Military Ranks: Lowest to Highest

The US military is a prestigious and the most powerful organization in the world. There are many young US citizens who dream of a career in the military. This article is written with the aim to introduce the various military ranks, lowest to highest in the US armed forces. The most common three words that you will hear are the rank, rate and grade in the military school. The army and the air force use 'rank' to determine the status and authority of the military member. Similarly, the navy/ coast guard use the term 'rate'. Personnel and pay functions are determined using 'grade'.

History of Military Ranks
Did know that there were medieval military ranks from the lowest to highest. During the medieval days, the basic unit of an army was known as company. They were a band of soldiers who were raised by a vassal lord on behalf of the king. The command of the company was held by a commissioned officer on the rank of captain. The commissioned officer who assisted the captain was called the lieutenant. When the lieutenant commanded a unit, it was called a platoon. The commissioned officer who carried the company flag was the ensign. All men did not receive a commission form the King. Some men with certain expertise were granted a warrant. These warrant officers assisted the commissioned officers and were given ranks above the non-commissioned officers. The non-commissioned officers did not receive their orders from the king, but from their superiors. The highest rank among them was of sergeant. He commanded a squad and became a staff officer on promotion. A corporal commanded a squad and assisted the lancepesades. These lancepesades were veteran soldiers who were experienced privates. Thus, the post of a lance corporal came into being by combining lancepesade and corporal.

Today, military ranks are divided into 3 categories, starting with the highest in order, commissioned officers. A commissioned officer is the member of the armed force who holds a position of authority. They derive their powers from a sovereign power and holds a commission that gives them duties and responsibilities of a specific office and position. They are followed by warrant officers that are members of a military organization that holds a specific group of ranks. The air force does not have warrant officers in their organization. Then comes the enlisted officers who are non-commissioned officers and are appointed from the list of enlisted personnel. Let us understand all the military ranks of United States of America.

Army Military Ranks Lowest to Highest

United States Army Military Ranks
Warrant Officers	Commissioned Officers	Flag Rank Officers	Enlisted Servicemen
Warrant Officer, One Chief Warrant Officer, Two Chief Warrant Officer, Three Chief Warrant Officer, Four Chief Warrant Officer, Five	2nd Lieutenant 1st Lieutenant Captain Major Lt. Colonel Colonel	Brigadier General (1 star) Major General (2 star) Lieutenant General (3 star) General (4 star) General of the Army General of the Armies (Special rank)	Private Private First Class Specialist Corporal Sergeant Staff Sergeant Sergeant First Class Master Sergeant First Sergeant Sergeant Major Command Sergeant Major Sergeant Major of the Army

Air Force Military Ranks Lowest to Highest

United States Air Force Ranks
Warrant Officers	Commissioned Officers	Flag Rank Officers	Enlisted Servicemen
Warrant Officer, One (discontinued) Chief Warrant Officer, Two (discontinued) Chief Warrant Officer, Three (discontinued) Chief Warrant Officer, Four (discontinued) Chief Warrant Officer, Five (discontinued)	Second Lieutenant First Lieutenant Captain Major Lieutenant Colonel Colonel	Brigadier General (1 star) Major General (2 star) Lieutenant General (3 star) General (4 star) General of the Air Force	Airman Basic Airman Airman First Class Senior Airman Staff Sergeant Technical Sergeant Master Sergeant Senior Master Sergeant Chief Master Sergeant Command Chief Master Sergeant Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force

Navy Military Ranks Lowest to Highest

United States Navy Ranks
Warrant Officers	Commissioned Officers	Flag Rank Officers	Enlisted Servicemen
USN Warrant Officer 1 (WO1) (discontinued) USN Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CWO2) USN Chief Warrant Officer 3(CWO3) USN Chief Warrant Officer 4 (CWO4) USN Chief Warrant Officer 5 (CWO5)	Ensign Lieutenant-Junior Grade Lieutenant Lieutenant Commander Commander Captain	Rear Admiral-Lower Half Rear Admiral-Upper Half Vice Admiral Admiral	Seaman/Fireman/Airman/Constructionman Recruit E-1 Seaman/Fireman/Airman/Constructionman Apprentice E-2 Seaman/Fireman/Airman/Constructionman E-3 Petty Officer Third Class Petty Officer Second Class Petty Officer First Class Chief Petty Officer Senior Chief Petty Officer Command Master Chief Petty Officer Master Chief Petty Officer Navy Guard Fleet/Force Master Chief Petty Officer

