Navy Ranks  
[Enlisted][Commissioned Officers] [Warrant Officers] [Specialty Insignia - Staff Corps]
[Specialty Insignia - LDO and Warrant]
[Navy Ribbons]

 

Rank Insignia of Navy Enlisted

The use of the word "rank" for Navy enlisted personnel is incorrect. The term is "rate." The rating badge -- a combination of rate (pay grade) and rating (specialty) is worn on the left upper sleeve of all uniforms in grades E-4 through E-6. Group rate marks for E-1 (optional) through E-3 are worn on dress uniforms only. Chief Petty Officers (E-7 through E-9) wear collar devices on their white and khaki uniforms, and rate badges on their Service Dress Blues

 

Seaman Recruit
SR
E-1

 

Seaman Apprentice
SA
E-2

 

Seaman
SN
E-3

 

Petty Officer Third Class
PO3
E-4

 

Petty Officer Second Class
PO2
E-5

 

Petty Officer First Class
PO1
E-6

 

Chief Petty Officer
CPO
E-7

Senior Chief Petty Officer
SCPO
E-8

 

Master Chief Petty Officer
MCPO
E-9

Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
MCPON
E-9


Rank Insignia of Navy Commissioned Officers

Navy officers wear their rank devices in different places on their uniforms, depending upon the uniform. The three basic uniforms and the type of rank devices are: khakis (a working uniform) - pins on the collar; whites - stripes on shoulder boards; and, blues - stripes sewn on the lower sleeve. Shoulder boards are also worn on bridge coats and reefers. The collar devices are also worn on the right side of the garrison cap (a miniature officer's crest is worn on the left) and slightly larger devices are worn on the epaulets of the raincoat and working jacket.

Pay Grade Rank Abbreviation Collar Shoulder Sleeve
O-1 Ensign ENS
O-2 Lieutenant
Junior Grade
LTJG
O-3 Lieutenant LT
O-4 Lieutenant
Commander
LCDR
O-5 Commander CDR
O-6 Captain CAPT
O-7 Rear Admiral
(lower half)
RDML
O-8 Rear Admiral
(upper half)
RADM
O-9 Vice Admiral VADM
O-10 Admiral ADM
O-11 Fleet Admiral* FADM

* The rank of Fleet Admiral has been reserved for war time use only. The last Fleet Admirals were in World War II. Fleet Admirals during that war were Chester W. Nimitz, William D. Leahy, Ernest J. King, and William F. Halsey.


Rank Insignia of Navy Warrant Officers

Pay Grade Rank Abbreviation Collar Shoulder Sleeve
W-1* Warrant Officer WO1
W-2 Chief
Warrant Officer
CWO2
W-3 Chief
Warrant Officer
CWO3
W-4 Chief
Warrant Officer
CWO4

* The grade of Warrant Officer (W-1) is no longer in use.


Specialty Insignia - Staff Corps

Commissioned officers in the Navy are either Line officers or Staff Corps officers. Those of the Staff Corps are specialists in career fields which are professions unto themselves, such as physicians, lawyers, civil engineers, etc. Staff Corps officers wear their specialty insignia on the sleeve of the dress blue uniforms and on their shoulder boards in place of the star worn by Line officers. On Winter Blue and khaki uniforms, the specialty insignia is a collar device worn on the left collar while the rank device is worn on the right.

insignia insignia insignia insignia
Medical Corps Supply Corps Chaplain Corps
(Christian)
Chaplain Corps
(Jewish)
insignia insignia insignia insignia
Chaplain Corps
(Muslim)
Civil Engineer
Corps
Judge
Advocate General's
Corps
Dental Corps
  insignia insignia  
  Medical
Service Corps
Nurse Corps  

Specialty Insignia - LDO and Warrant

Commissioned officers in the Navy are either Line officers or Staff Corps officers. Some have advanced through the enlisted rates and are designated for duty in certain technical fields. These are Limited Duty Officers and commissioned warrant officers. CWOs and Staff corps LDOs wear their specialty insignia on the sleeve of the dress blue uniforms and on their shoulder boards in place of the star worn by Line officers. On Winter Blue and khaki uniforms, the specialty insignia is a collar device worn on the left collar while the rank device is worn on the right.

insignia insignia insignia insignia
Boatswain Engineering
Technician
Repair
Technician
Ordnance
Technician
insignia insignia insignia insignia
Diving Officer Aviation Boatswain Aviation Ordnance
Technician
Aviation Electronics
Technician
insignia insignia insignia insignia
Air Traffic
Control
Technician
Ship's Clerk Data Processing
Technician
Bandmaster
insignia insignia insignia insignia
Cryptologic
Technician
Aerographer Security
Technician
Aviation Maintenance
Technician

Navy Ribbons

Navy Medal of Honor:
Navy Cross:
Defense Distinguished Service Medal:
Navy Distinguished Service Medal:
Silver Star:
Defense Superior Service Medal:
Legion of Merit:
Distinguished Flying Cross:
Navy/Marine Medal:
Bronze Star Medal:
Purple Heart:
Defense Meritorious Service Medal:
Meritorious Service Medal:
Joint Service Commendation Medal:
Air Medal:
Navy Commendation Medal:
Navy Achievement Medal:
Combat Action Ribbon:
Navy/Marines Presidential Unit Citation:
Joint Meritorious Unit Award:
Navy Unit Commendation:
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation:
Navy "E" Ribbon:
Navy Good Conduct Medal:
Naval Reserve Meritorious Service:
Fleet Marine Force Ribbon:
Navy Expeditionary Medal:
National Defense Service Medal:
China Service Medal:
American Defense Medal:
American Campaign Medal:
Asiatic/Pacific Campaign Medal:
WWII Victory Medal:
Occupation Medal:
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal:
Vietnam Service Medal:
Southwest Asia Service Medal:
Armed Forces Service Medal:
Humanitarian Service Medal:
Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal:
Coast Guard Special Operations:
Sea Service Deployment:
Navy Arctic Service Ribbon:
Navy Reserve Sea Service:
Navy Overseas Service Ribbon:
Navy Recruiting Ribbon:
Armed Forces Reserve Medal:
Philippine Congressional Medal:
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation:
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation:
Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation:
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation:
Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation:
United Nations Service Medal:
United Nations Medal:
NATO Medal:
Multinational Force & Observers Medal:
Inter-American Defense Board Medal:
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal:
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia):
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait):
Navy Marksman, Rifle:
Navy Marksman, Pistol:


Thanks to PERSCOM Online for ribbon information.
 


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