In the previous article, we took an insight into the U.S. Marine Corps Enlisted Ranks in order. Therefore, to continue our series of blogs regarding the U.S. military ranks  for each branch, we will discuss the U.S. Marine Corps Officer Ranks in great detail. Before we start to learn more about each rank and its insignia, we will have an overview of the officer ranking system. 

Marine Corps ranks for officers are divided into two tiers 

  • Warrant Officers
  • Commissioned Officers 

Based upon time in service (TIS), time in grade (TIG) and level of performance, lance corporals may get promoted to the rank of officer. Annually, what proportion of Marines can serve in each grade above Corporal is stated by Congress. Because of the finite number of positions within each MOS assigned by Marine Corps, promotion to higher ranks requires an intense devotion to the MOS’ duties. 

 

1. U.S. Marine Corps Officer Ranks: Warrant Officers

 

The Marine Corps Warrant Officers typically serve as role models and teachers who provide leadership, training, and extensive knowledge for their fellow enlisted personnel in their MOS (Military Occupational Specialty). Furthermore, they also work as technical specialists in their respective fields. The promotion of a sergeant or noncommissioned staff officer to the rank of warrant officer must be approved by the secretary of the Navy. 

At the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 2, warrant officers are promoted to the rank of commissioned officer, though they typically work as technical advisors, giving commands and organizations in their field access to their knowledge.

The title “Marine Gunner” is also used by chief warrant officers who are infantry weapons officers, but it does not take the place of their rank. Besides, the Marine Gunner’ insignia replace the chief warrant officer insignia on the left collar with a bursting bomb insignia.

 

1.1. Warrant Officer 1 (WO1)

 

The U.S. Marine Corps Warrant Officer 1
The U.S. Marine Corps Warrant Officer 1 Insignia

 

  • Classification: Warrant Officer
  • Starting monthly Basic Salary: $3,399
  • Paygrade: W-1 

Warrant Officer 1 is  below Chief Warrant Officer 2 and above Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps. Furthermore, Warrant Officer 1 (WO1), who is proficient both at leading and their technical specialty, is the first and lowest Warrant Officer rank in the United States Marine Corps. 

Enlisted personnel who want to enroll in the Warrant Officer program must submit a written application, which commanders review to ensure the candidate satisfies all eligibility requirements. They are formally chosen by the Secretary of the Marine Corps. Whether applying for administrative or weapons-related positions, eligibility largely depends on the community; some positions may require a minimum rank, length of service, or previous billets.

A Warrant Officer’s rank insignia is a vertical maroon bar with one gold horizontal stripe running down the middle of it. Although promotion from lower pay grades is possible with enough evidence of leadership and experience, it most frequently happens from Sergeant Major Of The Marine Corps (sgtMa) to Warrant Officer 1.

 

1.2. Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CWO2)

 

The U.S. Marine Corps Warrant Officer 2 Insignia
The U.S. Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer 2 Insignia
  • Classification: Warrant Officer
  • Starting Monthly Basic Salary: $3,872
  • Paygrade: W-2

Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CW2), which is above Warrant Officer 1 and directly below Chief Warrant Officer 3, is regarded as the second lowest Warrant Officer rank in the United States Marine Corps. CW2s are experts at the intermediate level in both the technical and tactical aspects of leading in their field and are formally appointed by the Secretary of the Marine Corps. A Chief Warrant Officer 2 wears the same rank insignia as a Warrant Officer 1, but it is a vertical maroon bar with two horizontal gold stripes inside of it rather than just one.

The most common promotion from Warrant Officer 1 (WO1) to Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CW2) occurs after about two years, though promotions from lower pay grades are possible with enough evidence of leadership and experience.

 

1.3. Chief Warrant Officer 3 (CWO3)

 

The U.S. Marine Corps Chief Warrant 3
The U.S. Marine Corps Chief Warrant 3 Insignia
  • Classification: Warrant Officer
  • Starting Monthly Basic Salary: $4,376
  • Paygrade: W-3

 

Chief Warrant Officer 3 (CW3), ranks above Chief Warrant Officer 2 and directly below Chief Warrant Officer 4, is the third Warrant Officer rank in the United States Marine Corps. They are formally chosen by the Secretary of the Marine Corps. They give their subordinates the direction, help, and supervision they require to carry out their tasks. Typically, they assist with operations at the brigade and team level.

The rank insignia of a Chief Warrant Officer 3 is identical to that of a Warrant Officer 1, with the exception that it is one silver stripe on a maroon field rather than one gold horizontal stripe. A Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CW2) may be selected thoroughly for promotion to Chief Warrant Officer 3 (CW3) by CWO/LDO selection boards, if he or she has two years of time-in-grade. Promotion from lower pay grades is possible with enough evidence of experience and leadership though. 

