Military · rank structure
Military Ranks in Order
Every rank from the newest recruit to a four-star general, lowest to highest, for the US Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps and the British Army — with pay grades, official abbreviations and NATO codes. Looking for the strongest militaries instead? See the military strength ranking.
26
US Army ranks, E-1 to five-star
3
Rank groups: enlisted, warrant, officer
O-10
Highest peacetime grade (4 stars)
OF-9
NATO code of a four-star general
Ranks by branch, lowest to highest
| # | Rank | Abbreviation | Pay grade | NATO | Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Private | PV1 | E-1 | OR-1 | Enlisted |
| 2 | Private | PV2 | E-2 | OR-2 | Enlisted |
| 3 | Private First Class | PFC | E-3 | OR-3 | Enlisted |
| 4 | Specialist / Corporal | SPC / CPL | E-4 | OR-4 | Non-commissioned officer |
| 5 | Sergeant | SGT | E-5 | OR-5 | Non-commissioned officer |
| 6 | Staff Sergeant | SSG | E-6 | OR-6 | Non-commissioned officer |
| 7 | Sergeant First Class | SFC | E-7 | OR-7 | Senior NCO |
| 8 | Master Sergeant / First Sergeant | MSG / 1SG | E-8 | OR-8 | Senior NCO |
| 9 | Sergeant Major / Command Sergeant Major | SGM / CSM | E-9 | OR-9 | Senior NCO |
| 10 | Sergeant Major of the Army | SMA | E-9 | OR-9 | Senior NCO |
| 11 | Warrant Officer 1 | WO1 | W-1 | WO-1 | Warrant officer |
| 12 | Chief Warrant Officer 2 | CW2 | W-2 | WO-2 | Warrant officer |
| 13 | Chief Warrant Officer 3 | CW3 | W-3 | WO-3 | Warrant officer |
| 14 | Chief Warrant Officer 4 | CW4 | W-4 | WO-4 | Warrant officer |
| 15 | Chief Warrant Officer 5 | CW5 | W-5 | WO-5 | Warrant officer |
| 16 | Second Lieutenant | 2LT | O-1 | OF-1 | Commissioned officer |
| 17 | First Lieutenant | 1LT | O-2 | OF-1 | Commissioned officer |
| 18 | Captain | CPT | O-3 | OF-2 | Commissioned officer |
| 19 | Major | MAJ | O-4 | OF-3 | Commissioned officer |
| 20 | Lieutenant Colonel | LTC | O-5 | OF-4 | Commissioned officer |
| 21 | Colonel | COL | O-6 | OF-5 | Commissioned officer |
| 22 | Brigadier General | BG | O-7 | OF-6 | General / flag officer |
| 23 | Major General | MG | O-8 | OF-7 | General / flag officer |
| 24 | Lieutenant General | LTG | O-9 | OF-8 | General / flag officer |
| 25 | General | GEN | O-10 | OF-9 | General / flag officer |
| 26 | General of the Army (wartime only) | GA | — | OF-10 | General / flag officer |
| # | Rank | Abbreviation | Pay grade | NATO | Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Airman Basic | AB | E-1 | OR-1 | Enlisted |
| 2 | Airman | Amn | E-2 | OR-2 | Enlisted |
| 3 | Airman First Class | A1C | E-3 | OR-3 | Enlisted |
| 4 | Senior Airman | SrA | E-4 | OR-4 | Enlisted |
| 5 | Staff Sergeant | SSgt | E-5 | OR-5 | Non-commissioned officer |
| 6 | Technical Sergeant | TSgt | E-6 | OR-6 | Non-commissioned officer |
| 7 | Master Sergeant | MSgt | E-7 | OR-7 | Senior NCO |
| 8 | Senior Master Sergeant | SMSgt | E-8 | OR-8 | Senior NCO |
| 9 | Chief Master Sergeant | CMSgt | E-9 | OR-9 | Senior NCO |
| 10 | Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force | CMSAF | E-9 | OR-9 | Senior NCO |
| 11 | Second Lieutenant | 2d Lt | O-1 | OF-1 | Commissioned officer |
| 12 | First Lieutenant | 1st Lt | O-2 | OF-1 | Commissioned officer |
| 13 | Captain | Capt | O-3 | OF-2 | Commissioned officer |
| 14 | Major | Maj | O-4 | OF-3 | Commissioned officer |
| 15 | Lieutenant Colonel | Lt Col | O-5 | OF-4 | Commissioned officer |
| 16 | Colonel | Col | O-6 | OF-5 | Commissioned officer |
| 17 | Brigadier General | Brig Gen | O-7 | OF-6 | General / flag officer |
| 18 | Major General | Maj Gen | O-8 | OF-7 | General / flag officer |
| 19 | Lieutenant General | Lt Gen | O-9 | OF-8 | General / flag officer |
| 20 | General | Gen | O-10 | OF-9 | General / flag officer |
| 21 | General of the Air Force (wartime only) | GAF | — | OF-10 | General / flag officer |
| # | Rank | Abbreviation | Pay grade | NATO | Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Private | Pvt | E-1 | OR-1 | Enlisted |
