Intro
Compare Navy and Army military ranks with our comprehensive guide. Learn the differences between officer and enlisted ranks, pay grades, and insignia. Understand the Navys rating system and Armys Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes. Discover how ranks like Lieutenant, Captain, and Commander equate across branches.
The United States Armed Forces are divided into five branches: the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. Each branch has its own system of ranks, which can be confusing for those not familiar with the military. In this article, we will focus on comparing the ranks of the Navy and the Army, two of the largest and most well-known branches of the US military.
The Navy and the Army have different rank structures, with the Navy using a combination of enlisted and officer ranks, while the Army uses a more traditional system of enlisted, warrant officer, and officer ranks. In this article, we will break down each rank level, from the lowest to the highest, and compare the equivalent ranks between the two branches.
Navy Enlisted Ranks
The Navy has nine enlisted ranks, ranging from Seaman Recruit (E-1) to Master Chief Petty Officer (E-9). Here is a list of the Navy's enlisted ranks, along with their equivalent ranks in the Army:
- Seaman Recruit (E-1) - equivalent to Private (E-1) in the Army
- Seaman Apprentice (E-2) - equivalent to Private Second Class (E-2) in the Army
- Seaman (E-3) - equivalent to Private First Class (E-3) in the Army
- Petty Officer Third Class (E-4) - equivalent to Specialist/Corporal (E-4) in the Army
- Petty Officer Second Class (E-5) - equivalent to Sergeant (E-5) in the Army
- Petty Officer First Class (E-6) - equivalent to Staff Sergeant (E-6) in the Army
- Chief Petty Officer (E-7) - equivalent to Sergeant First Class (E-7) in the Army
- Senior Chief Petty Officer (E-8) - equivalent to Master Sergeant/First Sergeant (E-8) in the Army
- Master Chief Petty Officer (E-9) - equivalent to Sergeant Major (E-9) in the Army
Navy Warrant Officer Ranks
The Navy has five warrant officer ranks, ranging from Warrant Officer 1 (W-1) to Chief Warrant Officer 5 (W-5). Here is a list of the Navy's warrant officer ranks, along with their equivalent ranks in the Army:
- Warrant Officer 1 (W-1) - equivalent to Warrant Officer 1 (W-1) in the Army
- Chief Warrant Officer 2 (W-2) - equivalent to Chief Warrant Officer 2 (W-2) in the Army
- Chief Warrant Officer 3 (W-3) - equivalent to Chief Warrant Officer 3 (W-3) in the Army
- Chief Warrant Officer 4 (W-4) - equivalent to Chief Warrant Officer 4 (W-4) in the Army
- Chief Warrant Officer 5 (W-5) - equivalent to Chief Warrant Officer 5 (W-5) in the Army
Navy Officer Ranks
The Navy has ten officer ranks, ranging from Ensign (O-1) to Admiral (O-10). Here is a list of the Navy's officer ranks, along with their equivalent ranks in the Army:
- Ensign (O-1) - equivalent to Second Lieutenant (O-1) in the Army
- Lieutenant Junior Grade (O-2) - equivalent to First Lieutenant (O-2) in the Army
- Lieutenant (O-3) - equivalent to Captain (O-3) in the Army
- Lieutenant Commander (O-4) - equivalent to Major (O-4) in the Army
- Commander (O-5) - equivalent to Lieutenant Colonel (O-5) in the Army
- Captain (O-6) - equivalent to Colonel (O-6) in the Army
- Rear Admiral (Lower Half) (O-7) - equivalent to Brigadier General (O-7) in the Army
- Rear Admiral (Upper Half) (O-8) - equivalent to Major General (O-8) in the Army
- Vice Admiral (O-9) - equivalent to Lieutenant General (O-9) in the Army
- Admiral (O-10) - equivalent to General (O-10) in the Army
Army Enlisted Ranks
The Army has nine enlisted ranks, ranging from Private (E-1) to Sergeant Major (E-9). Here is a list of the Army's enlisted ranks:
- Private (E-1)
- Private Second Class (E-2)
- Private First Class (E-3)
- Specialist/Corporal (E-4)
- Sergeant (E-5)
- Staff Sergeant (E-6)
- Sergeant First Class (E-7)
- Master Sergeant/First Sergeant (E-8)
- Sergeant Major (E-9)
Army Warrant Officer Ranks
The Army has five warrant officer ranks, ranging from Warrant Officer 1 (W-1) to Chief Warrant Officer 5 (W-5). Here is a list of the Army's warrant officer ranks:
- Warrant Officer 1 (W-1)
- Chief Warrant Officer 2 (W-2)
- Chief Warrant Officer 3 (W-3)
- Chief Warrant Officer 4 (W-4)
- Chief Warrant Officer 5 (W-5)
Army Officer Ranks
The Army has ten officer ranks, ranging from Second Lieutenant (O-1) to General (O-10). Here is a list of the Army's officer ranks:
- Second Lieutenant (O-1)
- First Lieutenant (O-2)
- Captain (O-3)
- Major (O-4)
- Lieutenant Colonel (O-5)
- Colonel (O-6)
- Brigadier General (O-7)
- Major General (O-8)
- Lieutenant General (O-9)
- General (O-10)
Navy vs Army Military Ranks Image Gallery
What is the highest rank in the Navy?
+The highest rank in the Navy is Admiral (O-10).
What is the highest rank in the Army?
+The highest rank in the Army is General (O-10).
What is the difference between a Navy and Army officer?
+Navy and Army officers have different rank structures and responsibilities. Navy officers are responsible for commanding ships and submarines, while Army officers are responsible for leading troops on land.
Can a Navy enlisted member become an officer?
+Can an Army enlisted member become an officer?
+We hope this article has provided a comprehensive comparison of the Navy and Army military ranks. Remember, while the ranks may differ, the sacrifices and dedication of our military personnel remain the same. We salute all those who serve and have served in the United States Armed Forces.