United States Military Ranks
The U.S. military—just like any other military in the world has multiple ranks. While the ranks are very similar between the branches and the pay grades are the same, there are minor differences. For a civilian, these differences may not be a huge deal but for military personnel, it is certainly a big deal.
Over the existence of the U.S. military, ranks gone through some changes but for quite some time, the ranks have stayed the same. Below, you can see the ranks for Marine Corps, Army, Navy, Coast Guard, and Air Force. The biggest difference between the U.S. military branches is perhaps the Air Force. It’s not just the fact that ranks are different but the Air Force doesn’t have Warrant Officers which make it unique in its own ways.
Marine Corps and Army Ranks
Enlisted Personnel
- E-1: Private
- E-2: Marine Private First Class / Army Private
- E-3: Marine Lance Corporal / Army Private First Class
- E-4: Corporal
- E-5: Sergeant
- E-6: Staff Sergeant
- E-7: Marine Gunnery Sergeant / Army Sergeant First Class
- E-8: Master Sergeant
- E-9: Sergeant Major
Warrant Officers
- W-1: Warrant Officer
- W-2: Chief Warrant Officer
- W-3: Chief Warrant Officer
- W-4: Chief Warrant Officer
- W-5: Chief Warrant Officer
Commissioned Officers
- O-1: Second Lieutenant
- O-2: First Lieutenant
- O-3: Captain
- O-4: Major
- O-5: Lieutenant Colonel
- O-6: Colonel
- O-7:Brigadier General
- O-8: Major General
- O-9: Lieutenant General
- O-10: General
Navy and Coast Guard Ranks
Enlisted
- E-1: Seaman Recruit
- E-2: Seaman Apprentice
- E-3: Seaman
- E-4: Petty Officer 3rd Class
- E-5: Petty Officer 2nd Class
- E-6: Petty Officers 1st Class
- E-7: Chief Petty Officer
- E-8: Senior Chief Petty Officer
- E-9: Master Chief Petty Officer
Warrant Officers
- W-1: Chief Warrant Officer
- W-2: Chief Warrant Officer
- W-3: Chief Warrant Officer
- W-4: Chief Warrant Officer
- W-5: Chief Warrant Officer
Commissioned Officers
- O-1: Ensign
- O-2: Lieutenant Junior Grade
- O-3: Lieutenant
- O-4: Lieutenant Commander
- O-5: Commander
- O-6: Captain
- O-7: Rear Admiral Lower Half
- O-8: Rear Admiral Upper Half
- O-9: Vice Admiral
- O-10: Admiral
Air Force Ranks
Enlisted
- E-1: Recruit
- E-2: Airman
- E-3: Airman First Class
- E-4: Senior Airman
- E-5: Staff Sergeant
- E-6: Technical Sergeant
- E-7: Master Sergeant
- E-8: Senior Master Sergeant
- E-9: Chief Master Sergeant
Warrant Officers
Air Force doesn’t have Warrant Officers
Commissioned Officers
- O-1: Second Lieutenant
- O-2: First Lieutenant
- O-3: Captain
- O-4: Major
- O-5: Lieutenant Colonel
- O-6: Colonel
- O-7: Brigadier General
- O-8: Major General
- O-9: Lieutenant General
- O-10: General
