Many expert statistics indicate why all of the branches of the US Military are struggling to meet their recruitment goals in 2022. If you’re thinking about joining the U.S. Military, they would be more than happy to have you.
And once you’re in, you’ll have the opportunity to climb the ranks and gain a role you can be proud of. Read on to learn more about some of the US Military ranks that recruits can find themselves in.
US Military Ranks in Order
Alongside how much respect an officer is due and how much he or she is paid, the military ranks also indicate how much responsibility a certain officer must take on. With each promotion, the number of responsibilities that a military officer gains grow.
Enlisted
Enlisted service members start in basic training where they’re taught all the core skills. Later on, the recruits begin advanced training where they focus on a more specific area of the military.
- E-1
- Army Private
- Marine Corps Private
- Navy Seaman Recruit (SR)
- Air Force Airman Basic
- Space Force Specialist 1 (Spc1)
- Coast Guard Seaman Recruit (SR)
- E-2
- Army Private (PV2)
- Marine Corps Private First Class (PFC)
- Navy Seaman Apprentice (SA)
- Air Force Airman (Amn)
- Space Force Specialist 2 (Spc2)
- Coast Guard Seaman Apprentice (SA)
- E-3
- Army Private First Class (PFC)
- Army Specialist (SPC)
- Marine Corps Lance Corporal (LCpl)
- Navy Seaman (SN)
- Air Force Airman First Class (A1C)
- Space Force Specialist 3 (Spc3)
- Coast Guard Petty Officer Third Class (PO3)
- E-4
- Army Corporal (CPL)
- Army Specialist (SPC)
- Marine Corps Corporal (Cpl)
- Navy Petty Officer Third Class (PO3)
- Air Force Senior Airman (SrA)
- Space Force Specialist 4 (Spc4)
- Coast Guard Petty Officer Third Class (PO3)
- E-5
- Army Sergeant (SGT)
- Marine Corps Sergeant (Sgt)
- Navy Petty Officer Second Class (PO2)
- Air Force Staff Sergeant (SSgt)
- Space Force Sergeant (Sgt)
- Coast Guard Petty Officer Second Class (PO2)
- E-6
- Army Staff Sergeant (SSG)
- Marine Corps Staff Sergeant (SSgt)
- Navy Petty Officer First Class (PO1)
- Air Force Technical Sergeant (TSgt)
- Space Force Technical Sergeant (TSgt)
- Coast Guard Petty Officer First Class (PO1)
- E-7
- Army Sergeant First Class (SFC)
- Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant (GySgt)
- Navy Chief Petty Officer (CPO)
- Air Force Master Sergeant (MSgt)
- Air Force First Sergeant
- Space Force Master Sergeant (MSgt)
- Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer (CPO)
E-8 and E-9
There are a few officers that have the same paygrade in these ranks. What differs between them is the specific responsibilities that each of them holds.
Also, E-8s and E-9s will often advise commanders in enlisted matters. E-9s are the primary leaders and speakers for the enlisted section of each force.
- E-8
- Army Master Sergeant
- Army First Sergeant
- Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer (SCPO)
- Air Force Senior Master Sergeant (SMSgt)
- Air Force First Sergeant
- Space Force Senior Master Sergeant (SMSgt)
- Coast Guard Senior Chief Petty Officer (SCPO)
- E-9
- Army Sergeant Major (SGM)
- Army Command Sergeant Major (CSM)
- Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sergeant (MGySgt)
- Marine Corps Sergeant Major (SgtMaj)
- Navy Master Chief Petty Officer (MCPO)
- Navy Fleet/Command Master Chief Petty Officer
- Air Force Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt)
- Air Force First Sergeant
- Air Force Command Chief Master Sergeant
- Space Force Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt)
- Coast Guard Master Chief Petty Officer (MCPO)
- Coast Guard Fleet/Command Master Chief Petty Officer
- E-9 (Continued)
- Army Sergeant Major of the Army (SMA)
- Marine Corps Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps (SgtMajMC)
- Navy Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON)
- Air Force Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (CMSAF)
- Space Force Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force (CMSSF)
- Coast Guard Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard (MCPOCG)
Warrant Officers
Warrant officers are specialists in particular fields of the military. They oversee all the operations that take place in their particular field.
