The Entire List Of U.S. Military Ranks In Order You Must Know 2023
In reality, many people, even new enlisted members, don’t thoroughly understand the United States’ military ranking systems. Furthermore, misunderstandings about U.S. military ranking might be made worse from branch to branch because some easily-recognizable rank names, such as sergeant or captain, are used for entirely different pay grades across different branches. For example, a captain in the Navy’s pay grade is O-6, while a captain in the Marine Corps is O-3.
Those who have served in uniform can attest that it’s important to grasp the military ranks in the order of authority for our particular branch. Whether you don’t know any of the military ranks or you’re just confused about how to put them in order, here’s a breakdown of the rank structure in each branch, starting at the most junior enlisted pay grade and ascending up to the most senior commissioned officer.
The U.S. military ranks for the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard are listed below in alphabetical order. Currently, the Space Force is primarily made up of Air Force members who follow the Air Force rank system. Let’s check it out!
1. What Are the Military Ranks?
To learn the military ranks, you must be aware of what the E and O levels particularly for each branch of service are, as well as their acronyms and visual representations in insignia. The Air Force, Army, and Marine Corps emblems are virtually the same for officers, while the Navy and Coast Guard symbols largely correspond.
Enlisted soldiers’ rank emblems can differ significantly, with the Marine Corps and Army sharing numerous similarities and the Coast Guard and Navy mirroring one another once again.
Additionally, the Navy and Coast Guard organize their enlisted ranks according to a “rate” system, while all other military services adhere to the same pay grade structure. Find out more about the enlisted rates for the Coast Guard and the Navy.
2. What Is the Highest Military Rank?
The “five-star general,” or O-10, is the highest military rank. Five stars, one for each branch of the armed forces, represent it. Although it still exists in the military service rank structure today, no officer has been promoted to it since the rank was established during World War II. This position has only ever been held by nine Americans. Omar Bradley, the only five-star general still alive, passed away
3. U.S. Military Ranks: Army Ranks In Order
Specialist ranks within the Army are immediately beneath corporal in terms of rank and precedence. Pay grade determines rank and precedence. Here is the U.S. Army ranks in order by chart.
| Pay Grade | Rank |
| Enlisted Personnel | |
| E-1 | Private (Recruit) |
| E-2 | Private |
| E-3 | Private First Class |
| E-4 | Specialist |
| Non-Commissioned Officers | |
| E-4 | Corporal |
| E-5 | Sergeant |
| E-6 | Staff Sergeant |
| E-7 | Sergeant First Class |
| E-8 | First Sergeant
Master Sergeant |
| E-9 | Command Sergeant Major
Sergeant Major |
| E-9 | Sergeant Major of the Army |
| Warrant Officers | |
| W-1 | Warrant Officer 1 |
| W-2 | Warrant Officer 2 |
| W-3 | Warrant Officer 3 |
| W-4 | Warrant Officer 4 |
| W-5 | Master Warrant Officer 5 |
| Commissioned Officers | |
| O-1 | 2nd Lieutenant |
| O-2 | 1st 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 | Army Chief of Staff
General |
>>> See Also: U.S. Army Height and Weight standard requirements
4. U.S. Military Ranks: Air Force Ranks In Order
Of the six military branches, the Air Force is the second most recent. The Air Force’s five primary missions are, in order, “Air superiority; global strike; rapid global mobility; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; and command and control,” according to the organization’s official website. Learn more about U.S. Air Force Enlisted Ranks and U.S. Air Force Officer Ranks right now!
| Pay Grade | Rank |
| Enlisted Personnel | |
| E-1 | Airman Basic (AB) |
| E-2 | Airman (Amn) |
| E-3 | Airman First Class (A1C) |
| E-4 | Senior Airman (SrA) |
| Non-Commissioned Officers | |
| E-5 | Staff Sergeant (SSgt) |
| E-6 | Technical Sergeant (TSGT) |
| E-7 | Master Sergeant (MSGT) |
| E-8 | Senior Master Sergeant (SMSgt) |
| E-9 | Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt)
Command chief master sergeant (CCM) |
| Special | Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (CMSAF) |
| Warrant Officers | |
| W-1 | N/A |
| W-2 | N/A |
| W-3 | N/A |
| W-4 | N/A |
| W-5 | N/A |
| Commissioned Officers | |
| O-1 | 2nd Lieutenant (2nd Lt) |
| O-2 | 1st Lieutenant (1st Lt) |
| O-3 | Captain (Capt) |
| O-4 | Major (Maj) |
| O-5 | Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) |
| O-6 | Colonel (Col) |
| O-7 | Brigadier General (Brig Gen) |
| O-8 | Major General (Maj Gen) |
| O-9 | Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) |
| O-10 | General (Gen) |
| Special | General Of The Air Force (GAF) |
>>> See Also: U.S. Air Force Height and Weight Requirements
5. U.S. Military Ranks: Marine Corps Rank In Order
One of the most competitive branches of the military, the Marine Corps demands exceptional physical, mental, and moral fortitude. Enlisted, warrant officers, non-commissioned officer ranks, and commissioned officers make up the four main groups that make up the ranks. Dig deep into the U.S. Marine Corps Enlisted Ranks and U.S. Marine Corps Officer Ranks!
