Marine Corps Ranks in Order: Enlisted, Warrant Officer, and Officer Insignia Chart

Marine Corps enlisted ranks run from Private at E-1 to Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps at E-9. Marines become noncommissioned officers on promotion to Corporal at E-4, and staff noncommissioned officers from E-6 up lead and train Marines across the Corps. The Marine Corps has no Specialist rank.

Marine Corps 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-3)
E-1		Private PVT	New Marine in recruit training who wears no rank insignia.	Address as: Private
E-2		Private First Class PFC	Junior Marine learning an occupational specialty.	Address as: Private First Class
E-3		Lance Corporal LCpl	Experienced junior Marine who may lead a small team.	Address as: Lance Corporal
Noncommissioned Officers (E-4 and E-5)
E-4		Corporal Cpl	First NCO grade; typically leads a fire team.	Address as: Corporal
E-5		Sergeant Sgt	NCO who typically leads a squad.	Address as: Sergeant
Staff Noncommissioned Officers (E-6 to E-9)
E-6		Staff Sergeant SSgt	First staff NCO grade; often serves as a platoon sergeant.	Address as: Staff Sergeant
E-7		Gunnery Sergeant GySgt	Staff NCO who often serves as a platoon sergeant or company operations chief.	Address as: Gunnery Sergeant
E-8		Master Sergeant MSgt	Technical-track senior NCO and expert in an occupational field.	Address as: Master Sergeant
E-8		First Sergeant 1st Sgt	Command-track senior enlisted leader of a company and advisor to its commander.	Address as: First Sergeant
E-9		Master Gunnery Sergeant MGySgt	Technical-track E-9 and senior expert in an occupational field.	Address as: Master Gunnery Sergeant
E-9		Sergeant Major SgtMaj	Command-track senior enlisted advisor to a commander.	Address as: Sergeant Major
E-9		Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps SgtMajMC	The Marine Corps' most senior enlisted Marine and advisor to the Commandant.	Address as: Sergeant Major

Marine Corps warrant officers are technical specialists who run from Warrant Officer at W-1 to Chief Warrant Officer 5 at W-5. A Warrant Officer is appointed by warrant, and Chief Warrant Officers 2 through 5 hold a commission. A Marine Gunner is a chief warrant officer who serves as an infantry weapons officer.

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

Grade	Insignia	Rank	What This Rank Does	How to Address
W-1		Warrant Officer WO	Technical specialist appointed by warrant.
W-2		Chief Warrant Officer 2 CWO2	Commissioned warrant officer and technical specialist.
W-3		Chief Warrant Officer 3 CWO3	Experienced technical specialist and leader in a specialty field.
W-4		Chief Warrant Officer 4 CWO4	Senior technical specialist who advises commanders.
W-5		Chief Warrant Officer 5 CWO5	Master-level technical specialist and senior advisor to commanders.

Marine Corps officer ranks run from Second Lieutenant at O-1 to General at O-10, and their titles match the Army, Air Force, and Space Force. The Marine Corps is a separate service within the Department of the Navy, alongside the Navy.

Marine Corps 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 2ndLt	Entry-level officer who typically leads a platoon.	Address as: Lieutenant
O-2		First Lieutenant 1stLt	Experienced platoon leader or company executive officer.	Address as: Lieutenant
O-3		Captain Capt	Commands a company or serves as a staff officer or pilot.	Address as: Captain
Field Grade Officers (O-4 to O-6)
O-4		Major Maj	Battalion or squadron staff officer or executive officer.	Address as: Major
O-5		Lieutenant Colonel LtCol	Typically commands a battalion or squadron.	Address as: Colonel
O-6		Colonel Col	Typically commands a regiment or group.	Address as: Colonel
General Officers (O-7 to O-10)
O-7		Brigadier General BGen	General officer serving as an assistant commander or senior staff leader.	Address as: General
O-8		Major General MajGen	Typically commands a division or aircraft wing.	Address as: General
O-9		Lieutenant General LtGen	Commands a Marine Expeditionary Force or major organization.	Address as: General
O-10		General Gen	Leads the Marine Corps as Commandant or serves in a top joint command.	Address as: General

General (O-10) is the highest Marine Corps rank, and the Commandant of the Marine Corps is a four-star General.

Address Marines by their full rank title, such as Staff Sergeant or Gunnery Sergeant, the form the Marine Corps uses in its own correspondence. A Lieutenant Colonel may be addressed as Colonel, a Marine Gunner as Gunner, 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. Marine officer titles match the Army, Air Force, and Space Force, while Navy officers use naval titles.