| 2 | Private First Class | PFC | E-2 | OR-2 | Enlisted |
| 3 | Lance Corporal | LCpl | E-3 | OR-3 | Enlisted |
| 4 | Corporal | Cpl | E-4 | OR-4 | Non-commissioned officer |
| 5 | Sergeant | Sgt | E-5 | OR-5 | Non-commissioned officer |
| 6 | Staff Sergeant | SSgt | E-6 | OR-6 | Non-commissioned officer |
| 7 | Gunnery Sergeant | GySgt | E-7 | OR-7 | Senior NCO |
| 8 | Master Sergeant / First Sergeant | MSgt / 1stSgt | E-8 | OR-8 | Senior NCO |
| 9 | Master Gunnery Sergeant / Sergeant Major | MGySgt / SgtMaj | E-9 | OR-9 | Senior NCO |
| 10 | Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps | SMMC | E-9 | OR-9 | Senior NCO |
| 11 | Warrant Officer | WO | W-1 | WO-1 | Warrant officer |
| 12 | Chief Warrant Officer 2 | CWO2 | W-2 | WO-2 | Warrant officer |
| 13 | Chief Warrant Officer 3 | CWO3 | W-3 | WO-3 | Warrant officer |
| 14 | Chief Warrant Officer 4 | CWO4 | W-4 | WO-4 | Warrant officer |
| 15 | Chief Warrant Officer 5 | CWO5 | W-5 | WO-5 | Warrant officer |
| 16 | Second Lieutenant | 2ndLt | O-1 | OF-1 | Commissioned officer |
| 17 | First Lieutenant | 1stLt | O-2 | OF-1 | Commissioned officer |
| 18 | Captain | Capt | O-3 | OF-2 | Commissioned officer |
| 19 | Major | Maj | O-4 | OF-3 | Commissioned officer |
| 20 | Lieutenant Colonel | LtCol | O-5 | OF-4 | Commissioned officer |
| 21 | Colonel | Col | O-6 | OF-5 | Commissioned officer |
| 22 | Brigadier General | BGen | O-7 | OF-6 | General / flag officer |
| 23 | Major General | MajGen | O-8 | OF-7 | General / flag officer |
| 24 | Lieutenant General | LtGen | O-9 | OF-8 | General / flag officer |
| 25 | General | Gen | O-10 | OF-9 | General / flag officer |
| # | Rank | Abbreviation | Pay grade | NATO | Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Private | Pte | OR-2 | OR-2 | Enlisted |
| 2 | Lance Corporal | LCpl | OR-3 | OR-3 | Non-commissioned officer |
| 3 | Corporal | Cpl | OR-4 | OR-4 | Non-commissioned officer |
| 4 | Sergeant | Sgt | OR-6 | OR-6 | Non-commissioned officer |
| 5 | Staff Sergeant / Colour Sergeant | SSgt / CSgt | OR-7 | OR-7 | Senior NCO |
| 6 | Warrant Officer Class 2 | WO2 | OR-8 | OR-8 | Senior NCO |
| 7 | Warrant Officer Class 1 | WO1 | OR-9 | OR-9 | Senior NCO |
| 8 | Second Lieutenant | 2Lt | OF-1 | OF-1 | Commissioned officer |
| 9 | Lieutenant | Lt | OF-1 | OF-1 | Commissioned officer |
| 10 | Captain | Capt | OF-2 | OF-2 | Commissioned officer |
| 11 | Major | Maj | OF-3 | OF-3 | Commissioned officer |
| 12 | Lieutenant Colonel | Lt Col | OF-4 | OF-4 | Commissioned officer |
| 13 | Colonel | Col | OF-5 | OF-5 | Commissioned officer |
| 14 | Brigadier | Brig | OF-6 | OF-6 | General / flag officer |
| 15 | Major General | Maj Gen | OF-7 | OF-7 | General / flag officer |
| 16 | Lieutenant General | Lt Gen | OF-8 | OF-8 | General / flag officer |
| 17 | General | Gen | OF-9 | OF-9 | General / flag officer |
| 18 | Field Marshal (honorary) | FM | OF-10 | OF-10 | General / flag officer |
Equivalent ranks across US branches
| Pay grade | Army | Navy | Air Force | Marine Corps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-1 | Private | Seaman Recruit | Airman Basic | Private |
| E-2 | Private | Seaman Apprentice | Airman | Private First Class |
| E-3 | Private First Class | Seaman | Airman First Class | Lance Corporal |
| E-4 | Specialist / Corporal | Petty Officer Third Class | Senior Airman | Corporal |
| E-5 | Sergeant | Petty Officer Second Class | Staff Sergeant | Sergeant |
| E-6 | Staff Sergeant | Petty Officer First Class | Technical Sergeant | Staff Sergeant |
| E-7 | Sergeant First Class | Chief Petty Officer | Master Sergeant | Gunnery Sergeant |
| E-8 | Master Sergeant / First Sergeant | Senior Chief Petty Officer | Senior Master Sergeant | Master Sergeant / First Sergeant |
| E-9 | Sergeant Major / Command Sergeant Major | Master Chief Petty Officer | Chief Master Sergeant | Master Gunnery Sergeant / Sergeant Major |
| W-1 | Warrant Officer 1 | — | — | Warrant Officer |
| W-2 | Chief Warrant Officer 2 | Chief Warrant Officer 2 | — | Chief Warrant Officer 2 |
