in visiting nurse, public health, industrial hygiene, and school health services. Training courses must be satisfactorily completed before Volunteer Nurses' Aides may wear the Corps symbol. This is a Red Cross in the Civilian Defense triangle and circle. It indicates that the Nurses¹ Aide has been trained by the Red Cross as a volunteer civilian defense worker. Nurses' Aides who are members of Emergency Medical Field Units may wear the Caduceus symbol of Civilian Defense. Trained members of the First Aid Corps of an industrial plant, business organization, or State or municipal department will also be entitled to wear the Red Cross on the triangle and circle of Civilian Defense. Its use is authorized only for those who have received a First Aid Certificate as evidence that they have completed the standard or advanced course in First Aid. Percentage of Personnel required per 1,000 of Population: 6 Women
	Forest Fire Fighters Service (1942-?)	To assist in safeguarding forest lands and other timber facilities and resources, to aid in prevention and suppression of fires which might endanger such facilities and resources, and to minimize the effects of any such fires. Its functions shall be to aid in Nation-wide forest fire prevention education and to enroll volunteer fire fighters for service in forest and rural areas. It shall cooperate with the forest fire protection agencies of the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture, with State forestry officials and private forest fire protective organizations.
	Instructors Unit	The Instructors Unit gives courses of training and instruction to units of the Defense Corps. Its membership is restricted to persons who have satisfactorily completed prescribed and approved courses of training and instruction. Appointment to the unit is made by the Local Defense Council on the basis of ability to perform prescribed duties.
	Civil Air Patrol	The Civil Air Patrol was organized to serve the armed forces and the government by rendering patrol, reconnaissance and ferrying services not being done by military and commercial aviation groups. Civilian pilots, whose record and qualifications are approved, may become members of this group. The Civil Air Patrol is broken up into regional commands. The Regions have State Wings, which are made up of one or more groups. Within the groups there are from two to five squadrons. The basic insignia of the Civil Air Patrol consists of a propeller within a triangle in a circle. Pilots of the CAP wear Pilots Wings. Observer Wings are authorized for persons qualified. ---------------------------------------------------Organized under the Office of Civil Defense on 01 December 1941, just before Pearl Harbor. CAP fliers flew ASW patrols off the US Coasts, sinking a few U-Boats in the process, border patrols between the US and Mexico, Forestry Patrols to sight forest fires, performed courier services for the government, and towed targets for aerial gunnery training. On 29 April 1943, the War Department took over the CAP, due to their usefulness, and they became an official auxiliary arm of the US Army Air Force. Under this takeover, the CAP insignia on aircraft was slightly modified, with the addition of “U.S.” to the insignia, so that the CAP aircrew would NOT be legally considered guerrillas if they were shot down by U-Boats and captured. Continues as an auxiliary arm of the US Air Force today.
	Citizens Service Corps	The U. S. Citizens Service Corps will be supervised nationally by the Civilian Mobilization Branch of the OCD. Members of the Citizens Service Corps must take an oath to defend and uphold the Constitution of the United States and to perform all duties to which they are assigned.
Christian Jewish	Chaplain	The Chaplains Unit is not, strictly speaking, a protective service, but it is classed as a related service. Chaplains will administer to the religious and spiritual needs of persons suffering from the effects of air raids or other disaster. The insignia for the Christian Chaplain has a Latin Cross in the traditional OCD background. The Jewish Chaplain has an insignia consisting of the six-pointed star above the "Tables of the Law" inside the traditional OCD background. Both of these designs follow the insignia in use for Chaplains in the armed forces.
	Utility Repair Units	Members of Utility Repair Units operate in case of emergency under the command of the U.S. Citizens Defense Corps in each community. They repair water, gas, electric, telephone, steam and other utility services damaged by air raids or other disaster.
	Pressmen	Public Relations people, who were allowed to attend emergencies to write up what happened, and to do so in a manner that made Civil Defense look good (TM).
	Evacuation Corps (Existence Vague)	People who helped evacuate people from disaster sites. NOTE: No known existing example of this insignia has been found; only a brief drawing and description of it. It is quite possible that this was a proposed Corps, and the duties proposed for it were instead assigned to another Corps.
	Civil Defense Auxiliary Group	Included in the Civilian Defense Auxiliary Group are doctors, nurses, reporters, press photographers and such other people who because of their occupation should be eligible to be on the streets and perform their duties during blackouts or air raids.

