U.S. Military Rank Insignia

The U.S. Military Rank Insignia has a long and proud history. Many of the ranks adopted by the United States military at the start of the Revolutionary War in 1775 are still in use today. The early military took a lot of inspiration from the British and French forces. Over time, the military rank insignia has come to represent American valor. These emblems, worn on the uniform to denote rank, help people identify military personnel’s rank and pay-grade at a glance.

Evolution of U.S. Military Rank Insignia

There are general rules for ranks that can help those unfamiliar with ranks to get a broad idea. The US Military rank insignia has humble beginnings. Initially, while the Continental Army had militia with a rank structure based on British tradition, they lacked uniforms or the money to buy them. At the time, General George Washington proposed “badges of distinction” to separate enlisted men’s appearance from the commissioned officers. He recommended a color-coding system. This system changed as the Armed Forces were restructured. Colonels received their eagles in 1832, while majors and lieutenant colonels got their oak leaves in 1836, while captains were appointed double silver bars, and first lieutenants single silver bars. Second lieutenants didn’t receive their gold bars until 1917. Chevrons were officially introduced into the US military in 1817 when cadets at West Point wore them. They spread to the Army and Marine Corps. They were initially worn points-down until 1902, when they switched. When the Army Air Force became its own service in 1947, it retained the Army officer insignia and names, but the enlisted ranks were renamed and given new insignia.

U.S. Military Rank Insignia at Different Historical Eras

During major military conflict times, the rapidly-expanding US military necessarily had to restructure itself to better coordinate large-scale operations. For example, before the Civil War, the US Navy’s highest rank was Flag Officer, which did not have a designated rank insignia. However, this changed several times during the war. Initially, in 1862, there were promotions for higher-grade Captains to Commodore and Rear Admiral ranks, with one-star and two-star epaulettes, equivalent in rank to the Army’s Brigadier Generals and Major Generals. These changes were in response to coordinating tactics with Army officers that tended to outrank even the most experienced Navy officers, as Captains were only equivalent to Colonels in seniority. The issue was that American naval warfare doctrine was shifting to include more fleet battles, such as the Battle of Port Royal, instead of single ship-on-ship conflicts. This system was amended again in 1865, with Vice Admirals becoming the new highest rank for naval officers, with three-star epaulettes, equivalent to Lieutenant Generals.

In World War II, again, the rapid expansion of the US Armed Forces (and the need to establish parity of rank with the States’ wartime allies) necessitated a restructuring of the rank system, especially after the Normandy Landings of June 1944 escalated the logistical complexities weighing on Army leadership. The Army’s previously-extant rank was reconfigured to be a five-star rank and a temporary position. The position of Fleet Admiral was similarly updated.

U.S. Military Enlisted Rank Insignia Tables

Since the time of the Revolutionary War, the United States military has had a formal structure. Over time, that has helped it develop from a stoic collection of patriots with a cause to the world’s most powerful armed forces. Over time, new branches of the Armed Forces have been added to the United States Army and Navy, and its structure has been altered, but the tradition of proud service has not abated.

This is a series of charts depicting the ranks and insignias of the enlisted personnel that join the military. There are several notable similarities between different branches of service.

NATO Code	Branch	Insignia	Abbreviation	Rank	Notes
OR-1	Army		Pvt	Private	The lowest Army rank. Most soldiers start at this rank.
	USMC		Pvt	Private	Marine Privates must follow orders and learn for six months before progressing.
	Coast Guard		SR	Seaman Recruit	Two separate pay grades exist at this rank. Higher pay scale for recruits with four months of service.
	Air Force		AB	Airman Basic	Eligible for promotion to airman after six months.
	Navy		SR	Seaman Recruit	May be a seaman/hospitalman/fireman/airman or constructionman recruit based on assignment.

