What are the U.S. Army military ranks?

All soldiers in the U.S. Army are assigned a rank.

All soldiers in the U.S. Army are assigned a rank. The rank is based on education, time in service and promotion points earned.

Enlisted

Enlisted soldiers are the lowest ranking and include the ranks of private (someone starting basic training), private first class (promoted to this level after one year), specialist (can manage other enlisted soldiers of lower rank) and corporal (team leader of the smallest Army units).

Non-Commissioned Officers

Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) are in a leadership position in the Army. These ranks include sergeant (commands a squad), staff sergeant (commands a squad), sergeant first class (key assistant and adviser to the platoon leader), master sergeant (principal NCO at the battalion level), first sergeant (principal NCO and life-blood of the company), sergeant major (assists officers at the battalion level), command sergeant major (assists officers at the brigade level) and sergeant major of the Army (oversees all NCOs).

Warrant Officers

Warrant officers include the ranks warrant officer and chief warrant officer 1 through chief warrant officer 5. The Army warrant officer is a technical expert, combat leader, trainer and adviser.

Officers

Officers are the highest-ranking soldiers in the Army. Officer ranks include second lieutenant (the entry-level rank for most commissioned officers), first lieutenant (a lieutenant with 18 to 24 months service), captain (commands and controls company-sized units), major (serves as primary staff officer for brigade), lieutenant colonel (commands battalion-sized units), colonel (commands brigade-sized units), brigadier general (serves as deputy commander to the commanding general for Army divisions), major general (commands division-sized units), lieutenant general (commands corps-sized units), general (senior level of commissioned officer, has over 30 years of experience and service) and general of the Army (only used in time of war where the commanding officer must be equal or of higher rank than those commanding armies from other nations).

Rank Identification

Rank is visible on each soldier's combat uniform on the center chest and on the shoulder or sleeve of the dress uniform.

References

• U.S. Army