Comparative military ranks

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Rank is a system of categorizing the hierarchy of an armed force. See Comparative military ranks of World War II for more on WWII ranks, and Military rank for details on the history of the rank system. Note that the US military usually uses only an O to symbolize officer, and not OF

Table of contents

1 British, US, German and Argentine (naval) officer ranks
2 Enlisted ranks

2.1 German enlisted ranks

British, US, German and Argentine (naval) officer ranks

NATO Rank code British Army and Royal Marines US Army, USAF and USMC Royal Navy US Navy RAF Bundeswehr Heer and Luftwaffe Bundesmarine Argentine Navy & Marines
OF-10 (wartime only) Field Marshal (Not RM) General of the Army
General of the Air Force
no USMC equiv Admiral of the Fleet Fleet Admiral (FADM) Marshal of the Royal Air Force
OF-9 General General Admiral Admiral (ADM) Air Chief Marshal General Admiral Almirante (AL)
OF-8 Lieutenant General Lieutenant General Vice Admiral Vice Admiral (VADM) Air Marshal Generalleutnant Vizeadmiral Vicealmirante (VL)
OF-7 Major General Major General Rear Admiral Rear Admiral (Upper Half) (RADM) Air Vice-Marshal Generalmajor Konteradmiral Contraalmirante (CL)
OF-6 Brigadier Brigadier General Commodore Rear Admiral (Lower Half) (RDML) Air Commodore Brigadegeneral Flottillenadmiral
OF-5 Colonel Colonel Captain Captain (CAPT) Group Captain Oberst Kapitän zur See CapitÃÂÃÂ¡n de NavÃÂÃÂo (CN)
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel Lieutenant Colonel Commander Commander (CDR) Wing Commander Oberstleutnant Fregattenkapitän CapitÃÂÃÂ¡n de Fragata (CF)
OF-3 Major Major Lieutenant- Commander Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) Squadron Leader Major Korvettenkapitän CapitÃÂÃÂ¡n de Corbeta (CC)

Stabshauptmann Stabskapitänleutnant

OF-2 Captain Captain Lieutenant Lieutenant (LT) Flight Lieutenant Hauptmann Kapitänleutnant Teniente de NavÃÂÃÂo (TN)
OF-1 Lieutenant First Lieutenant Sub-Lieutenant (junior to Army/RAF equivalent) Lieutenant, Junior Grade (LT(JG)) Flying Officer Oberleutnant Oberleutnant zur See Teniente de Fragata (TF)
OF-1 Second Lieutenant Second Lieutenant
Ensign (ENS) Pilot Officer Leutnant Leutnant zur See Teniente de Corbeta (TC)
OF(D)

Midshipman
Acting Pilot Officer OberfÃÂÃÂ¤hnrich OberfÃÂÃÂ¤hnrich zur See Guardiamarina (GU)
Student Officer Officer Cadet Cadet Officer Cadet Midshipman Officer Cadet FÃÂÃÂ¤hnrich Sekadett

Not listed are US warrant officers. In accordance with Army Regulation (AR) 135-100 , Department of the Army Pamphlet (DA Pam) 600-11 and Army Field Manual (FM) 22-100 (para A-3) [1], a warrant officer is an officer who can and does command, carry out military justice actions and sits both selection and promotion boards. A warrant officer is a single-track specialty officer, initially appointed by the Secretary of the Army, he/she receives a commission upon promotion to Chief Warrant Officer Two (CW2).