What’s more, every one to two years, Chief Warrant Officer 3’s basic pay is automatically increased. A Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer 3 may receive numerous types of allowances and bonus pay in addition to a monthly basic salary such as hostile fire pay, retirement benefits, and more.

 

1.4. Chief Warrant Officer 4 (CWO4)

 

The U.S. Marine Corps Chief Warrant 4
The U.S. Marine Corps Chief Warrant 4 Insignia
  • Classification: Warrant Officer
  • Starting Monthly Basic Salary: $4,792
  • Paygrade: W-4

 

Chief Warrant Officer 4 (CW4), ranking above Chief Warrant Officer 3 and directly below Chief Warrant Officer 5, is the fourth Warrant Officer rank in the United States Marine Corps. CW4s are senior level authorities on both the tactical and technical aspects of leading in their field.  In general, they provide support for operations at the battalion, brigade, division, corps, and echelons above corps operations levels.

A Chief Warrant Officer 4 wears the same rank insignia as a Chief Warrant Officer 3 but with two silver stripes in place of one on a maroon background. A Chief Warrant Officer 3 (CW3) may be selected thoroughly for promotion to Chief Warrant Officer 4 (CW4) by CWO/LDO selection boards, if he or she has two years of time-in-grade. Promotion from lower pay grades is possible with enough evidence of experience and leadership though. 

What’s more, every one to two years, Chief Warrant Officer 4’s basic pay is automatically increased. A Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer 4 may receive numerous types of allowances and bonus pay in addition to a monthly basic salary such as education allowance, clothing allowance, hostile fire pay, food allowance, and more. A Chief Warrant Officer 4 receives an automatic raise to their basic pay every one to two years. Basic pay is only a small percentage of a Chief Warrant Officer 4’s final compensation package.

 

1.5. Chief Warrant Officer 5 (CWO5)

 

The U.S. Marine Corps Chief Warrant 5
The U.S. Marine Corps Chief Warrant 5 Insignia
  • Classification: Warrant Officer
  • Starting Monthly Basic Salary: $8,520
  • Paygrade: W-5

Chief Warrant Officer 5 (CW5) is the highest Warrant Officer rank in the United States Marine Corps, which means it ranks above Chief Warrant Officer 4 and directly below Second Lieutenant. CW5s are master level experts in both the technical and tactical facets of leading in their field and are formally appointed by the Secretary of the Marine Corps.

Along with the usual duties of a Warrant Officer, CW5s also have additional leadership and advocacy duties. They typically provide support for major operations and those at the battalion, brigade, division, corps, and echelons above corps levels. The Chief Warrant Officer 5 rank insignia is very distinctive from the other Warrant Officer rank insignias; it has three vertical stripes with the center stripe being maroon and the outer stripes being silver.

A Chief Warrant Officer 4 (CW4) may be selected thoroughly for promotion to Chief Warrant Officer 5 (CW5) by CWO/LDO selection boards, if he or she has two years of time-in-grade. Promotion from lower pay grades is possible with enough evidence of experience and leadership though. 

What’s more, every one to two years, Chief Warrant Officer 5’s basic pay is automatically increased. A Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer 5 may receive numerous types of allowances and bonus pay in addition to a monthly basic salary such as food allowance, hazard pay, hostile fire pay, and more.

 

2. U.S. Marine Corps Ranks: Commissioned Officers

 

College graduates who have earned and accepted an appointment made in the name of the US president are known as commissioned officers, who are educated and decorated to take the responsibility for being outstanding leaders to Marines in their charge.

Commissioned officers are charged by their commission with supervising Marines as they defend the US Constitution. Generals, field-grade, and company-grade officers are further divisions of commissioned officer ranks. The Marine Corps assistant commandant and the Marine Corps commandant are four-star ranks.

 

2.1. Second Lieutenant (2ndLt)

 

The U.S. Marine Corps Second Lieutenant
The U.S. Marine Corps Second Lieutenant
  • Classification: Commissioned Officer
  • Starting Monthly Basic Salary: $3,385.80
  • Paygrade: O-1

The entry rank of the commissioned officers when joining the U.S. The Marine Corps is the Second Lieutenant. Because they lack military experience, they are under the guidance of senior officers or warrant officers. A second lieutenant works as a platoon leader or company commander and looks to their senior officers for guidance and intent.

 

2.2. First Lieutenant (1stLt)

The U.S. Marine Corps First Lieutenant Insignia
The U.S. Marine Corps First Lieutenant Insignia

 

  • Classification: Commissioned Officer
  • Starting Monthly Basic Salary: $3,901.20
  • Paygrade: O-2

After two years of serving as a second lieutenant (2ndLt), a Marine gets promoted to the rank of first lieutenant which requires more responsibility and future chances for promotion. A first lieutenant’s responsibilities are similar to those of a second lieutenant. However, after being promoted, the first lieutenant’s duties are immediately increased.

