U.S. Army parade ground at sunrise with American flag

U.S. Army Ranks

29 grades — from Private to General of the Army.

Enlisted

The backbone of every branch — non-commissioned service members and the NCO leaders who train and lead them.

E-1PV1

Private

No insignia

E-2PV2

Private Second Class

One chevron

E-3PFC

Private First Class

One chevron, one rocker

E-4SPC

Specialist

Eagle device

E-4CPL

Corporal

Two chevrons

E-5SGT

Sergeant

Three chevrons

E-6SSG

Staff Sergeant

Three chevrons, one rocker

E-7SFC

Sergeant First Class

Three chevrons, two rockers

E-8MSG

Master Sergeant

Three chevrons, three rockers

E-81SG

First Sergeant

Three chevrons, three rockers, diamond

E-9SGM

Sergeant Major

Three chevrons, three rockers, star

E-9CSM

Command Sergeant Major

Three chevrons, three rockers, star in wreath

E-9SSMA

Sergeant Major of the Army

Three chevrons, three rockers, stars

Warrant Officer

Technical specialists and aviators who outrank enlisted NCOs but serve in specialized roles outside the standard commissioned officer corps.

W-1WO1

Warrant Officer 1

One bar (broken)

W-2CW2

Chief Warrant Officer 2

One bar

W-3CW3

Chief Warrant Officer 3

Two bars

W-4CW4

Chief Warrant Officer 4

Three bars

W-5CW5

Chief Warrant Officer 5

Silver bar

Officer

Commissioned leaders responsible for command, strategy, policy, and the welfare of the service members under their authority.

O-12LT

Second Lieutenant

Gold bar

O-21LT

First Lieutenant

Silver bar

O-3CPT

Captain

Two silver bars

O-4MAJ

Major

Gold oak leaf

O-5LTC

Lieutenant Colonel

Silver oak leaf

O-6COL

Colonel

Silver eagle

O-7BG

Brigadier General

One star

O-8MG

Major General

Two stars

O-9LTG

Lieutenant General

Three stars

O-10GEN

General

Four stars

O-11GA

General of the Army

Five stars (wartime only)

Captain Liberty
Online nowAsk Captain Liberty