How to Identify Marine Officer Ranks

The Marine Corps runs on a system of order and procedures. One of these orders is rank. Officer's rank ranges from second lieutenant to commandant of the Marine Corps. An officer will gain rank as he gains experience and proficiency. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

1. Locate the rank symbol on the marine's uniform. It can be positioned in different locations, depending on the uniform the marine is wearing. It can be located on the collar, shoulder board or headgear.

2. Determine the rank of the marine by identifying the actual rank marking itself. Rank will be subdued or mirror finished. Identify rank by its shape and color.

3. Recognize one bar and the marine is a lieutenant. If you see a gold bar, that person is a second lieutenant. With a silver bar, that person is a first lieutenant. With 2 silver bars together, that person is a marine captain.

4. Identify a symbol that resembles a gold leaf and you have a major. If that leaf is silver, the marine is a lieutenant colonel.

5. Find a symbol that is in the shape of a bird and you have a colonel. This is a full bird colonel compared to the lieutenant colonel.

6. See stars on a marines uniform rank and you have located a general. One star is a brigadier general. Two stars is a major general. Three stars is a lieutenant general. Four stars is the highest rank of the marine officers. It is a general and the commandant of the Marine Corps.

Tips & Warnings

• Subdued rank will be a dull gold or black instead of silver. Subdued rank is worn on utility or field uniforms.

• Keep in mind that gold rank is lower than the silver rank with lieutenants. A silver bar, first lieutenant, outranks the gold bar of the second lieutenant.

Resources

• Department of Defense list all ranks for all services.
• Grunt's Military has a rank chart.