| Pay Grade | Rank |
| Enlisted Personnel | |
| E-1 | Private (Pvt) |
| E-2 | Private First Class (PFC) |
| E-3 | Lance Corporal (LCpl) |
| Non-Commissioned Officers | |
| E-4 | Corporal (Cpl) |
| E-5 | Sergeant (Sgt) |
| E-6 | Staff Sergeant (SSgt) |
| E-7 | Gunnery Sergeant (GySgt) |
| E-8 | First Sergeant (1stSgt)
Master Sergeant (MSgt) |
| E-9 | Sergeant Major (SgtMaj)
Master Gunnery Sergeant (MGySgt) |
| Special | Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps (SMMC) |
| Warrant Officers | |
| W-1 | Warrant Officer 1 (WO1) |
| W-2 | Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CWO2) |
| W-3 | Chief Warrant Officer 3 (CWO3) |
| W-4 | Chief Warrant Officer 4 (CWO4) |
| W-5 | Chief Warrant Officer 5 (CWO5) |
| Commissioned Officers | |
| O-1 | 2nd Lieutenant (2ndLt) |
| O-2 | 1st Lieutenant (1stLt) |
| O-3 | Captain (Capt) |
| O-4 | Major (Maj) |
| O-5 | Lieutenant Colonel (LtCol) |
| O-6 | Colonel (Col) |
| O-7 | Brigadier General (BGen) |
| O-8 | Major General (MajGen) |
| O-9 | Lieutenant General (LtGen) |
| O-10 | General (Gen) |
>>> See Also: U.S. Marine Corps
6. U.S. Military Ranks: Navy Ranks In Order
Officers in the Navy don recognizable rank devices that vary depending on their uniform. The three traditional uniforms and rank devices are khakis with collar insignia pins, whites with stripes on shoulder boards, and blues with stripes sewn on the lower coat sleeves. Learn more about U.S. Navy Ranks with ASVAB Test Pro
| Pay Grade | Rank |
| Enlisted Personnel | |
| E-1 | Seaman Recruit |
| E-2 | Seaman Apprentice |
| E-3 | Seaman |
| Non-Commissioned Officers | |
| E-4 | Petty Officer Third Class |
| E-5 | Petty Officer Second Class |
| E-6 | Petty Officer First Class |
| E-7 | Chief Petty Officer |
| E-8 | Senior Chief Petty Officer |
| E-9 | Master Chief Petty Officer |
| Special | Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy |
| Warrant Officers | |
| W-1 | Warrant Officer 1 |
| W-2 | Warrant Officer 2 |
| W-3 | Warrant Officer 3 |
| W-4 | Warrant Officer 4 |
| W-5 | Master Warrant Officer 5 |
| 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 (Commodore) |
| O-8 | Rear Admiral (Upper Half) |
| O-9 | Vice Admiral |
| O-10 | Chief of Naval Operations
Commandant of the Coast Guard Admiral |
| ** | Fleet Admiral |
>>> See More: U.S. Navy height and weight standards
7. U.S. Military Ranks: Coast Guard Rank In Order
The U.S. Coast Guard is distinctive in that it is a component of the Navy during times of war and the Department of Homeland Security during times of peace. The only difference between the Navy and Coast Guard rank. Below is the U.S. Coast Guard Ranks. Let’s check it out!
| Pay Grade | Rank |
| Enlisted Personnel | |
| E-1 | Seaman Recruit (SR) |
| E-2 | Seaman Apprentice (SA) |
| E-3 | Seaman (SN) |
| Non-Commissioned Officers | |
| E-4 | Petty Officer Third Class (PO3) |
| E-5 | Petty Officer Second Class (PO2) |
| E-6 | Petty Officer First Class (PO1) |
| E-7 | Chief Petty Officer (CPO) |
| E-8 | Senior Chief Petty Officer (SCPO) |
| E-9 | Master Chief Petty Officer (MCPO)
Command Master Chief (CMC) |
| Special | Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard (MCPO-CG) |
| Warrant Officers | |
| W-1 | Warrant Officer 1 (WO1) |
| W-2 | Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CWO2) |
| W-3 | Chief Warrant Officer 3 (CWO3) |
| W-4 | Chief Warrant Officer 4 (CWO4) |
| 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 (Commodore) |
| O-8 | Rear Admiral (Upper Half) |
| O-9 | Vice Admiral |
| O-10 | Admiral |
| ** | Fleet Admiral (FADM) |
8. U.S. Military Ranks: Space Force Ranks In Order
To defend American interests in space, the Space Force was created on December 20, 2019, becoming the sixth branch of the armed forces. Despite being structured under the U.S. Air Force, it utilizes ranks unique to each branch. Until the Space Force finalized its own on September 20, 2021, Air Force rank insignia were in use. Let’s take insight into the U.S. Space Force Ranks below!
| Pay Grade | Rank |
| Enlisted Personnel | |
| E-1 | Specialist 1 (Spc1) |
| E-2 | Specialist 2 (Spc2) |
| E-3 | Specialist 3 (Spc3) |
| E-4 | Specialist 4 (Spc4) |
| Non-Commissioned Officers | |
| E-5 | Sergeant (Sgt) |
| E-6 | Technical Sergeant (TSgt) |
| E-7 | Master Sergeant (MSgt) |
| E-8 | Senior Master Sergeant (SMSgt) |
| E-9 | Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt) |
| E-9 | Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force (CMSSF) |
| Warrant Officers | |
| W-1 | N/A |
| W-2 | N/A |
| W-3 | N/A |
| W-4 | N/A |
| W-5 | N/A |
| Commissioned Officers | |
| O-1 | 2nd Lieutenant (2nd Lt) |
| O-2 | 1st Lieutenant (1st Lt) |
| O-3 | Captain (Capt) |
| O-4 | Major (Maj) |
| O-5 | Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) |
| O-6 | Colonel (Col) |
| O-7 | Brigadier General (Brig Gen) |
| O-8 | Major General (Maj Gen) |
| O-9 | Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) |
| O-10 | General (Gen) |
To sum up, through the informative article, an Uniformed Service Rank Charts for each U.S. military branch has been provided. Hopefully, you might have a brief overview of U.S. military ranks. Let’s follow is to stay up to date with the ultimate information about the United State military and ASVAB Practice Test!