13 Marine Corps Ranks

The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the US Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, utilizing the mobility of the US Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces. The Marine Corps is known for its elite fighting forces, with a strong emphasis on discipline, loyalty, and esprit de corps. The ranks within the Marine Corps are divided into several categories: enlisted, warrant officer, and officer. Here’s an overview of the 13 Marine Corps ranks, starting from the lowest to the highest.

Enlisted Ranks

The enlisted ranks are the backbone of the Marine Corps, making up the majority of the Corps’ personnel. These ranks are divided into three categories: junior enlisted, non-commissioned officers (NCOs), and staff non-commissioned officers (SNCOs).

Private (Pvt) - E-1

• The lowest rank in the Marine Corps, privates are new recruits who have just enlisted.
• Privates have no insignia on their uniforms.

Private First Class (PFC) - E-2

• Private first class is the second-lowest rank in the Marine Corps.
• Privates first class have one Chevron on their uniform sleeve.

Lance Corporal (LCpl) - E-3

• Lance corporals are the third-lowest rank in the Marine Corps.
• Lance corporals have one Chevron with a crossed rifle on their uniform sleeve.

Corporal (Cpl) - E-4

• Corporals are the first NCO rank in the Marine Corps.
• Corporals have two Chevrons on their uniform sleeve.

Sergeant (Sgt) - E-5

• Sergeants are the second NCO rank in the Marine Corps.
• Sergeants have three Chevrons on their uniform sleeve.

Staff Sergeant (SSgt) - E-6

• Staff sergeants are the first SNCO rank in the Marine Corps.
• Staff sergeants have a diamond-shaped rank insignia on their uniform sleeve.

Warrant Officer Ranks

Warrant officers are technical experts in a specific field and hold a unique position within the Marine Corps. They are not commissioned officers but have a higher rank than enlisted personnel.

Warrant Officer 1 (WO1) - W-1

• Warrant officer 1 is the lowest rank among warrant officers.
• Warrant officers 1 have a gold bar on their uniform sleeve.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CWO2) - W-2

• Chief warrant officer 2 is the second-lowest rank among warrant officers.
• Chief warrant officers 2 have a gold bar with a silver insignia on their uniform sleeve.

Chief Warrant Officer 3 (CWO3) - W-3

• Chief warrant officer 3 is the third-lowest rank among warrant officers.
• Chief warrant officers 3 have a gold bar with two silver insignia on their uniform sleeve.

Chief Warrant Officer 4 (CWO4) - W-4

• Chief warrant officer 4 is the second-highest rank among warrant officers.
• Chief warrant officers 4 have a gold bar with three silver insignia on their uniform sleeve.

Chief Warrant Officer 5 (CWO5) - W-5

• Chief warrant officer 5 is the highest rank among warrant officers.
• Chief warrant officers 5 have a gold bar with four silver insignia on their uniform sleeve.

Officer Ranks

Officer ranks in the Marine Corps are divided into two categories: company-grade officers and field-grade officers.

Second Lieutenant (2ndLt) - O-1

• Second lieutenant is the lowest rank among officers.
• Second lieutenants have a gold bar on their uniform sleeve.

First Lieutenant (1stLt) - O-2

• First lieutenant is the second-lowest rank among officers.
• First lieutenants have two gold bars on their uniform sleeve.

🚨 Note: The rank of first lieutenant is often considered a "company-grade" officer rank.

Captain (Capt) - O-3

• Captain is the third-lowest rank among officers.
• Captains have two gold bars with a silver insignia on their uniform sleeve.

Major (Maj) - O-4

• Major is the lowest rank among field-grade officers.
• Majors have a gold oak leaf on their uniform sleeve.

Lieutenant Colonel (LtCol) - O-5

• Lieutenant colonel is the second-lowest rank among field-grade officers.
• Lieutenant colonels have a silver oak leaf on their uniform sleeve.

Colonel (Col) - O-6

• Colonel is the highest rank among field-grade officers.
• Colonels have an eagle insignia on their uniform sleeve.

Brigadier General (BGen) - O-7

• Brigadier general is the lowest rank among general officers.
• Brigadier generals have one star on their uniform sleeve.

Major General (MajGen) - O-8

• Major general is the second-lowest rank among general officers.
• Major generals have two stars on their uniform sleeve.

Lieutenant General (LtGen) - O-9

• Lieutenant general is the second-highest rank among general officers.
• Lieutenant generals have three stars on their uniform sleeve.

General (Gen) - O-10

• General is the highest rank in the Marine Corps.
• Generals have four stars on their uniform sleeve.