Army Ranks in Order: Enlisted, Warrant Officer, and Officer Insignia Chart

Army enlisted ranks run from Private at E-1 to Sergeant Major of the Army at E-9. Soldiers become noncommissioned officers (NCOs) when they are promoted to Corporal or Sergeant, and senior NCOs from E-7 up lead platoons, companies, and larger units alongside their officers.

Army Enlisted Ranks in Order (E-1 to E-9)

Grade	Insignia	Rank	What This Rank Does	How to Address
Junior Enlisted (E-1 to E-4)
E-1		Private PV1	New soldier in basic combat training who wears no rank insignia.	Address as: Private
E-2		Private PV2	Learns the job and carries out tasks under NCO supervision.	Address as: Private
E-3		Private First Class PFC	Experienced junior soldier who handles assigned tasks with less supervision.	Address as: Private
E-4		Specialist SPC	Junior enlisted soldier with technical skills, paid as an E-4 but not an NCO.	Address as: Specialist
Noncommissioned Officers (E-4 to E-6)
E-4		Corporal CPL	Junior NCO who typically leads a fire team of a few soldiers.	Address as: Corporal
E-5		Sergeant SGT	Team leader responsible for the training and welfare of a small team.	Address as: Sergeant
E-6		Staff Sergeant SSG	Squad leader responsible for a squad and its soldiers.	Address as: Sergeant
Senior Noncommissioned Officers (E-7 to E-9)
E-7		Sergeant First Class SFC	Platoon sergeant and key senior NCO in a platoon.	Address as: Sergeant
E-8		Master Sergeant MSG	Principal NCO at battalion level and often higher.	Address as: Sergeant
E-8		First Sergeant 1SG	Senior enlisted leader of a company and advisor to its commander.	Address as: First Sergeant
E-9		Sergeant Major SGM	Senior NCO serving on a battalion or higher staff.	Address as: Sergeant Major
E-9		Command Sergeant Major CSM	Senior enlisted advisor to a commander at battalion level and above.	Address as: Sergeant Major
E-9		Sergeant Major of the Army SMA	The Army's most senior enlisted soldier and advisor to the Chief of Staff of the Army.	Address as: Sergeant Major

Army warrant officers are highly specialized experts, including many of the Army's helicopter pilots. They are appointed as Warrant Officer 1 by warrant and receive a commission on promotion to Chief Warrant Officer 2.

Army Warrant Officer Ranks in Order (W-1 to W-5)

Grade	Insignia	Rank	What This Rank Does	How to Address
W-1		Warrant Officer 1 WO1	Newly appointed technical specialist working in a single career field.	Address as: Mister or Ms.
W-2		Chief Warrant Officer 2 CW2	Commissioned warrant officer and experienced technical expert.	Address as: Chief, or Mister or Ms.
W-3		Chief Warrant Officer 3 CW3	Advanced expert who advises commanders on systems and operations.	Address as: Chief, or Mister or Ms.
W-4		Chief Warrant Officer 4 CW4	Senior expert who integrates technical systems at higher levels.	Address as: Chief, or Mister or Ms.
W-5		Chief Warrant Officer 5 CW5	Master-level expert and senior technical advisor to commanders.	Address as: Chief, or Mister or Ms.

Army officer ranks run from Second Lieutenant at O-1 to General at O-10. Officers move through three groups: company grade officers who lead platoons and companies, field grade officers who lead battalions and brigades, and general officers who command divisions and larger organizations.

Army Officer Ranks in Order (O-1 to O-10)

Grade	Insignia	Rank	What This Rank Does	How to Address
Company Grade Officers (O-1 to O-3)
O-1		Second Lieutenant 2LT	Entry-level officer who typically leads a platoon.	Address as: Lieutenant
O-2		First Lieutenant 1LT	Experienced platoon leader or company executive officer.	Address as: Lieutenant
O-3		Captain CPT	Commands a company or serves as a staff officer.	Address as: Captain
Field Grade Officers (O-4 to O-6)
O-4		Major MAJ	Battalion or brigade staff officer or executive officer.	Address as: Major
O-5		Lieutenant Colonel LTC	Typically commands a battalion.	Address as: Colonel
O-6		Colonel COL	Typically commands a brigade or leads a senior staff section.	Address as: Colonel
General Officers (O-7 to O-10)
O-7		Brigadier General BG	Deputy commander of a division or leader of a major staff.	Address as: General
O-8		Major General MG	Typically commands a division.	Address as: General
O-9		Lieutenant General LTG	Commands a corps or a major Army organization.	Address as: General
O-10		General GEN	Leads the largest Army commands, including the Chief of Staff of the Army.	Address as: General

General of the Army is a five-star grade reserved for wartime. No one has been appointed to it since 1950.

Use the full rank and last name in writing and formal introductions. In conversation, several Army ranks are shortened as shown below, and officers can also be addressed as sir or ma'am.

See military ranks in order for every branch side by side, or open the full rank chart for another branch below. Army officer titles match the Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force, while Navy and Coast Guard officers use naval titles.