NATO Rank code	British Army and Royal Marines	US Army, USAF and USMC	Royal Navy	US Navy	RAF	Bundeswehr Heer and Luftwaffe	Bundesmarine	Argentine Navy & Marines
OF-10 (wartime only)	Field Marshal (Not RM)	General of the Army General of the Air Force no USMC equiv	Admiral of the Fleet	Fleet Admiral (FADM)	Marshal of the Royal Air Force
OF-9	General	General	Admiral	Admiral (ADM)	Air Chief Marshal	General	Admiral	Almirante (AL)
OF-8	Lieutenant General	Lieutenant General	Vice Admiral	Vice Admiral (VADM)	Air Marshal	Generalleutnant	Vizeadmiral	Vicealmirante (VL)
OF-7	Major General	Major General	Rear Admiral	Rear Admiral (Upper Half) (RADM)	Air Vice-Marshal	Generalmajor	Konteradmiral	Contraalmirante (CL)
OF-6	Brigadier	Brigadier General	Commodore	Rear Admiral (Lower Half) (RDML)	Air Commodore	Brigadegeneral	Flottillenadmiral
OF-5	Colonel	Colonel	Captain	Captain (CAPT)	Group Captain	Oberst	Kapitän zur See	CapitÃÂÃÂ¡n de NavÃÂÃÂo (CN)
OF-4	Lieutenant Colonel	Lieutenant Colonel	Commander	Commander (CDR)	Wing Commander	Oberstleutnant	Fregattenkapitän	CapitÃÂÃÂ¡n de Fragata (CF)
OF-3	Major	Major	Lieutenant- Commander	Lieutenant Commander (LCDR)	Squadron Leader	Major	Korvettenkapitän	CapitÃÂÃÂ¡n de Corbeta (CC)
						Stabshauptmann	Stabskapitänleutnant
OF-2	Captain	Captain	Lieutenant	Lieutenant (LT)	Flight Lieutenant	Hauptmann	Kapitänleutnant	Teniente de NavÃÂÃÂo (TN)
OF-1	Lieutenant	First Lieutenant	Sub-Lieutenant (junior to Army/RAF equivalent)	Lieutenant, Junior Grade (LT(JG))	Flying Officer	Oberleutnant	Oberleutnant zur See	Teniente de Fragata (TF)
OF-1	Second Lieutenant	Second Lieutenant		Ensign (ENS)	Pilot Officer	Leutnant	Leutnant zur See	Teniente de Corbeta (TC)
OF(D)			Midshipman		Acting Pilot Officer	OberfÃÂÃÂ¤hnrich	OberfÃÂÃÂ¤hnrich zur See	Guardiamarina (GU)
Student Officer	Officer Cadet	Cadet	Officer Cadet	Midshipman	Officer Cadet	FÃÂÃÂ¤hnrich	Sekadett

Enlisted ranks

(Germany: see below)

