15.5: Military Ranks and Abbreviations

Do you know the differences in the ranks of the Services? The DoD Manual for Written Material also provides tables that present the pay grade, rank and rank abbreviations for all pay grades in all the Services. These tables have been extracted and included in this handbook (reformatted for conformity) for your ready reference. Take the time to learn the ranks of the other Services \(\ldots\) and the proper abbreviations for them as well. Using the proper rank in your communications with others demonstrates your professional attitude and commands respect from others.

Table \(15.5.1\) Military Ranks and Abbreviations

Pay Grade	Army		Navy		Marine Corps		Air Force
O-10	General	GEN	Admiral	ADM	General	Gen	General	Gen
O-9	Lieutenant General	LTG	Vice Admiral	VADM	Lieutenant General	LtGen	Lieutenant General	Lt Gen
O-8	Major General	MG	Rear Admiral	RADM	Major General	MajGen	Major General	Maj Gen
O-7	Brigadier General	BG	Rear Admiral	RDML\(^{2}\)	Brigadier General	BGen	Brigadier General	Brig Gen
O-6	Colonel	COL	Captain	CAPT	Colonel	Col	Colonel	Col
O-5	Lieutenant Colonel	LTC	Commander	CDR	Lieutenant Colonel	LtCol	Lieutenant Colonel	Lt Col
O-4	Major	MAJ	Lieutenant Commander	CLDR	Major	Maj	Major	Maj
O-3	Captain	CPT	Lieutenant	LT	Captain	Capt	Captian	Capt
O-2	First Lieutenant	1LT	Lieutenant Junior Grade	LTJG	First Lieutenant	1st Lt	First Lieutenant	1st Lt
O-1	Second Lieutenant	2LT	Ensign	ENS	Second Lieutenant	2nd Lt	Second Lieutenant	2nd Lt
W-5	Chief Warrant Officer	CW5\(^{1}\)			Chief Warrant Officer 5	CWO-5
W-4	Chief Warrant Officer 4	CW4	Chief Warrant Officer 4	CWO4	chief Warrant Officer 4	CWO-4
W-3	Chief Warrant Officer 3	CW3	Chief Warrant Officer 3	CWO3	Chief Warrant Officer 3	CWO-3
W-2	Chief Warrant Officer 2	CW2	Chief Warrant Officer 2	CWO2	Chief Warrant Officer 2	CWO-2
W-1	Warrant Officer 1	WO1	Warrant Officer	WO1	Chief Warrant Officer 1	CWO-1
E-9	Sergeant Major of the Army	SMA	Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy	MCPON	Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps	SgtMajMC	Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force	CMSAF
	Command Sergeant Major	CSM	Master Chief Petty Officer	MCPO	Sergeant Major	Sgt Maj	Chief Master Sergeant	CMSgt
	Sergeant Major	SGM			Master Gunnery Sergeant	MGySgt
E-8	First Sergeant	1SG	Senior Chief Petty Officer	SCPO	First Sergeant	1stSgt	Senior Master Sergeant	SMSgt
	Master Sergeant	MSG			Master Sergeant	MSgt
E-7	Sergeant First Class	SFC	Chief Petty Officer	CPO	Gunnery Sergeant	GySgt	Master Sergeant	MSgt
E-6	Staff Sergeant	SSG	Petty Officer 1	PO1	Staff Sergeant	SSgt	Technical Sergeant	TSgt
E-5	Sergeant	SGT	Petty Officer 2	PO2	SErgeant	Sgt	Staff Sergeant	SSgt
E-4	Corporal	CPL	Petty Officer 3	PO3	Corporal	Cpl	Senior Airman	SrA
	Specialist	SPC
E-3	Private First Cass	PFC	Seaman	SN	Lance Corporal	LCpl	Airman First Class	A1C
E-2	Private	PV2	Seaman Apprentice	SA	Private First Class	PFC	Airman	Amn
E-1	Private	PVT	Seaman Recruit	SR	Privaate	Pvt	Airman Basic	AB
\(^{1}\) The Army used Master Warrant Officer at one time; "Master" now indicates a transitional rank; all Army Warrant Officers are Chief Warrant Officers. \(^{2}\) The Navy Rear Admiral rank contains two levels: upper half, equal to a two-star flag officer, and lower half, equal to a one-star flag officer. The rank of Commodore was commisssioned one-star rank during time of war. The commander of a fleet of ships is sometimes referred to as "Commodore" as a courtesy title. The rank no longer exists and the title is never officially used.