 

2.3. Captain (Capt)

 

The U.S. Marine Corps Captain Insignia
The U.S. Marine Corps Captain Insignia

 

  • Classification: Commissioned Officer
  • Monthly Basic Salary:$4,514.70
  • Paygrade: O-3

In the Marine Corps, captains are in charge of specific companies and serve as company commanders for 62–190 Marines. Typically, lieutenants advance to captain status. They are in charge of both the tactical and routine operations of their company, and they frequently receive assistance from lower-ranking commissioned and non-commissioned officers.

In a Marine Corps company, a captain serves as the senior commissioned officer and the unit’s commander. Its responsibilities include overseeing its members’ performance of tactical missions while working with senior noncommissioned officers.

 

2.4. Major (Maj)

 

The U.S. Marine Corps Major Insignia
The U.S. Marine Corps Major Insignia
  • Classification: Field Officer
  • Monthly Basic Salary:$5,135.10
  • Paygrade: O-4

In the Marine Corps, Majors are typically promoted from the rank of captain. Conventionally, they work as battalion executive officers, weapons company commanders or regimental or brigade staff members.

 

2.5 Lieutenant Colonel (LtCol)

 

The U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel Insignia
The U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel Insignia
  • Classification: Field Officer
  • Monthly Basic Salary: $5,951.40
  • Paygrade: O-5

A lieutenant colonel commands  a regiment or brigade form 300 – 1000 Marines at a given time with the assistance of one major, junior commissioned officer, and one common sergeant major. Furthermore, he or she acts as a key decision-maker who works on a division’s staff. Typically, it takes from 16 to 22 years to be advanced to the rank of lieutenant colonel.

 

2.6. Colonel (Col)

 

The U.S. Marine Corps Colonel Insignia
The U.S. Marine Corps Colonel Insignia
  • Classification: Field Officer
  • Monthly Basic Salary: $7,139.10
  • Paygrade: O-6

 

Colonels, who typically attend the Pennsylvania’s Army War College or the Virginia’s Marine Corps War College, work as regimental commander, brigade executive officer, or division staff member. Normally, reaching this rank takes from 21 to 23 years.

 

2.7.  Brigadier General (BGen)

 

The U.S. Marine Corps Brigadier General Insignia
The U.S. Marine Corps Brigadier General Insignia
  • Classification: General Officer 
  • Monthly Basic Salary: $9,414.30
  • Paygrade: O-7

 

The lowest of the general officer ranks, Brigadier generals in the Marine Corps nominated by the President and must also be confirmed for duty by the Senate are one-star general officers. In addition to overseeing 10,000–15,000 Marines, they are in charge of tactical planning and operation coordination. Brigadier generals are required to leave their positions five years after attaining the rank, or after 30 years of total service, whichever comes first. The only exception to this rule is to receive a promotion.

 

2.8. Major General (MajGen)

 

The U.S. Marine Corps Major General Insignia
The U.S. Marine Corps Major General Insignia
  • Classification: General Officer 
  • Monthly Basic Salary: $11,329.50
  • Paygrade: O-8

Two-star generals are known as Major Generals, and the President and subject jointly recommend them to the Senate for confirmation. Major generals are promoted through a rigorous process of multiple nominations and reviews, making them two-star generals. Unless they are promoted, major generals must retire after 35 years of service or five years in the rank.

 

2.9. Lieutenant General (LtGen)

 

The U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant General Insignia
The U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant General Insignia

 

  • Classification: General Officer 
  • Monthly Basic Salary: $16,012.50
  • Paygrade: O-9

A Lieutenant General is a three-star general that the President can nominate, but they must receive Senate approval before they can be sworn in. Lieutenant generals, who are thought of as holding a temporary rank, retire at the conclusion of their active tour of duty or service. After 38 years of service or one month after turning 64, they must retire. Lieutenant generals can extend their status only through an act of Congress.

 

2.10.General (Gen)

 

The U.S. Marine Corps General Insignia
The U.S. Marine Corps General Insignia
  • Classification: General Officer 
  • Monthly Basic Salary: $16,608.30
  • Paygrade: O-10

Four-star generals, the highest officer rank, are nominated by the president and must also receive Senate confirmation before taking up their positions. There can only be three four-star generals in the Marine Corps, which is limited to a total of 60 general officers. After 40 years of service or when they turn 64, they must retire.

 

2.11. Assistant Commandant Of The Marine Corps

 

The Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, a four-star general who serves as the Commandant’s deputy, is the second-highest ranking Marine officer.

 

2.12. Commandant Of The Marine Corps

 

The Commandant of the Marine Corps, a four-star general, is the highest ranking Marine officer and sits in the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

In a nutshell, in this paper, we have discussed the U.S. Marine Corps officer ranks ordered by seniority. If you want to stay up-to-date with the latest news and information about the U.S. military, please visit our platform on a regular basis. In case you are preparing for your ASVAB Exam, let’s head over to our free ASVAB Practice Questions.