Ranks

A complete break down of all Enlisted, Warrant Officer and Officer ranks and their associated grades.

Enlisted

Often referred to as the backbone of the Corps, enlisted Marines with pay grades of E-4 and E-5 are non-commissioned officers (NCOs). Staff NCOs are career Marines serving in grades E-6 through E-9. Together they are responsible to the commanding officer for the welfare, morale, discipline, and efficiency of Marines in their charge.

The ranks of E-8 and E-9 each have two ranks per pay grade, with distinct responsibilities. Gunnery sergeants (E-7) indicate their preferred promotional track on their annual evaluations. First sergeants (E-8) and sergeants major (E-9) serve as senior enlisted advisors assisting the commanding officer in matters of discipline, administration, and the morale and welfare of the unit. First sergeants serve as the senior enlisted Marine in a company, battery, or other unit at similar echelon, while sergeants major serve the same role in battalions, squadrons, or larger units. Master sergeants (E-8) and master gunnery sergeants (E-9) provide technical leadership as occupational specialists in their specific MOS.

The sergeant major of the Marine Corps is the senior enlisted Marine of the entire Marine Corps, personally selected by the commandant. The sergeant major of the Marine Corps and the Marine gunner are the only billets which rate modified rank insignia in place of traditional rank insignia.

Rank     paygrade
  Private PVT E-1
Private First Class PFC E-2
Lance Corporal LCpl E-3
Corporal Cpl E-4
Sergeant Sgt E-5
Staff Sergeant SSgt E-6
Gunnery Sergeant GySgt E-7
Master Sergeant MSgt E-8
First Sergeant 1st Sgt E-8
Master Gunnery Sergeant MGySgt E-9
Sergeant Major SgtMaj E-9
Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps SMMC E-9
Rank paygrade
Private PVT
E-1

Private First Class
PFC
E-2

Lance Corporal
LCpl
E-3

Corporal
Cpl
E-4

Sergeant
Sgt
E-5

Staff Sergeant
SSgt
E-6

Gunnery Sergeant
GySgt
E-7

Master Sergeant
MSgt
E-8

First Sergeant
1st Sgt
E-8

Master Gunnery Sergeant
MGySgt
E-9

Sergeant Major
SgtMaj
E-9

Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
SMMC
E-9

WarrAnt Officer

Warrant officers specialize in their respective fields, providing leadership and training to the Marines in their military occupational specialty. A warrant is approved by the secretary of the Navy for a sergeant (E-5) or staff non-commissioned officer (E-6 to E-9) to be appointed a warrant officer. Warrant officers become commissioned officers at the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 2, though they will generally serve as technical advisors, providing expertise to commands and organizations in their field.

A chief warrant officer serving as an infantry weapons officer also carries the title, "Marine Gunner", which does not replace his rank. However, a Marine Gunner replaces the chief warrant officer insignia on the left collar with a bursting bomb insignia.

Rank     paygrade
Warrant Officer WO W-1
Chief Warrant Officer 2 CWO2 W-2
Chief Warrant Officer 3 CWO3 W-3
Chief Warrant Officer 4 CWO4 W-4
Chief Warrant Officer 5 CWO5 W-5
Rank paygrade

Warrant Officer
WO
W-1

Chief Warrant Officer 2
CWO2
W-2

Chief Warrant Officer 3
CWO3
W-3

Chief Warrant Officer 4
CWO4
W-4

Chief Warrant Officer 5
CWO5
W-5

Officer

Commissioned officers are college graduates who have earned and accepted an appointment issued in the name of the president of the United States. Their commission gives them the responsibility of leading Marines as they defend the Constitution of the United States. Commissioned officer ranks are further subdivided into generals, field-grade, and company-grade officers. The commandant of the Marine Corps and the assistant commandant of the Marine Corps are four-star ranks.

Rank     paygrade
Second Lieutenant 2ndLt O-1
First Lieutenant 1stLt O-2
Captain Capt O-3
Major Maj O-4
Lieutenant Colonel LtCol O-5
Colonel Col O-6
Brigadier General BGen O-7
Major General MajGen O-8
Lieutenant General LtGen O-9
General Gen O-10
Rank paygrade

Second Lieutenant
2ndLt
O-1

First Lieutenant
1stLt
O-2

Captain
Capt
O-3

Major
Maj
O-4

Lieutenant Colonel
LtCol
O-5

Colonel
Col
O-6

Brigadier General
BGen
O-7

Major General
MajGen
O-8

Lieutenant General
LtGen
O-9

General
Gen
O-10