Marines Military Ranks Lowest to Highest

United States Marine Ranks
Warrant Officers	Commissioned Officers	Flag Rank Officers	Enlisted Servicemen
Warrant Officer 1 (WO1) Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CW2) Chief Warrant Officer 3(CW3) Chief Warrant Officer 4 (CW4) Chief Warrant Officer 5 (CW5)	Second Lieutenant First Lieutenant Captain Major Lieutenant Colonel Colonel	Brigadier General (1 star) Major General (2 star) Lieutenant General (3 star) General (4 star)	Private Private First Class Lance Corporal Corporal Sergeant Staff Sergeant Gunnery Sergeant Master Sergeant First Sergeant Master Gunnery Sergeant Sergeant Major Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps

Coast Guards Military Ranks Lowest to Highest

United States Coast Guard Ranks
Warrant Officers	Commissioned Officers	Flag Rank Officers	Enlisted Servicemen
USN Warrant Officer 1 (WO1) (discontinued) USN Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CWO2) USN Chief Warrant Officer 3(CWO3) USN Chief Warrant Officer 4 (CWO4) USN Chief Warrant Officer 5 (CWO5)	Ensign Lieutenant-Junior Grade Lieutenant Lieutenant Commander Commander Captain	Rear Admiral-Lower Half Rear Admiral-Upper Half Vice Admiral Admiral Fleet Admiral Admiral of the Navy	Seaman Recruit Seaman Apprentice Seaman Petty Officer Third Class Petty Officer Second Class Petty Officer First Class Chief Petty Officer Senior Chief Petty Officer Command Master Chief Petty Officer Master Chief Petty Officer Coast Guard Fleet/Force Master Chief Petty Officer

Federal Uniformed Services
Under the federal law there are two uniformed services that does not consist of enlisted or warrant officers. There are only commissioned officers under this service. They include the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps (NOAA Corps) and the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHSCC). The NOAA Corps operates under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The commissioned officer ranks of the NOAA Corps is same as the United States Navy and Coast Guard. The PHSCC operates under the United States Public Health Service (PHS). The members of this commissioned Corps are placed under 11 professional categories. These categories include:

• Dentist
• Dietitian
• Engineer
• Environmental health officers
• Health Service Officers
• Nurse
• Medical
• Physical, occupational, speech therapists
• Pharmacist
• Scientist
• Veterinarian

The PHSCC Corps uses the same ranks as the Navy and Coast Guard. These ranks for both PHSCC Corps and NOAA Corps are given in the following table.

United States Uniformed Services
NOAA Corps	PHSCC Corps
Ensign Lieutenant (Junior grade) Lieutenant Lieutenant Commander Commander Captain Rear Admiral (Lower half) Rear Admiral Vice Admiral	Ensign (Junior Assistant) Lieutenant-junior grade (Assistant) Lieutenant (Senior Assistant) Lieutenant Commander (Full) Commander (Senior) Captain (Director) Rear Admiral (Lower half) (Assistant Surgeon General) Rear Admiral (Deputy Surgeon General or Assistant Surgeon General) Vice Admiral (Surgeon General) Admiral (Assistant Secretary for Health)

These are the military ranks list lowest to highest. These military ranks in order are followed in every service mentioned. The stripes and stars, the crisp starched uniforms, the disciplined life and a command of respect can be achieved only after serving in the military. The US military is the best career option for those with a dream of earning respect and creating a niche for themselves. It's not just about becoming a soldier or officer, it's making your family, friends and more over your country, proud. I hope these military ranks: lowest to highest have proved useful to those looking for a brilliant and courageous career in the US military.