NATO Code	Branch	Insignia	Abbreviation	Rank	Notes
OR-2	Army		PV2	Private Second Class	Usually attained after six months in service.
	USMC		PFC	Private First Class	Attained after six months in service. Must continue to learn and develop new skills.
	Coast Guard		SA	Seaman Apprentice	Actual title and color group depends on assignment.
	Air Force		Amn	Airman	Can enlist at this rank after two years of Junior ROTC or 20 college semester credit hours.
	Navy		SA	Seaman Apprentice	May have completed requirements for a rating (designated strikers) or be ‘undesignated’.

NATO Code	Branch	Insignia	Abbreviation	Rank	Notes
OR-3	Army		PFC	Private First Class	Usually attained after a year of service. Associate degree graduates and Eagle Scouts may enter service at this pay grade.
	USMC		LCpl	Lance Corporal	Most common rank in the USMC. Awarded based on time in service, conduct, and time in grade.
	Coast Guard		SN	Seaman	Most commonly seaman rate, but hospitalman, fireman, or airman also exist.
	Air Force		A1C	Airman First Class	On promotion to this rank after basic, recruits get back-pay at this pay grade.
	Navy		SN	Seaman	Must be selected for a rating before being eligible for advancement, if not already rated.

NATO Code	Branch	Insignia	Abbreviation	Rank	Notes
OR-4	Army		Cpl	Corporal	First non-commissioned officer rank. May direct activities of other soldiers.
	Army		SPC	Specialist	Not considered junior NCOs.
	USMC		Cpl	Corporal	Lowest grade of NCO. Generally lead four-man fire teams.
	Coast Guard		PO3	Petty Officer Third Class	First NCO rank in US Coast Guard. Advancement typically dependent on performance.
	Air Force		SrA	Senior Airman	Must attend six-week Airman Leadership School.
	Navy		PO3	Petty Officer Third Class	First rank of NCO. All PO3s have a rating and should be technical experts.

NATO Code	Branch	Insignia	Abbreviation	Rank	Notes
OR-5	Army		Sgt	Sergeant	Typically command fire teams (around 5 soldiers). Oversee and set a standard for lower ranks.
	USMC		Sgt	Sergeant	Backbone of the Marine Corps. May serve as squad leader.
	Coast Guard		PO2	Petty Officer Second Class	Serves as technical expert and leader.
	Air Force		SSgt	Staff Sergeant	US Air Force’s first NCO rank. Promotion gained on competitive basis.
	Navy		PO2	Petty Officer Second Class	Each rating has an official abbreviation to which the petty officer level is usually appended in common practice (e.g. GM2 for gunner’s mate).

NATO Code	Branch	Insignia	Abbreviation	Rank	Notes
OR-6	Army		SSG	Staff Sergeant	Commands a squad (9-10 soldiers). May also lead Sergeants.
	USMC		SSgt	Staff Sergeant	Normally achieved after 4 years of service. Leads 8-27 Marines in platoons.
	Coast Guard		PO1	Petty officer first class	Normally, leading petty officer of a division.
	Air Force		TSgt	Technical Sergeant	Takes between 10 and 12 total years service to attain.
	Navy		PO1	Petty Officer First Class	Requires three years in rate as PO2, recommendation for advancement, and an established performance mark average.

NATO Code	Branch	Insignia	Abbreviation	Rank	Notes
OR-7	Army		SFC	Sergeant First Class	May command up to 40 soldiers, depending on platoon. Senior tactical advisor to the platoon leader.
	USMC		GySgt	Gunnery Sergeant	Supervisory position for up to 94 in a platoon. Advises officers, mentors subordinates.
	Coast Guard		CPO	Chief Petty Officer	Most significant enlisted grade promotion. Officer takes on more administrative duties.
	Air Force		MSgt	Master Sergeant	First senior NCO role. Operational leader.
	Navy		CPO	Chief Petty Officer	Transition more to leadership than technical expertise. Gain privileges to separate living and dining areas.

