USMC Officer Rank Structure
The United States Marine Corps has about 203,000 officers and enlisted personnel and is the smallest of the four armed forces. The Marine Corps' principal task is to quickly deploy to where ever United States military force is required. Although the Marine Corps is part of the Department of the Navy, officer ranks are the same as Army officers rather then Navy officers.
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Warrant Officer Ranks
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Marine Corps Warrant Officers receive their rank through a warrant from the Secretary of the Navy, unlike commissioned officers who receive their rank from a congressional commission. A Warrant Officer ranks above all enlisted ranks, but below all commissioned officers. Warrant officers are technical experts who carry out technical duties instead of the general command duties that a commissioned officer performs. Warrant Officer specialties include medical specialties, military intelligence, flying helicopters and electronics.
The following are the warrant officer ranks of the Marine Corps:
WO, Warrant Officer 1; CW0,2 Chief Warrant Officer 2; CW03, Chief Warrant Officer 3; CW04, Chief Warrant Officer 4; and CW05, Chief Warrant Officer 5.
Company Grade Officer Ranks
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The following are the company grade officer ranks of the Marine Corps:
A Second Lieutenant, O-1, commands a platoon of about 40 enlisted marines; a First Lieutenant, O-2, commands a platoon of 40 enlisted marines; and Captain, O-3, commands a company of two or three platoons.
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Field Grade Officer Ranks
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The following are the field grade officer ranks of the Marine Corps: Major, O-4, typically serves as an executive officer for the battalion commander; Lieutenant Colonel, O-5, commands a battalion, which is comprised of two or three companies; and Colonel, O-6, commands a regiment made up of three battalions.
Lower General Officer Ranks
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The following are the lower general grade officer ranks of the Marine Corps: Brigadier General, O-7, the executive officer of a division, which is comprised of three regiments; and Major General, O-8, commands a division.
Upper General Officer Ranks
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The following are the upper general grade officer ranks of the Marine Corps: Lieutenant General, O-9, in charge of various Marine Corps operations; and General, O-10, commands all Marine Corps operations in a specific geographic area.
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References
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