What Comes After Staff Sergeant in the Army

Before you get to basic training, most people don't have a very thorough understanding of military ranks, let alone the ability to put them in order. Everybody recognizes the ones that commonly show up in movies like sergeant, captain, or admiral, but where they fall on the pecking order of different branches isn't all that clear. And as those of us that have spent time in uniform can attest, having a good understanding of military ranks in the order of authority for ourown branch doesn't necessarily mean you know how the rank structure looks in the sister branches.

Confusion about the order of military ranks can be made even worse from branch to branch by the common use of some easily-recognizable rank names (like sergeant or captain) forentirely different pay grades. A captain in the Marine Corps's pay grade is O-3, whereas a captain in the Navy is an O-6, as one shining example.

So whether you don't know any of the military ranks, or you're just confused about how to put them in order, here's a breakdown of the rank structure in each branch, starting at the most junior enlisted pay grade, and ascending up to the senior most commissioned officer. This list includes the military ranks in order for the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard. Currently, the Space Force is largely made up of Air Force personnel utilizing the Air Force rank structure.

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Army Ranks in order

Related: WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT ARMY BASIC TRAINING?

Pay Grade	Rank
Enlisted Personnel
E-1	Private (Recruit)
E-2	Private
E-3	Private First Class
E-4	Specialist
Non-Commissioned Officers
E-4	Corporal
E-5	Sergeant
E-6	Staff Sergeant
E-7	Sergeant First Class
E-8	First Sergeant Master Sergeant
E-9	Command Sergeant Major Sergeant Major
E-9	Sergeant Major of the Army
Warrant Officers
W-1	Warrant Officer 1
W-2	Warrant Officer 2
W-3	Warrant Officer 3
W-4	Warrant Officer 4
W-5	Master Warrant Officer 5
Commissioned Officers
O-1	2nd Lieutenant
O-2	1st Lieutenant
O-3	Captain
O-4	Major
O-5	Lieutenant Colonel
O-6	Colonel
O-7	Brigadier General
O-8	Major General
O-9	Lieutenant General
O-10	Army Chief of Staff General

Air Force Ranks in order

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Pay Grade	Rank
Enlisted Personnel
E-1	Airman Basic
E-2	Airman
E-3	Airman First Class
E-4	Senior Airman
Non-Commissioned Officers
E-5	Staff Sergeant
E-6	Technical Sergeant
E-7	First Sergeant (Master Sergeant) Master Sergeant
E-8	First Sergeant (Senior Master Sergeant) Senior Master Sergeant
E-9	First Sergeant (Chief Master Sergeant) Chief Master Sergeant
Special	Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
Warrant Officers
W-1	N/A
W-2	N/A
W-3	N/A
W-4	N/A
W-5	N/A
Commissioned Officers
O-1	2nd Lieutenant
O-2	1st Lieutenant
O-3	Captain
O-4	Major
O-5	Lieutenant Colonel
O-6	Colonel
O-7	Brigadier General
O-8	Major General
O-9	Lieutenant General
O-10	Air Force Chief of Staff General
**	General of the Air Force

Marine Corps ranks in order

Related: JOINING THE MARINES? HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT AT RECRUIT TRAINING

Pay Grade	Rank
Enlisted Personnel
E-1	Private
E-2	Private First Class
E-3	Lance Corporal
Non-Commissioned Officers
E-4	Corporal
E-5	Sergeant
E-6	Staff Sergeant
E-7	Gunnery Sergeant
E-8	First Sergeant Master Sergeant
E-9	Sergeant Major Master Gunnery Sergeant
Special	Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
Warrant Officers
W-1	Warrant Officer
W-2	Chief Warrant Officer 2
W-3	Chief Warrant Officer 3
W-4	Chief Warrant Officer 4
W-5	Chief Warrant Officer 5
Commissioned Officers
O-1	2nd Lieutenant
O-2	1st Lieutenant
O-3	Captain
O-4	Major
O-5	Lieutenant Colonel
O-6	Colonel
O-7	Brigadier General
O-8	Major General
O-9	Lieutenant General
O-10	Commandant of the Marine Corps General

Navy ranks in order

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Pay Grade	Rank
Enlisted Personnel
E-1	Seaman Recruit
E-2	Seaman Apprentice
E-3	Seaman
Non-Commissioned Officers
E-4	Petty Officer Third Class
E-5	Petty Officer Second Class
E-6	Petty Officer First Class
E-7	Chief Petty Officer
E-8	Senior Chief Petty Officer
E-9	Master Chief Petty Officer
Special	Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
Warrant Officers
W-1	Warrant Officer 1
W-2	Warrant Officer 2
W-3	Warrant Officer 3
W-4	Warrant Officer 4
W-5	Master Warrant Officer
Commissioned Officers
O-1	Ensign
O-2	Lieutenant, Junior Grade
O-3	Lieutenant
O-4	Lieutenant Commander
O-5	Commander
O-6	Captain
O-7	Rear Admiral (Commodore)
O-8	Rear Admiral (Upper Half)
O-9	Vice Admiral
O-10	Chief of Naval Operations Commandant of the Coast Guard Admiral
**	Fleet Admiral

Coast Guard ranks in order

Related: 8 FACTS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE U.S. COAST GUARD

Pay Grade	Rank
Enlisted Personnel
E-1	Seaman Recruit
E-2	Seaman Apprentice
E-3	Seaman
Non-Commissioned Officers
E-4	Petty Officer Third Class
E-5	Petty Officer Second Class
E-6	Petty Officer First Class
E-7	Chief Petty Officer
E-8	Senior Chief Petty Officer
E-9	Master Chief Petty Officer
Special	Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
Warrant Officers
W-1	Warrant Officer 1
W-2	Warrant Officer 2
W-3	Warrant Officer 3
W-4	Warrant Officer 4
W-5	Master Warrant Officer
Commissioned Officers
O-1	Ensign
O-2	Lieutenant, Junior Grade
O-3	Lieutenant
O-4	Lieutenant Commander
O-5	Commander
O-6	Captain
O-7	Rear Admiral (Commodore)
O-8	Rear Admiral (Upper Half)
O-9	Vice Admiral
O-10	Chief of Naval Operations Commandant of the Coast Guard Admiral
**	Fleet Admiral

Alex Hollings

Alex Hollings is a writer, dad, and Marine veteran who specializes in foreign policy and defense technology analysis. He holds a master's degree in Communications from Southern New Hampshire University, as well as a bachelor's degree in Corporate and Organizational Communications from Framingham State University.

What Comes After Staff Sergeant in the Army

Source: https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/the-complete-list-of-us-military-ranks-in-order/

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