How to Recognize Military Rankings

Ranking service members is important for the operations and the organization of the military. Service members are promoted through the ranks based on their years of service and their accomplishments.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Identify the three major ranks in the military. The military is made up of enlisted service members, warrant officers and commissioned officers. Enlisted members are the the lowest ranking officers and the commissioned officers are the highest ranking service members.
2. Identify commissioned officers. Commissioned officers hold a commission from the sovereign head of the state, which gives them direct authority to perform the duties of their office. In the United States, the officers receive their commission from the President.
3. Recognize the three levels of commissioned officers. The general, flag or air officers are authorized to command units independently for extended periods, while the field or senior officers command units independently for shorter periods. The company grade or junior officers command units but cannot operate independently.
4. Recognize the warrant officer ranking. Warrant officers are either senior noncommissioned officers or officers who fall between the non-commissioned and commissioned officers levels. They receive their warrant from the secretary of the service and their primary responsibility is to serve as technical experts.
5. Recognize the rankings among enlisted personnel. Enlisted personnel consist of junior enlisted members and noncommissioned officers. Noncommissioned officers consist of corporals, petty officers, chief petty officers and sergeants who have charge of junior officers.
6. Learn about the pay grades. Military service members are paid based on their rankings. Junior enlisted service members receive pay in grades E-1 to E-9, warrant officers receive pay in grades W-1 to W-5 and commissioned officers are paid in grades O-1 to O-10.
7. Examine the stars and stripes worn by military personnel. The stars and stripes that adorn the shoulders of the uniforms worn by service members indicate their rankings in the military. Military service members earn additional insignia as they advance through the ranks.
8. Visit Grunt's Military Site to learn more about rankings in the military and see the different insignia for each rank (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• Although the rankings are basically the same across the military armed forces, the names may be different.