How to Recognize Military Rank (in the United States Army)

2025 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2025-01-24 13:28

It is always useful to recognize military rank, both in real life in the army and in civilian life, for example in games such as Airsoft or Paintball.

Note: All military ranks shown in this article refer to the United States Army insignia

Steps

Step 1. Look at the pointed strips

A good indicator of rank is the number of stripes (see also the Tips section). One strip means "soldier", two strips mean "corporal", three "sergeant," and so on.

Step 2. Learn the rank titles for officers and sergeants:

• Sergeant: 3-Stripes on the shoulder.

  

• Staff Sergeant: 4 stripes of which 3 above and 1 below.

  

• First Class Sergeant: 5 stripes of which 3 above and 2 below.

  

• Chief Sergeant: 6 strips of which 3 above and 3 below.

  

• First Sergeant: a diamond enclosed in 6 strips, 3 of which are above and 3 below.

  

• Sergeant Major: a star enclosed in the 6 stripes of which 3 above and 3 below.

  

• Sergeant Major Commander: a star with two leaves enclosed in 6 strips of which 3 above and 3 below.

  

• Sergeant Major of the Army: two stars and an eagle enclosed in 6 stripes of which 3 above and 3 below.

  

Step 3. Insignia is slightly different for officers

The ranks and insignia for officers are:

• Second Lieutenant: a single golden bar.

  

• Lieutenant: a single silver bar.

  

• Captain: two silver bars.

  

• Major: a gold leaf of oak.

  

• Lieutenant Colonel: a silver oak leaf.

  

• Colonel: a silver eagle.

  

• General: 1 to 5 stars.

  

Step 4. Also recognize these ranks:

• Soldier: 1 strip.

  

• First Class Soldier: 2 stripes, one above and the other below.

  

• Specialist: an eagle.

  

• Corporal: two stripes both above.

  

Step 5. You can view the signs here:

www.army-portal.com/pay-promotions/ranks-payscale.html

Advice

• A common mistake is to believe that a golden degree is higher than a silver one. It is very incorrect. As for the men of the troop, the color has no meaning and among the officers silver indicates a higher rank.
• Sergeants with a star in the center are higher in rank than those without.
• For generals, the more stars there are, the higher the rank.
• The top strips are called "chevrons" and have a pointed shape. The stripes on the bottom are called "rockers" and are rounded.
• Generals go up to 5 stars.
• A strip under the first indicates the first class; if they are both at the top (ie they are two chevrons) they indicate a corporal.
• A specialist is a corporal who has not been to sergeant school and therefore has no leadership position.
• Five-star generals are found only in wartime.

Warnings

• If you confuse the rank of an officer with that of a trooper, you will be in big trouble.
• Studying your grades is a great way to avoid problems.