25 MAR 18 Articles CONTACT Military Reference Page RGHQ-51		2. Rank & Insignia Tables

1. Rank & Insignia	2. Rank & Insignia Tables	3. Commissions, Decommissions & Transfers	4. Rank Comparison Tables
5. Rank Abbreviations Tables	Handout #03: Rank Recognition Chart	Active & Reserve Duty Roster	Awards Granted

Table 1: Commissioned Officer Ranks Table 2: Non Commissioned Officer Ranks Table 3: Other Ranks Each table should be read top to bottom, that is in descending order of command authority. Each entry consists of a heading, a block of text and three illustrations of the insignia used for that rank. The information in each is set out as follows: At the top in the heading is the formal title of the rank, being the mode of address used as the name implies on more formal occasions, such as introductions, award ceromonies, parades, funerals, commemorations, courts martial and the like. This is followed by one or more of the informal modes of address, employed for everyday use particularly between personnel who are working and/or fighting along side one another on a regular basis. Note that their use is subject to the agreement of the Officer/NCO in question, this is especially true of the highly informal address "sarge", if in doubt use "Sergeant" or the full title. Below that comes the abbreviated form used when writing letters, emails etc, which is always fully CAPITALISED for clarity, e.g. MSGT for Master Sergeant. Next we have the rank related Pay Grade number for that rank, as in PG#. This being the multiplier used with this year's award to calculate your basic pay. Following this is a description of the formal bright metal insignia worn for that rank. Next is the number of Promotional Points (PP) and Expert Infantry Course Units (EICU) required to be eligible for that rank. Those marked with a "*" which are achieved by appointment only, are shown with what is considered the minimum number of acrued points required prior to consideration for the position (when available). NB: these requirements can be waived as necessary by the Promotions Board. Finally, we have the illustrations. The first is the "Bright" formal metal "pin-on" style for wear on the epaulets of the dress uniform black jacket. NB: the subdued metal version for wear on the MultiCam™ Battle Dress Uniform (BDU) is identical in form to these bright models, with the exception that brown or more rarely green is used for gold on the officer ranks, all others are black (see HERE for images). This is followed by the Subdued embroidered sew-on/Velcro™ versions illustrated in the obsolete US Army digital UCP ("Universal Camouflage Pattern") as worn on collars or vertical patch points of battle dress uniforms, helmets, vests or plate carriers. Note that as of 2008, with the general adoption of the MultiCam™ Battle Dress Uniform (BDU), these insignia are now made in MultiCam™ fabric and are to be used instead of the UCP. At the far end is the Shoulder Mark or "slide" that is fitted over the eppaulette of the Service Dress Uniform (SDU) olive green shirt. Note that as a aid to identification, officer insignia has a blue background (US Air Force), while those for NCOs are black (US Army). General Officer ranks have a broad stripe at the bottom edge, and a narrower one, at the top edge of the Shoulder Mark, while Senior Officer ranks have a single narrow one at the base, and Junior Officers and NCO's have no stripe at all. In the case of the ranks of Private First Class, Private and Specialist, there are no Shoulder Marks (to date). Instead they wear large sew-on patches for use on each of the sleeves of their dress shirt. Table 1: Commissioned Officer Ranks * The normal minimum acrued points required prior to consideration for these appointments.

