Military rank can be very confusing for the uninitiated.
Each country uses it’s own standards for military rank. Within each country, the Army, Navy, and Air Force often use different naming standards.
Finally, military rank naming standards differ over time. For example, the United States only utilizes certain military rank designations in time of war.
Classes of Military Rank
Traditional armies were made up of Officers and Enlisted men. The officers were the patrician leaders and the enlisted men were their plebian followers.
This model does not translate well to the requirements of the modern battlefield. Because of this, new rank hierarchies have been devised, which include:
- Commissioned Officers
- Warrant Officers
- Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO’s)
- Petty Officers
- Enlisted Men
Military Rank vs. Pay Grades
In the United States Armed Forces, it is much easier to understand the complex system of military rank if you compare it to the more practical system of military pay grades.
In the United States Armed Forces, your pay depends upon your pay grade, your years of service, and any adjustments for type or location of service.
Enlisted Ranks in the United States Armed Forces
| Pay Grade | Army | Navy | Air Force | Marines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E1 | Private | Seaman Recruit | Airman Basic | Private |
| E2 | Private | Seaman Apprentice | Airman | Private First Class |
| E3 | Private First Class | Seaman | Airman First Class | Lance Corporal |
| E4 | Corporal Specialist |
Petty Officer Third Class | Senior Airman | Corporal |
| E5 | Sergeant | Petty Officer Second Class | Staff Sergeant | Sergeant |
| E6 | Staff Sergeant | Petty Officer First Class | Technical Sergeant | Staff Sergeant |
| E7 | Sergeant First Class | Chief Petty Officer | Master Sergeant First Sergeant |
Gunnery Sergeant |
| E8 | Master Sergeant | Senior Chief Petty Officer | Senior Master Sergeant First Sergeant |
Master Sergeant First Sergeant |
| E9 | Sergeant Major Command Sergeant Major Sergeant Major of the Army |
Master Chief Petty Officer Fleet/Command Master Chief Petty Officer Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy |
Chief Master Sergeant First Sergrant Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force |
Sergeant Major Master Gunnery Sergeant Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps |
Warrant Officer Ranks in the United States Armed Forces
| Pay Grade | Army | Navy | Marines |
|---|---|---|---|
| W1 | Warrant Officer 1 | Warrant Officer 1 | |
| W2 | Chief Warrant Officer 2 | Chief Warrant Officer 2 | Warrant Officer 2 |
| W3 | Chief Warrant Officer 3 | Chief Warrant Officer 3 | Warrant Officer 3 |
| W4 | Chief Warrant Officer 4 | Chief Warrant Officer 4 | Warrant Officer 4 |
| W5 | Chief Warrant Officer | Warrant Officer 5 |
Commissioned Officer Ranks in the United States Armed Forces
| Pay Grade | Army | Navy | Air Force | Marines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| O1 | Second Lieutenant | Ensign | Second Lieutenant | Second Lieutenant |
| O2 | First Lieutenant | Lieutenant Junior Grade | First Lieutenant | First Lieutenant |
| O3 | Captain | Lieutenant | Captain | Captain |
| O4 | Major | Lieutenant Commander | Major | Major |
| O5 | Lieutenant Colonel | Commander | Lieutenant Colonel | Lieutenant Colonel |
| O6 | Colonel | Captain | Colonel | Colonel |
| O7 | Brigadier General | Read Admiral Lower Half | Brigadier General | Brigadier General |
| O8 | Major General | Rear Admiral Upper Half | Major General | Major General |
| O9 | Lieutenant General | Vice Admiral | Lieutenent General | Lieutenent General |
| O10 | Army Chief of Staff General of the Army |
Chief of Naval Operations Fleet Admiral |
Air Force Chief of Staff | Commandant of the Marine Corps |