NATO Code	Branch	Insignia	Abbreviation	Rank	Notes
OR-8	Army		MSG	Master Sergeant	Typically a battalion-level NCO.
	Army		1SG	First Sergeant	Principal NCO of a company. Administrates and develops junior NCOs and soldiers.
	USMC		MSgt	Master Sergeant	Generally operations chief of a weapons company.
	USMC		1stSgt	First Sergeant	Senior enlisted adviser to a commander at company, battery, or detachment level.
	Coast Guard		SCPO	Senior Chief Petty Officer	Rank requires time in service, superior eval scores, and peer review.
	Air Force		SMSgt	Senior Master Sergeant	Superintendents for enlisted members and mentors for NCOs/junior COs.
	Navy		SCPO	Senior Chief Petty Officer	Advancement to this rank contingent on opinion of a board of master chiefs.
	Navy		CMDCS	Command Senior Chief Petty Officer	Rating introduced in 2015, to give chiefs opportunity to experience command.

NATO Code	Branch	Insignia	Abbreviation	Rank	Notes
OR-9	Army		SGM	Sergeant Major	Chief admin for an Army HQ. Work at battalion level or higher.
	Army		CSM	Command Sergeant Major	Senior enlisted advisor for a commanding officer at battalion level or higher.
	Army		SMA	Sergeant Major of the Army	Unique role overseeing all enlisted soldiers in the Army. Consultant to Army’s Chief of Staff.
	USMC		MGySgt	Master Gunnery Sergeant	Provide military leadership and mastery of a Military Occupational Specialty.
	USMC		SgtMaj	Sergeant Major	Unit commander’s senior enlisted advisor. Handles discipline & morale among enlisted Marines
	USMC		SMMC	Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps	Unique role overseeing all enlisted Marines in the USMC. Consultant to the Commandant of the Marine Corps.
	Coast Guard		MCPO	Master Chief Petty Officer	Technical experts in their fields, serving in commands of all sizes.
	Coast Guard		CMC	Command Master Chief	Designated directly by either the Commandant of the Coast Guard or the MCPOCG.
	Coast Guard		MCPOCG	Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard	Unique role overseeing all enlisted seamen in the Coast Guard. Consultant to the Commandant of the Coast Guard.
	Air Force		CMSgt	Chief Master Sergeant	Manages all enlisted personnel in their unit/subsection, or at higher HQ levels, run major staff functions.
	Air Force		CCM	Command Chief Master Sergeant	Senior advisor to key level commander on all enlisted matters.
	Air Force		CMSAF	Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force	Unique role overseeing all enlisted airmen in the Air Force. Senior enlisted advisor to the Air Force Chief of Staff and the Secretary of the Air Force.
	Navy		MCPO	Master Chief Petty Officer	The technical experts in their fields, serving in commands of all sizes.
	Navy		CMDCM	Command Master Chief Petty Officer	Senior enlisted person at a command. Liaises between CO and the ranks.
	Navy		FORCM/FLTCM	Force Master Chief Petty Officer/ Fleet Master Chief Petty Officer	Responsibilities similar to a CMDCM, but for a larger force command, or fleet command.
	Navy		MCPON	Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy	Unique role overseeing all enlisted sailors in the Navy. Senior enlisted advisor to the Chief of Naval Operations and the Chief of Naval Personnel.

Record Your Military Service History and Insignia

Together We Served has recorded the military service history of over 2 million veterans including those from the Second World War, Korean War, Cold War, Vietnam War, Gulf War, OIF and OEF eras. If you served reconnect with people you served with and record your own military service history, including all your ranks and promotions, on Together We Served.

Tags: Air Force, Armed Forces, Army, Brigadier Generals, British and French forces, Civil War, Coast Guard, Cold War, Commodore, Continental Army, Flag Officer, Fleet Admiral, General George Washington, Gulf War, Korean War, Lieutenant Generals, Major Generals, Marine Corps, Normandy Landings, OIF and OEF eras, Rear Admiral, Revolutionary War, Revolutionary War in 1775, Second World War, the Battle of Port Royal, Together We Served, United Stated Navy, United States Army, United States Marine Corps, United States Military, Veterans, Vice Admirals, Vietnam War, World War II