Colour: Note that all battle dress rank insignia is black, with the exception of Second Lieutenant and Major which are either brown or green. This is because all other officer ranks when worn on dress uniforms are silver, whereas Majors and Second Lieutenants insignia is brass, as are all Non-Commissioned Officer and Other Rank insignia. In cloth versions white stands in for silver, and yellow for brass.

Note that when writing rank abbreviations in any UNMC document, they MUST be capitalised, as shown.

At left is an image of the rank insignia, followed by the title, then its abbreviation and any notes. Ranks are illustrated in descending order of authority.

The rank of First Sergeant (3 stripes, 3 rockers, and a diamond) is an appointment, being concerned with unit administration.

Commissioned Officers
	General of the Marine Corps	GMC
	General	GEN
	Lieutenant General	LTGEN
	Major General	MGEN
	Brigadier General	BGEN

	Colonel	COL
	Lieutenant Colonel	LTC
	Major [brass, brown or green]	MAJ
	Captain	CPT
	First Lieutenant	1LT
	Second Lieutenant [brass, brown or green]	2LT
Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO)
	Command Sergeant Major	CSM
	Sergeant Major	SM
	First Sergeant	1SGT
	Master Sergeant	MSGT
	Sergeant First Class	SFC
	Staff Sergeant	SSGT
	Sergeant	SGT
	Corporal	CPL
Other Ranks
	Private First Class	PFC
	Private	PVT aka PV2
NO INSIGNIA	Private	PVT aka PV1 or "Recruit"
	Specialist	SPEC#
NO INSIGNIA	Very Important Person	VIP#
NO INSIGNIA	Civilian	CIVI#

For more in depth explanations see the pages on  Rank & Insignia .

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