Military Ranks for Beginners

Most of us are aware that different military ranks are used to identify and define a service member’s authority and responsibilities in the military. But what’s less familiar is where each rank falls in the chain of command, leading to countless questions about rank. Sergeants, majors, colonels – how do they all stand within military rank? What is a corporal in the Marines?

What’s higher: captain or major? Learn more about military rank in our guide!

Pay Grade Classifications

Different military ranks are often attached to letter and number classifications, such as E-1. This refers to pay grade – not rank. These are administrative classifications used to standardize compensation across branches. The “E” stands for enlisted, the “W” stands for warrant officers, and the “O” stands for commissioned officers. The numbers attached (1 to 9) indicate the pay grade for that position.

This shouldn’t be confused with rank. Personnel with the same pay grade may have differing ranks, especially across branches.

Service members within E-1 to E-3 are typically on their initial assignment or within some sort of training, learning the core values and skills required by their service. Training is followed by specialized or advanced training to provide members with an area of expertise/concentration. Leadership increases in different mid-level enlisted military ranks.

Marine Corps Ranks

What is a corporal in the Marines, and where do they fall in rank? What’s higher: captain or major? Let’s take a look!

The Marine Corps rank and different military ranks can be divided into three categories: enlisted ranks, non-commissioned officer ranks, and commissioned officer ranks:

Enlisted Ranks

Junior enlisted Marines have completed basic training but are more focused on learning technical skills.

Private - The lowest rank, a private remains in this rank for six months before being promoted. At this stage, they’re following orders and learning how to be contributing members of the Marines.

Private First Class - The second enlisted rank, these service members learn and develop new skills and apply their new technical skills.

Lance Corporal - Enlisted Marines that have completed nine months in service (total time in the Marines) and eight months in grade (time spent at current level).

Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) Ranks

Corporal - What is a corporal in the Marines? The most junior of the non-commissioned officers, the rank of corporal dates all the way back to the American Revolutionary War. Corporals are expected to fulfill leadership roles. They have supervisory responsibilities, leading a small team of privates first class or lance corporals so they meet standards for performance and all aspects of military life.

Sergeant - Next up are different sergeant military ranks, which in order are:

• Sergeant
• Staff Sergeant
• Gunnery Sergeant
• Master Sergeant 
• First Sergeant
• Master Gunnery Sergeant
• Sergeant Major
• Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps

Generally, a sergeant’s duties parallel corporals, though sergeants have more leadership responsibilities and are in charge of more enlisted officers and equipment.

Commissioned Officer Ranks

Now that you know what a corporal is in the Marines and the NCO military ranks, we can move to commissioned officer ranks. Commissioned ranks are the highest in the military. The lowest of these different military ranks are the 2nd and 1st lieutenants. So, what’s higher: captain or major? 

Many think a captain is higher based on exposure to things like pirate movies where the captain leads the ship, but majors have a higher rank. Officers get promoted to captain from first lieutenant and are in charge of tactical and everyday operations. They’re promoted to major from the rank of captain. The commissioned officer ranks are as follows:

• Second Lieutenant
• First Lieutenant
• Captain
• Major
• Lieutenant Colonel
• Colonel
• Brigadier General
• Major General
• Lieutenant General 
• General

Army Ranks

The different military ranks (and their responsibilities) for the Army and the Marines are very similar to one another. There are just a few differences, which start at the lowest rank, private. In the Army rank, there are privates (new recruits), private 2nd class, and private first class, where more technical and leadership skills are developed. The Army also has a specialist enlisted rank that follows private first class.

Sergeant ranks are similar to Marines, as well. The primary difference is that there isn’t a gunnery sergeant in the Army. In order, sergeant ranks are:

• Sergeant
• Staff Sergeant
• Sergeant First Class
• Master Sergeant
• First Sergeant
• Sergeant Major
• Command Sergeant Major
• Sergeant Major of the Army

The different commissioned military officer ranks are the same for the Army as they are for the Marines.

Air Force Ranks

Enlisted ranks - airman basic (similar to Army privates undergoing basic training), airman, airman first class, and senior airman.

NCO ranks - staff sergeant, technical sergeant, master sergeant, senior master sergeant, first sergeant, and chief master sergeant. Like the Marines and Army, this rank is where leadership and responsibilities increase.

The commissioned officer ranks in the Air Force mirror those in the Marines and the Army.

Navy/Coast Guard Ranks

Both maritime services use the same military rank structure. In addition to the Navy rank and Coast Guard rank’s similarities, their military insignia is also quite similar; the only difference is the color used!

Enlisted Ranks

• Seaman Recruit
• Seaman Apprentice
• Seaman

NCO Ranks

• Petty Officer Third Class
• Petty Officer Second Class
• Petty Officer First Class
• Chief Petty Officer
• Senior Chief Petty Officer
• Master Chief Petty Officer
• Fleet/Command Chief Petty Officer
• Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy/Coast Guard

Commissioned Officer Ranks

These military ranks are different from the commissioned officer ranks for the Army, Marines, and Air Force. In ascending order, the ranks for the Navy and Coast Guard are:

• Ensign
• Lieutenant (junior grade)
• Lieutenant 
• Lieutenant commander
• Commander
• Captain
• Rear Admiral (lower half)
• Rear Admiral (upper half)
• Vice Admiral
• Admiral

Learning the Different Military Ranks

From knowing what a corporal is in the Marines to knowing what’s higher between captain or major in the Army, USMC, and Air Force, you can become a rank pro with our military rank guide.

Learn more about the ins and outs of military and military surplus on our blog, plus shop Army Surplus World for military clothing, military tactical gear, and more!