The United States Army is the largest branch of the U.S. military, with over 480,000 active personnel. Army ranks are divided into three categories: enlisted soldiers, warrant officers, and commissioned officers. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed every rank and insignia from the official U.S. Army website.
Among the enlisted members, there are 13 ranks, broken into three groups: junior enlisted (pay-grades E-1 through E-4), non-commissioned officers (E-4 through E-6), and senior non-commissioned officers (E-7 through E-9). Junior enlisted members are promoted automatically, based on their time in service and their time in their particular pay-grade. New recruits start as privates and eventually reach the rank of private first class. They may then become specialists (E-4) after serving a minimum of two years and undergoing specific training in their field, and eventually corporals (E-4) after taking the Army’s Basic Leadership Course.
Advancing further up the ranks to sergeant (E-5) or staff sergeant (E-6) requires leadership training as well as high performance in a graded Army-wide competition that awards points for physical fitness, education, firing range scores, awards, and other attributes. Seargents oversee soldiers in their daily activities and serve as first-line leaders who have the most direct impact on the soldiers. Sergeant major (E-9) is the highest position possible for enlisted personnel. There is only one sergeant major in the army, who oversees all non-commissioned officers and serves as an advisor to the four-star general.
To become a warrant officer 1 (WO1) – the highest of non-commissioned officers – enlisted officers must have several years of expertise, a recommendation from their commanding officer, and approval from a selection board. There are five warrant officer ranks, who serve as combat leaders, experts, trainers, and operations managers.
Commissioned officers plan missions, give orders, and serve as the key problem solvers in the Army. There are eleven commissioned officer ranks, including lieutenants, captains, majors, colonels, and generals. Four star general is the highest rank and the senior commissioned officer, except in wartime, when a five star general of the Army may be appointed. The last five star generals of the Army served during and after World War II, and included General Dwight D. Eisenhower and General Douglas MacArthur. Here are 50 of the most decorated war heroes in American history.
Click here to see every rank in the U.S. Army.
1. Private
[in-text-ad]
2. Private First Class
3. Specialist
4. Corporal
[in-text-ad-2]
5. Sergeant
6. Staff Sergeant
[in-text-ad]
7. Sergeant First Class
24/7 Wall St.
8. Master Sergeant
9. First Sergeant
[in-text-ad-2]
10. Sergeant Major
11. Command Sergeant Major
[in-text-ad]
12. Sergeant Major of the Army
13. Warrant Officer 1
14. Chief Warrant Officer 2
[in-text-ad-2]
15. Chief Warrant Officer 3
16. Chief Warrant Officer 4
[in-text-ad]
17. Chief Warrant Officer 5
24/7 Wall St.
18. Second Lieutenant
19. First Lieutenant
[in-text-ad-2]
20. Captain
21. Major
[in-text-ad]
22. Lieutenant Colonel
24/7 Wall St.
23. Colonel
24. Brigadier General
[in-text-ad-2]
25. Major General
26. Lieutenant General
[in-text-ad]
27. General
24/7 Wall St.
28. General of the Army
Get Ready To Retire (Sponsored)
Start by taking a quick retirement quiz from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes, or less.
Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests.
Here’s how it works:
1. Answer SmartAsset advisor match quiz
2. Review your pre-screened matches at your leisure. Check out the advisors’ profiles.
3. Speak with advisors at no cost to you. Have an introductory call on the phone or introduction in person and choose whom to work with in the future
Get started right here.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Latest from 24/7