(Note: Not all branches have warrant officers or the same number of warrant officers.)
- W-1
- Army Warrant Officer 1 (WO1)
- Marine Corps Warrant Officer 1 (WO)
- Navy USN Warrant Officer 1 (WO1)
- W-2
- Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CW2)
- Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CWO2)
- Navy USN Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CWO2)
- Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CWO2)
- W-3
- Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 (CW3)
- Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer 3 (CWO3)
- Navy USN Chief Warrant Officer 3 (CWO3)
- Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer 3 (CWO3)
- W-4
- Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 (CW4)
- Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer 4 (CWO4)
- Navy USN Chief Warrant Officer 4 (CWO4)
- Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer 4 (CWO4)
- W-5
- Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 (CW5)
- Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer 5 (CWO5)
- Navy USN Chief Warrant Officer 5 (CWO5)
Commissioned Officers
These are the highest ranks in the military. They’re the ones who lead all other officers in tasks. They give officers tasks and plan missions.
- O-1
- Army Second Lieutenant (2LT)
- Marine Corps Second Lieutenant (2ndLt)
- Navy Ensign (ENS)
- Air Force Second Lieutenant (2d Lt)
- Space Force Second Lieutenant (2d Lt)
- Coast Guard Ensign (ENS)
- O-2
- Army First Lieutenant (1LT)
- Marine Corps First Lieutenant (1stLt)
- Navy Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG)
- Air Force First Lieutenant (1st Lt)
- Space Force First Lieutenant (1st Lt)
- Coast Guard Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG)
- O-3
- Army Captain (CPT)
- Marine Corps Captain (Capt)
- Navy Lieutenant (LT)
- Air Force Captain (Capt)
- Space Force Captain (Capt)
- Coast Guard Lieutenant (LT)
- O-4
- Army Major (MAJ)
- Marine Corps Major (Maj)
- Navy Lieutenant Commander (LCDR)
- Air Force Major (Maj)
- Space Force Major (Maj)
- Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander (LCDR)
- O-5
- Army Lieutenant Colonel (LTC)
- Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col)
- Navy Commander (CDR)
- Air Force Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col)
- Space Force Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col)
- Coast Guard Commander (CDR)
- O-6
- Army Colonel (COL)
- Marine Corps Colonel (COL)
- Navy Captain (CAPT)
- Air Force Colonel (Col)
- Space Force Colonel (Col)
- Coast Guard Captain (CAPT)
- O-7
- Army Brigadier General (BG)
- Marine Corps Brigadier General (BGen)
- Navy Rear Admiral Lower Half (RDML)
- Air Force Brigadier General (Brig Gen)
- Space Force Brigadier General (Brig Gen)
- Coast Guard Rear Admiral Lower Half (RDML)
- O-8
- Army Major General (MG)
- Marine Corps Major General (MajGen)
- Navy Rear Admiral Upper Half (RADM)
- Air Force Major General (Maj Gen)
- Space Force Major General (Maj Gen)
- Coast Guard Rear Admiral Upper Half (RADM)
- O-9
- Army Lieutenant General (LTG)
- Marine Corps Lieutenant General (LtGen)
- Navy Vice Admiral (VADM)
- Air Force Lieutenant General (Lt Gen)
- Space Force Lieutenant General (Lt Gen)
- Coast Guard Vice Admiral (VADM)
- O-10
- Army General (GEN)
- Marine Corps General (Gen)
- Navy Admiral (ADM)
- Air Force General (Gen)
- Space Force General (Gen)
- Coast Guard Admiral (ADM)
- O-10 (Wartime)
- Army General of the Army (Wartime only)
- Fleet Admiral (Wartime only)
- Air Force General of the Air Force (Wartime only)
- Coast Guard Fleet Admiral (Wartime only)
Learn More From Our Other Articles
Now that you know you know all of the US military ranks, you can start dreaming about being a General, Admiral, etc.
If that’s still not enough information, check out our other pieces. Our site is full of informational articles about the military. Check them out on this page.