| W-3 | Chief Warrant Officer 3 | Chief Warrant Officer 3 | — | Chief Warrant Officer 3 |
| W-4 | Chief Warrant Officer 4 | Chief Warrant Officer 4 | — | Chief Warrant Officer 4 |
| W-5 | Chief Warrant Officer 5 | Chief Warrant Officer 5 | — | Chief Warrant Officer 5 |
| O-1 | Second Lieutenant | Ensign | Second Lieutenant | Second Lieutenant |
| O-2 | First Lieutenant | Lieutenant Junior Grade | First Lieutenant | First Lieutenant |
| O-3 | Captain | Lieutenant | Captain | Captain |
| O-4 | Major | Lieutenant Commander | Major | Major |
| O-5 | Lieutenant Colonel | Commander | Lieutenant Colonel | Lieutenant Colonel |
| O-6 | Colonel | Captain | Colonel | Colonel |
| O-7 | Brigadier General | Rear Admiral (Lower Half) | Brigadier General | Brigadier General |
| O-8 | Major General | Rear Admiral | Major General | Major General |
| O-9 | Lieutenant General | Vice Admiral | Lieutenant General | Lieutenant General |
| O-10 | General | Admiral | General | General |
The Navy no longer appoints W-1 warrant officers; the Air Force has no warrant officer ranks in this table.
How military ranks are organised
Every US service uses the same three groups. Enlisted members (pay grades E-1 to E-9) make up most of the force; from E-4 or E-5 upwards they become non-commissioned officers who lead teams and train junior troops. Warrant officers (W-1 to W-5) are technical experts — helicopter pilots, intelligence and cyber specialists. Commissioned officers (O-1 to O-10) command units and hold a presidential commission; O-7 and above are generals or, in the Navy, admirals.
Pay grades and NATO codes
Pay grades (E-, W-, O-) set salary and seniority across all US services, so an E-5 Army Sergeant, an E-5 Navy Petty Officer Second Class and an E-5 Air Force Staff Sergeant are equals. NATO's STANAG 2116 codes do the same between allies: OR-1 to OR-9 for other ranks and OF-1 to OF-10 for officers. A British Brigadier and a US Brigadier General are both OF-6.
Same name, different rank
Rank titles can mislead: a Navy Captain (O-6) outranks an Army Captain (O-3) by three grades, and an Air Force Staff Sergeant is E-5 while a Marine Corps Staff Sergeant is E-6. Use the equivalence table above to compare.
The world's strongest militaries
Looking for countries rather than ranks? The military strength ranking compares 145 armed forces — led by United States, Russia, China, India and United Kingdom — together with their personnel, equipment and spending.
Frequently asked questions
What are the US Army ranks in order?
From lowest to highest: 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 1, Chief Warrant Officer 2, Chief Warrant Officer 3, Chief Warrant Officer 4, Chief Warrant Officer 5, Second Lieutenant, First Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Lieutenant Colonel, Colonel, Brigadier General, Major General, Lieutenant General, General.
What is the highest military rank?
In peacetime the highest US rank is General (Army, Air Force, Marine Corps) or Admiral (Navy), pay grade O-10 and NATO code OF-9. Five-star ranks — General of the Army, Fleet Admiral, General of the Air Force — exist only in wartime; none is currently held.
What is the lowest military rank?
Private (E-1) in the Army and Marine Corps, Seaman Recruit in the Navy and Airman Basic in the Air Force.
What is the difference between an NCO and an officer?
Non-commissioned officers (corporals and sergeants, E-4 to E-9) rise from the enlisted ranks and lead small teams; commissioned officers (lieutenants to generals, O-1 to O-10) hold a commission — usually after a degree and officer training — and command units.
What do NATO codes OR and OF mean?
OR (other ranks) codes cover enlisted and NCO ranks from OR-1 to OR-9; OF codes cover officers from OF-1 (lieutenant) to OF-10 (five-star). They let allied armies compare equivalent ranks.
Is a Navy captain the same as an Army captain?
No. A Navy Captain is O-6 (equal to an Army Colonel), while an Army Captain is O-3 (equal to a Navy Lieutenant).