General Officers
General of the Marine Corps
"General" GMC PG15 5 silver stars 58,000+ PP * 120+ EICU
General
"General" GEN PG14 4 silver stars 48,000+ PP * 120+ EICU
Lieutenant General
"General" LGEN PG13 3 silver stars 39,000+ PP * 120+ EICU
Major General
"General" MGEN PG12 2 silver stars 31,000+ PP * 120+ EICU
Brigadier General
"Brigadier" or "General" BGEN PG11 1 silver star 24,000+ PP * 120+ EICU
Senior Officers
Colonel
"Colonel" COL PG10 A silver eagle 18,000+ PP 72+ EICU
Lieutenant Colonel
"Colonel" LTC PG9 A silver oak leaf 13,000+ PP 36+ EICU
Major
"Major" MAJ PG8 A brass oak leaf 9,000+ PP 36+ EICU
Junior Officers
Captain
"Captain" "Cap" CPT PG7 2 silver bars 6,000+ PP 12+ EICU
First Lieutenant
"Lieutenant" "L-T" 1LT PG6 1 silver bar 4,000+ PP 12+ EICU
Second Lieutenant
"Lieutenant" "L-T" 2LT PG5 1 brass bar 2,000+ PP 12+ EICU

Table 2 The Non-Commissioned Officer Ranks

Senior Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCO)
Command Sergeant Major
"Sar'Major" "Sergeant" "Sarge" CSM PG10 3 chevrons surmounting 3 rockers, with a single star in the centre surrounded by a laural wreath. 24,000+ PP 120+ EICU
Sergeant Major
"Sar'Major" "Sergeant" "Sarge" SM PG9 3 chevrons surmounting 3 rockers, with a single star in the centre 18,000+ PP 72+ EICU
First Sergeant
"Top" or "Top Kick" "Sergeant" "Sarge" 1SGT PG9 3 chevrons surmounting 3 rockers, with a diamond in the centre 18,000+ PP 36+ EICU
The rank of First Sergeant is an appointment, with no more than one per regiment. They serve as the regimental S1 Administration Officer, or as the chief assistant to any commissioned officer tasked with that role. Officially First Sergeants have no command authority outside of their administrative remit, subject to the situation. But the epithet "Top" or "Top Kick" belies this official position.
Master Sergeant
"Sergeant" "Sarge" MSGT PG8 3 chevrons surmounting 3 rockers 13,000+ PP 36+ EICU
Sergeant First Class
"Sergeant" "Sarge" SFC PG7 3 chevrons surmounting 2 rockers 9,000+ PP 36+ EICU
Junior Non-Commissioned Officers (JNCO)
Staff Sergeant
"Staff" "Sergeant" "Sarge" SSGT PG6 3 chevrons surmounting 1 rocker 6,000+ PP 12+ EICU
Sergeant
"Sarge" SGT PG5 3 chevrons 4,000+ PP 12+ EICU
Corporal
"Corporal" "Corp" CPL PG4 2 chevrons 2,000+ PP 12+ EICU

Table 3: Other Ranks

Privates
Private First Class
"P-F-C" "Private" PFC PG3 1 chevron surmounting 1 rocker 500+ PP 12+ EICU
Private
"Private" PVT PG2 1 chevron 250+ PP 0+ EICU
Private
"Private" "Recruit" or "Rookie" PVT PG1 No rank insignia 0+ PP 0+ EICU
Specialists, VIPs (Very Important Persons) & Civilian Staff
Non military personnel are divided into three classes: Specialists, VIPs (Very Important Persons) and Civi's (Civilian staff), each having their abbreviations suffixed with a number related to their pay grade/authority. For example SPEC7, VIP7 or CIVI7. These numbers are used by such personnel to clarify seniority issues within their class. In combat Specialists always outrank VIPs and Civilian staff, regardless of pay grade, likewise VIPs similarly outrank civilian staff. Be aware that as VIPs can exercise considerable influence over the CONTACT Program, great care in their handling is recommended.
Specialist
"Specialist" "Spec" or their title e.g. "Doctor" etc. SPEC1 + 1 per pay grade PG4+ An eagle clutching lightning 0+ PP 0+ EICU
Very Important Person
"Dr./Professor/ Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms" VIP1 + 1 per pay grade PG1+ No rank insignia 0+ PP 0+ EICU
Civilian Staff
"Dr./Professor/ Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms" CIV1 + 1 per pay grade PG1+ No rank insignia 0+ PP 0+ EICU

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