What Are Ranks in the Military?
The US Military ranking system is considered the most important factor in determining how the military is organized and run. The system is divided into three types: enlisted, warrant officer and officer. The rank of each service member determines their benefits, job function and salary.
Here is the rank structure for the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard.
United States Army
Enlisted
E-1 – Private
E-2 – Private 2
E-3 – Private First Class
E-4 – Specialist
E-4 – Corporal
E-5 – Sergeant
E-6 – Staff Sergeant
E-7 – Sergeant First Class
E-8 – Master Sergeant
E-8 – First Sergeant
E-9 – Sergeant Major
E-9 – Command Sergeant Major
E-9 (special) – Sergeant Major of the Army
Warrant Officer
W-1 – Warrant Officer
W-2 – Chief Warrant Officer 2
W-3 – Chief Warrant Officer 3
W-4 – Chief Warrant Officer 4
W-5 – Chief Warrant Officer 5
Officer
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
Special – General of the Army (reserved for wartime)
United States Marine Corps
Enlisted
E-1 – Private
E-2 – Private First Class
E-3 – Lance Corporal
E-4 – Corporal
E-5 – Sergeant
E-6 – Staff Sergeant
E-7 – Gunnery Sergeant
E-8 – Master Sergeant
E-8 – First Sergeant
E-9 – Master Gunnery Sergeant
E-9 – Sergeant Major
E-9 (special) – Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
Warrant Officer
W-1 – Warrant Officer 1
W-2 – Chief Warrant Officer 2
W-3 – Chief Warrant Officer 3
W-4 – Chief Warrant Officer 4
W-5 – Chief Warrant Officer 5
Officer
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
United States Air Force
Enlisted
E-1 – Airman Basic
E-2 – Airman
E-3 – Airman First Class
E-4 – Senior Airman or Sergeant
E-5 – Staff Sergeant
E-6 – Technical Sergeant
E-7 – Master Sergeant
E-8 – Senior Master Sergeant
E-9 – Chief Master Sergeant
E-9 – Command Chief Master Sergeant
E-9 (special) – Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
Officer
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 Air Force Chief of Staff
Special – General of the Air Force (reserved for wartime)
United States Navy/Coast Guard
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 Officer 1st Class
E-7 – Chief Petty Officer
E-8 – Senior Chief Petty Officer
E-9 – Master Chief Petty Officer
E-9 – Command Master Chief Petty Officer
E-9 – Fleet Master Chief Petty Officer
E-9 – Force Master Chief Petty Officer
E-9 (special) – Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard
E-9 (special) – Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
Warrant Officer
W-1 – Warrant Officer
W-2 – Chief Warrant Officer 2
W-3 – Chief Warrant Officer 3
W-4 – Chief Warrant Officer 4
W-5 – Chief Warrant Officer 5
Officer
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 Chief of Naval Operations / Commandant of the Coast Guard
Special – Fleet Admiral (reserved for wartime)