Ranks and Insignia
RANK/INSIGNIA
U.S. Army Equivalent Rank	Private First Class	NCO	Lieutenant	Captain	Major	Colonel	B. General	M. General	Lt. General	General
Air Raid Warden	First Class	Senior or Sector Warden	Zone Leader	Group Leader	Chief Warden	State Warden	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK
Auxiliary Firemen	First Class	Squad Leader	Platoon Leader	Company Leader	Fire Chief	State Fire Coordinator	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK
Auxiliary Policemen	First Class	Squad Leader	Platoon Leader	Company Leader	Chief of Police	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK
Bomb Squad	First Class	Squad Leader	NO RANK	Company Leader	Chief of Police	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK
Rescue Squad	First Class	Squad Leader	Depot Leader	Company Leader	Fire Chief	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK
Medical Field Units	First Class	Team Leader	Squad Leader	Unit Leader	Chief of EMS	State Medical Director	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK
Medical Auxiliaries (stretcher teams)	First Class	Team Leader	Squad Leader	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK
Nurses' Aides	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK
Emergency Food & Housing Corps	First Class	Unit Leader	Depot Leader	Group Leader	Chief Warden	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK
Drivers' Units	First Class	Convoy Leader	Depot Leader	Group Leader	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK
Messengers	First Class	Senior Messenger	Platoon Leader	Group Leader	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK
Road Repair Crews	First Class	Crew Leader	Depot Leader	Group Leader	Chief of Emergency Works	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK
Demolition & Clearance Crews	First Class	Crew Leader	Depot Leader	Group Leader	Chief of Emergency Works	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK
Decontamination Squads	First Class	Squad Leader	Station Leader	Group Leader	Chief of Emergency Works	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK
Fire Watchers	First Class	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK
Repair Crews	First Class	Crew Leader	Service Leader	NO RANK	Chief of Utilities	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK
Local Staff	First Class	As Required	As Required	As Required	Controller	Commander	Coordinator	NO RANK	NO RANK	NO RANK
State Staff	First Class	As Required	As Required	As Required	As Designated	As Designated	Assistant Coordinator	Coordinator	NO RANK	NO RANK
National Staff	First Class	As Required	As Required	As Required	As Required	As Designated	As Designated	As Designated	Regional Director or Assistant Directors	U.S. Director
NOTES	Ranks with this Background are assigned by the Red Cross to the Chief of Emergency Medical Service.

Organization of Civil Defense
Administrative Group	Insignia	Corps	Operating Unit	Size of Operating Unit	Equipment of Operating Unit
Command Post		Staff (Not Including Command)	Control Center, etc	Variable	Office, Communications, Maps, Files, etc
		Messenger Service	Individual	Assigned to Corps	NONE. Messengers furnish own transportation.
		Drivers' Corps	Individual	Assigned to Corps	NONE. Drivers furnish own transportation.
Fire Department		Auxiliary Fireman	Generally Auxiliary Fire Station	6 to 10 men	Portable or truck-mounted pumper with hose
Fire Department		Rescue Squad	Rescue Squad	10 men	Tools and transport for demolition, shoring, first aid, etc. operations
Police Department		Auxiliary Police	Platoon	30 men	NONE
Police Department		Bomb Squad	Squad	4 men	Excavating tools Derrick truck Special tools.
Warden's Division		Air Raid Wardens	Post	4 to 6 men	Desks, chairs, typewriters, first aid kit, gas alarm, radio, flashlights, etc
Warden's Division		Fire Watchers	Sector Groups	5 to 24 men	Sand Buckets Scoops Spray bucket/pumps
Emergency Medical Division		Medical Personnel	First Aid Post Stretcher Teams Clearing Stations Hospitals	Variable	First Aid kits of various sizes
Emergency Medical Division		Nurses/Aides	As assigned	Variable	Variable
Public Works Emergency Division		Demolition & Clearance Crews	Truck Company	6 to 24 men	1 to 4 Trucks Picks and Shovels for 6 Demolition Equipment
		Road Repair Crews	Truck Company	4 to 16 men	1 to 4 Trucks Road Tools Resurfacer Paints Carpenter's Tools
		Decontamination Squads	Spray Truck Unit	4 to 6 men	Water Tank Flusher Chloride of Lime Brushes, Shovels, etc

Bibliography: Enrolled Volunteer Worker Groups for Civilian Protection, Office of Civilian Defense – August 4, 1941, United States Citizen Defense Corps (Unknown Date)