see ¹ nominally supervises (US forces) US Army USAF USMC USN British Army Royal Marines Royal Navy RAF Household Cavalry
E-9 the senior enlisted person in each service Sergeant Major of the Army Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (CMSgtAF) Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Warrant Officer² Class 1 (WO1) Warrant Officer² Class 1 Warrant Officer² Warrant Officer² or Master (Aircrew) Regimental Corporal Major (RCM)
E-9 Brigade (Army), Wing (USAF), Regiment (USN, USMC) or higher Command Sergeant Major (CSM) Command Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt) Sergeant Major (SgtMaj) Command Master Chief Petty Officer (CMCPO)
E-9 Battalion (Army, USN, USMC), Group (USAF) Sergeant Major (SGM) Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt) Master Gunnery Sergeant (MGySgt) Master Chief Petty Officer (MCPO)
E-8 Company (Army, USN, USMC), Squadron (USAF) First Sergeant (1SG) Senior Master Sergeant (SMSgt) First Sergeant (1st Sgt) Senior Chief Petty Officer (SCPO) Warrant Officer² Class 2 (WO2) Warrant Officer² Class 2 (nominally) Charge Chief Artificer³ No E-8 equivalent Company Corporal Major
Master Sergeant (MSG) Master Sergeant (MSgt)
E-7 Platoon (Army, USN, USMC), Flight (USAF) Sergeant First Class (SFC) or Platoon Sergeant Master Sergeant (MSgt) Gunnery Sergeant (GySgt) Chief Petty Officer (CPO) Staff Sergeant (SSgt) Colour Sergeant Charge Chief Petty Officer Flight Sergeant or Chief Technician Staff Corporal
Chief Petty Officer (CPO)
E-6 Squad or Section Staff Sergeant (SSG) Technical Sergeant (TSgt) Staff Sergeant (SSgt) Petty Officer 1st Class (PO1) Sergeant (Sgt) Sergeant (Sgt) Petty Officer Sergeant (Sgt) Corporal of Horse
E-5 ^{note 4} Fireteam Sergeant (SGT) Staff Sergeant (SSgt) Sergeant (Sgt) Petty Officer 2nd Class (PO2)
E-4 Corporal (CPL) or Specialist Four (SP4) Senior Airman (SRA) Corporal (Cpl) Petty Officer 3rd Class (PO3) Corporal (Cpl) or Bombardier Corporal (Cpl) Leading Rate⁵ Corporal (Cpl) Corporal (Cpl)
E-3 Private First Class (PFC) Airman First Class (A1C) Lance Corporal (LCpl) Seaman (SN) Lance Corporal (LCpl) or Lance Bombardier Lance Corporal (LCpl) No E-3 equivalent No E-3 equivalent Lance Corporal (LCpl)
E-2 Private (PV2) Airman (Amn) Private First Class (PFC) Seaman Apprentice (SA) Private (Classes 1 to 3) (Pte) or other corps title such as Sapper, Gunner etc. Marine⁶ Able Rating⁶ Junior Technician (technical trades only Guardsman
Leading Aircraftman
Senior Aircraftman
E-1 Private (PV1) Airman Basic (AB) Private (Pvt) Seaman Recruit (SR) Private (Class 4) or Junior Aircraftman

see ¹	nominally supervises (US forces)	US Army	USAF	USMC	USN	British Army	Royal Marines	Royal Navy	RAF	Household Cavalry
E-9	the senior enlisted person in each service	Sergeant Major of the Army	Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (CMSgtAF)	Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps	Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON)	Warrant Officer² Class 1 (WO1)	Warrant Officer² Class 1	Warrant Officer²	Warrant Officer² or Master (Aircrew)	Regimental Corporal Major (RCM)
E-9	Brigade (Army), Wing (USAF), Regiment (USN, USMC) or higher	Command Sergeant Major (CSM)	Command Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt)	Sergeant Major (SgtMaj)	Command Master Chief Petty Officer (CMCPO)
E-9	Battalion (Army, USN, USMC), Group (USAF)	Sergeant Major (SGM)	Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt)	Master Gunnery Sergeant (MGySgt)	Master Chief Petty Officer (MCPO)
E-8	Company (Army, USN, USMC), Squadron (USAF)	First Sergeant (1SG)	Senior Master Sergeant (SMSgt)	First Sergeant (1st Sgt)	Senior Chief Petty Officer (SCPO)	Warrant Officer² Class 2 (WO2)	Warrant Officer² Class 2	(nominally) Charge Chief Artificer³	No E-8 equivalent	Company Corporal Major
	Master Sergeant (MSG)	Master Sergeant (MSgt)
E-7	Platoon (Army, USN, USMC), Flight (USAF)	Sergeant First Class (SFC) or Platoon Sergeant	Master Sergeant (MSgt)	Gunnery Sergeant (GySgt)	Chief Petty Officer (CPO)	Staff Sergeant (SSgt)	Colour Sergeant	Charge Chief Petty Officer	Flight Sergeant or Chief Technician	Staff Corporal
Chief Petty Officer (CPO)
E-6	Squad or Section	Staff Sergeant (SSG)	Technical Sergeant (TSgt)	Staff Sergeant (SSgt)	Petty Officer 1st Class (PO1)	Sergeant (Sgt)	Sergeant (Sgt)	Petty Officer	Sergeant (Sgt)	Corporal of Horse
E-5 ^{note 4}	Fireteam	Sergeant (SGT)	Staff Sergeant (SSgt)	Sergeant (Sgt)	Petty Officer 2nd Class (PO2)
E-4		Corporal (CPL) or Specialist Four (SP4)	Senior Airman (SRA)	Corporal (Cpl)	Petty Officer 3rd Class (PO3)	Corporal (Cpl) or Bombardier	Corporal (Cpl)	Leading Rate⁵	Corporal (Cpl)	Corporal (Cpl)
E-3		Private First Class (PFC)	Airman First Class (A1C)	Lance Corporal (LCpl)	Seaman (SN)	Lance Corporal (LCpl) or Lance Bombardier	Lance Corporal (LCpl)	No E-3 equivalent	No E-3 equivalent	Lance Corporal (LCpl)
E-2		Private (PV2)	Airman (Amn)	Private First Class (PFC)	Seaman Apprentice (SA)	Private (Classes 1 to 3) (Pte) or other corps title such as Sapper, Gunner etc.	Marine⁶	Able Rating⁶	Junior Technician (technical trades only	Guardsman
Leading Aircraftman
Senior Aircraftman
E-1		Private (PV1)	Airman Basic (AB)	Private (Pvt)	Seaman Recruit (SR)	Private (Class 4) or Junior			Aircraftman

