Military Ranks
Military ranks are an organizational structure used to order and dictate relationships in the armed forces. Military ranks are crucial to the success of the army because of the logistical implications. Could you imagine if the army was egalitarian?
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Think of the military as a body and each department as an organ. They work together on different tasks to reach their collective goal to keep the body alive. In the Armed Forces, if there was no structure there would be no decision makers to determine what each organ (or department) needs to do. It would be chaotic to say the least.
Therefore, our Military has always had a hierarchical structure to maintain a well ordered and disciplined group. Over time, due to advances in technology and increased specialization, military ranks have become more complex. The United States Military is very powerful and the structure is equally intricate and can be baffling. Below is a list of military ranks for each branch of the military (Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Marine Corps) in ascending order.
Army
Enlisted
Private
Private First Class
Specialist
Corporal
Sergeant
Staff Sergeant
Sergeant First Class
Master Sergeant
First Sergeant
Sergeant Major
Command Sergeant Major
Sergeant Major of the Army
Warrant Officer
Warrant Officer 1
Chief Warrant Officer 2
Chief Warrant Officer 3
Chief Warrant Officer 4
Chief Warrant Officer 5
Officer
Second Lieutenant
First Lieutenant
Captain
Major
Lieutenant Colonel
Colonel
Brigadier General
Major General
Lieutenant General
General
General of the Army
Air Force
Enlisted
Airman Basic
Airman
Airman First Class
Senior Airman
Staff Sergeant
Technical Sergeant
Master Sergeant
Senior Master Sergeant
Chief Master Sergeant
Command Chief Master Sergeant
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
Officer
Second Lieutenant
First Lieutenant
Captain
Major
Lieutenant Colonel
Colonel
Brigadier General
Major General
Lieutenant General
General Air Force Chief of Staff
General of the Air Force
Coast Guard
Enlisted
Seamen Recruit
Fireman Recruit
Airman Recruit
Seaman Apprentice
Fireman Apprentice
Airman Apprentice
Seaman
Fireman
Airman
Petty Officer 3rd Class
Petty Officer 2nd Class
Petty Officer 1st Class
Chief Petty Officer
Senior Chief Petty Officer
Master Chief Petty Officer
Command Master Chief Petty Officer
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard
Warrant Officer
Chief Warrant Officer 2
Chief Warrant Officer 3
Chief Warrant Officer 4
Chief Warrant Officer 5
Officer
Ensign
Junior Lieutenant
Lieutenant
Lieutenant Commander
Commander
Captain
Lower Half Rear Admiral
Upper Half Rear Admiral
Vice Admiral
Admiral
Fleet Admiral
Marine Corps
Enlisted
Private
Private First Class
Lance Corporal
Corporal
Sergeant
Staff Sergeant
Gunnery Sergeant
Master Sergeant
First Sergeant
Master Gunnery Sergeant
Sergeant Major
Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
Warrant Officer
Warrant Officer
Chief Warrant Officer 2
Chief Warrant Officer 3
Chief Warrant Officer 4
Chief Warrant Officer 5
Officer
Second Lieutenant
First Lieutenant
Captain
Major
Lieutenant Colonel
Colonel
Brigadier General
Major General
Lieutenant General
General
Navy
Enlisted
Seaman Recruit
Seaman Apprentice
Seaman
Petty Officer 3rd Class
Petty Officer 2nd Class
Petty Officer 1st Class
Chief Petty Officer
Senior Chief Petty Officer
Master Chief Petty Officer
Fleet/Command Petty Officer
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
Warrant Officer
Warrant Officer
Chief Warrant Officer 2
Chief Warrant Officer 3
Chief Warrant Officer 4
Chief Warrant Officer 5
Officer
Ensign
Lieutenant Junior Grade
Lieutenant
Lieutenant Commander
Commander
Captain
Rear Admiral Lower Half
Vice Admiral
Admiral
Fleet Admiral