List of Military Ranks & Classifications
The United States military has different branches, including the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force. Each branch specializes in a specific area and has its own duties and officer rankings. Military personnel of each branch advance in rank according to time served and skill level.
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Enlisted Ranks
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The enlisted ranks include members who are new to service. They are usually receiving training or completing a first assignment. Enlisted officers are still learning the core values and basic skills of the military. Enlisted men and women must complete basic training; demonstrate in-depth knowledge of military codes, rules and regulations; and serve with good conduct for several years. Examples of enlisted service members are privates in the Army and Marine Corps, seamen in the Navy and airmen in the Air Force.
Warrant Ranks
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Warrant officers are superior in ranking to enlisted servicemen. A warrant officer attains his ranking by demonstrating excellence in his field. He usually has achieved a higher level of knowledge of military tactics and operations that allows him to teach and train other servicemen. Warrant officers typically focus on engineering, maintenance, intelligence and administrative occupations. There are five levels of advancement within the warrant officer ranking, from warrant officer 1 to chief warrant officer. The Air Force is the only branch that does not have the warrant officer ranking.
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Commissioned Ranks
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The highest-ranking officers in each branch of the military are commissioned officers. To achieve a commissioned ranking, an officer must be approved by the U.S. Senate. Commissioned officers are leaders who are responsible for the welfare and supervision of lower-ranking officers and service members. They are experts in the their field and can boast of years of good conduct and superb service. They report to and receive orders from the president and are expected to provide in-depth reports about their missions and assignments. The highest commissioned ranks include lieutenant captain and general or admiral.
Army and Marine Corps
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The lowest Army rank, a private, has three levels: private 1, private 2 and private first class. After a soldier reaches first class level, he can become a specialist or a corporal. The next rank above a corporal is sergeant, which has several rankings, including first sergeant, master sergeant and command sergeant major. After becoming a sergeant, a soldier can receive higher officer ranks, beginning with second lieutenant and advancing to first lieutenant, then captain. Advancement to lieutenant colonel, major general and lieutenant general lead to the highest-ranking positions of the Army, general and general of the Army. Marine Corps rankings are similar to those of the Army, except the highest rank is general.
Air Force
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The lowest Air Force rank is airman basic, then airman, airman first class and senior airman. Sergeant follows, beginning with staff sergeant and moving up to technical sergeant, master sergeant, master sergeant first, senior master sergeant, first sergeant, chief master sergeant, CMS first sergeant and chief master sergeant. The higher officer ranks of the Air Force are the same as those of the Army and Marine Corps. The general of the Air Force is the highest position.
Navy
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The lowest-ranking Navy officer is called a seaman. A seaman advances to seaman apprentice, then to petty officer third, second and first class. The next levels are chief petty officer, senior chief petty officer and master chief petty officer, the top enlisted rank. Higher officer ranks for the Navy begin with ensign and progress to lieutenant junior grade, lieutenant and lieutenant commander. Commander, captain, rear admiral lower half, rear admiral upper half, vice admiral and admiral lead up to the highest-ranking position of fleet admiral.
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References
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