Notes to table above

Pay grade is used in the US military as to normalize the equivalent enlisted and officer ranks respectively. For example, the base pay of an E-8 is the same in the Air Force and the Army. In theory, those two E-8s will have equivalent levels of seniority and responsibility. When enlisted men from several services are together, the senior enlisted man is responsible for the group. For comparing ranks with other countries the Paygrade numbers match with the NATO Codes for Enlisted (Other) ranks. Hence E-1, at least for this purpose, can be considered same as OR-1, E-2 as OR-2 and so on.

A Warrant Officer in UK Services is a senior enlisted rank not comparable to the various grades of Warrant Officer in the US. The US rank is held by single track career specialists (ranking between Enlisted Ranks and 2nd Lieutenant) and have no NATO equivalent An RN Warrant Officer incorporated the former rank of Fleet Chief Petty Officer.
A Charge Chief Artificer can be given a NATO OR-8 status, but like other Charge Chiefs, it should be considered a substantive CPO (OR-7) and ranks below WO2 in other services.
British Sergrants/Petty Officers are seen as equal to E5 and E6 although Corporals or Sergeants may appointed to an official OR-5 (i.e. E-5) military role as is suited to the particular situation.
Leading Rate is junior to Corporals in other Services
From April 1, 1999 Able Rating and Ordinary Rating Merged, Marine 1st Class and Marine 2nd Class Merged. Junior Rating and Junior Marine Abolished.

German enlisted ranks

Bundeswehr (Army)
and
Luftwaffe (Air Force) Bundesmarine (Navy)

Oberstabsfeldwebel Oberstabsbootsmann

Stabsfeldwebel Stabsbootsmann

Hauptfeldwebel Hauptbootsmann

Oberfeldwebel Oberbootsmann

Feldwebel Bootsmann

Stabsunteroffizier Obermaat

Unteroffizier Maat

Oberstabsgefreiter Oberstabsgefreiter

Stabsgefreiter Stabsgefreiter

Hauptgefreiter Hauptgefreiter

Obergefreiter Obergefreiter

Gefreiter Gefreiter

Schütze/Flieger Matrose

Bundeswehr (Army) and Luftwaffe (Air Force)	Bundesmarine (Navy)
Oberstabsfeldwebel	Oberstabsbootsmann
Stabsfeldwebel	Stabsbootsmann
Hauptfeldwebel	Hauptbootsmann
Oberfeldwebel	Oberbootsmann
Feldwebel	Bootsmann
Stabsunteroffizier	Obermaat
Unteroffizier	Maat
Oberstabsgefreiter	Oberstabsgefreiter
Stabsgefreiter	Stabsgefreiter
Hauptgefreiter	Hauptgefreiter
Obergefreiter	Obergefreiter
Gefreiter	Gefreiter
Schütze/Flieger	Matrose