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
![Identify Military Rank (US Army) Step 1 Identify Military Rank (US Army) Step 1](https://i.sundulerparents.com/images/001/image-1638-16-j.webp)
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.
![Identify Military Rank (US Army) Step 2 Identify Military Rank (US Army) Step 2](https://i.sundulerparents.com/images/001/image-1638-17-j.webp)
Step 2. Learn the rank titles for officers and sergeants:
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Sergeant: 3-Stripes on the shoulder.
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Staff Sergeant: 4 stripes of which 3 above and 1 below.
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First Class Sergeant: 5 stripes of which 3 above and 2 below.
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Chief Sergeant: 6 strips of which 3 above and 3 below.
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First Sergeant: a diamond enclosed in 6 strips, 3 of which are above and 3 below.
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Sergeant Major: a star enclosed in the 6 stripes of which 3 above and 3 below.
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Sergeant Major Commander: a star with two leaves enclosed in 6 strips of which 3 above and 3 below.
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Sergeant Major of the Army: two stars and an eagle enclosed in 6 stripes of which 3 above and 3 below.
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![Identify Military Rank (US Army) Step 3 Identify Military Rank (US Army) Step 3](https://i.sundulerparents.com/images/001/image-1638-26-j.webp)
Step 3. Insignia is slightly different for officers
The ranks and insignia for officers are:
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Second Lieutenant: a single golden bar.
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Lieutenant: a single silver bar.
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Captain: two silver bars.
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Major: a gold leaf of oak.
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Lieutenant Colonel: a silver oak leaf.
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Colonel: a silver eagle.
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General: 1 to 5 stars.
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![Identify Military Rank (US Army) Step 4 Identify Military Rank (US Army) Step 4](https://i.sundulerparents.com/images/001/image-1638-34-j.webp)
Step 4. Also recognize these ranks:
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Soldier: 1 strip.
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First Class Soldier: 2 stripes, one above and the other below.
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Specialist: an eagle.
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Corporal: two stripes both above.
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![Identify Military Rank (US Army) Step 5 Identify Military Rank (US Army) Step 5](https://i.sundulerparents.com/images/001/image-1638-39-j.webp)
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.