United States Navy Officer Rank Structure

Last Updated on August 28, 2023

This guide provides helpful information about the United States Navy rank structure.

Those who aspire to become a U.S. Naval Officer will have to memorize these by heart.

If that is you, contact your local Navy Officer recruiter for more information.

The list below includes all the Officer ranks in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. The Marines were included in this guide because the Marine Corps technically falls under the Department of the Navy.

Navy ranks have been established for a long time and are unlikely to change anytime soon.

The images contained herein were sourced from the U.S. Department of Defense.

Navy Officer Ranks

Ensign—O-1 (ENS)

In the United States Navy, an O-1 is an Ensign. His or her insignia is a one-gold bar collar device, or a one-half-inch gold stripe outboard of a one-half-inch gold five-pointed star on black shoulder boards, or a one-half-inch gold stripe below a one-half-inch gold five-pointed star on service dress blue uniform sleeves.

Lieutenant Junior Grade–O-2 (LTJG)

In the United States Navy, an O-2 is a Lieutenant Junior Grade. His or her insignia comprises a single silver bar collar device, or a 1/2-inch gold stripe outboard of a 1/4-inch gold stripe outboard of a gold five-pointed star on black shoulder boards, or a 1/2-inch gold stripe below a 1/4-inch gold stripe below a gold five-pointed star on service dress blue uniform sleeves.

Lieutenant—O-3 (LT)

A Lieutenant in the United States Navy is an O-3. His or her insignia comprises two silver bar collar devices, or two 1/2-inch gold stripes outboard of one gold five-pointed star on black shoulder boards, or two 1/2-inch gold stripes below one gold five-pointed star on service dress blue uniform sleeves.

Lieutenant Commander—O-4 (LCDR)

A Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy is an O-4. His or her insignia is a one-gold oak leaf collar device, or a one-half-inch gold stripe outboard of a one-quarter-inch gold stripe outboard of a one-half-inch gold stripe outboard of a one-half-inch gold stripe outboard of a one-half-inch gold stripe outboard of a one-half-inch gold stripe outboard of a one-half-inch gold stripe outboard of one-half.

Commander—O-5 (CDR)

A Commander in the United States Navy is an O-5. His or her insignia comprises a single silver oak leaf collar device, three 1/2-inch gold stripes outboard of a single gold five-pointed star on black shoulder boards, or three 1/2-inch gold stripes below a single gold five-pointed star on service dress blue uniform sleeves.

Captain—O-6 (CAPT)

A Captain in the United States Navy is an O-6. His or her insignia comprises a single silver eagle collar device, four 1/2-inch gold stripes outboard of a single gold five-pointed star on black shoulder boards, or four 1/2-inch gold stripes below a single gold five-pointed star on service dress blue uniform sleeves.

Rear Admiral (Lower Half)—O-7 (RDML)

A Rear Admiral in the United States Navy is an O-7 (Lower Half). His or her insignia comprises a single silver five-pointed star collar device, or a single silver five-pointed star outboard of a single silver fouled anchor on gold shoulder boards, or a single two-inch gold stripe under a single gold five-pointed star on service dress blue uniform sleeves.

Rear Admiral (Upper Half)—O-8 (RADM)

A Rear Admiral in the United States Navy is an O-8 (Upper Half). His or her insignia comprises a two-silver five-pointed star collar device, or two silver five-pointed stars outboard of one silver fouled anchor on gold shoulder boards, or one two-inch gold stripe beneath one 1/2-inch gold stripe beneath one gold five-pointed star on service dress blue uniform sleeves.

Vice Admiral—O-9 (VADM)

A Vice Admiral in the United States Navy is an O-9. His or her insignia is a collar device with three silver five-pointed stars, or three silver five-pointed stars outboard of one silver fouled anchor on gold shoulder boards, or one two-inch gold stripe below two 1/2-inch gold stripes below one gold five-pointed star on service dress blue uniform sleeves.

Admiral—O-10 (ADM)

An Admiral in the United States Navy is an O-10. His or her collar device is a four silver five-pointed star, or four silver five-pointed stars outboard of one silver fouled anchor on gold shoulder boards, or one two-inch gold stripe below three 1/2-inch gold stripes below one gold five-pointed star on service dress blue uniform sleeves.

Fleet Admiral—O-11 (FADM)

A Fleet Admiral in the United States Navy is an O-11. His or her insignia comprises a collar device with five silver five-pointed stars, or five silver five-pointed stars outboard of one silver fouled anchor on gold shoulder boards, or one two-inch gold stripe below four 1/2-inch gold stripes below one gold five-pointed star on service dress blue uniform sleeves.

Navy Warrant Officer Ranks

Warrant Officer 1—W-1 (WO1)

A Warrant Officer1 is a W-1 in the United States Navy (WO1). His or her insignia comprises a single bar collar device with a blue backdrop and one gold break, or a gold 1/4-inch stripe with three blue breaks on a black shoulder board or a service dress blue uniform sleeve.

Chief Warrant Officer 2—W-2 (CWO2)

A W-2 is a Chief Warrant Officer 2 in the United States Navy (CWO2). His or her insignia comprises a single bar collar device with a blue backdrop and two gold breaks, or a gold 1/2-inch stripe with three blue breaks on a black shoulder board or a service dress blue uniform sleeve.

Chief Warrant Officer 3—W-3 (CWO3)

A CWO3 is a W-3 in the United States Navy. His or her insignia comprises a single bar collar device with a blue backdrop and one silver break, or a gold 1/2-inch stripe with two blue breaks on a black shoulder board or a service dress blue uniform sleeve.

Chief Warrant Officer 4—W-4 (CWO4)

A CWO4 is a W-4 in the United States Navy. His or her insignia is a single bar collar device with a blue backdrop and two silver breaks, or a gold 1/2-inch stripe on a black shoulder board or the service dress blue uniform sleeve.

Chief Warrant Officer 5—W-5 (CWO5)

A CWO5 is a W-5 in the United States Navy. His or her insignia is a single bar collar device with a silver background and a horizontal blue line on a black shoulder board or the service dress blue uniform sleeve, or a gold 1/2-inch stripe with a horizontal line and a blue break on a black shoulder board or the service dress blue uniform sleeve.

Marine Corps Officer Ranks

Second Lieutenant—O-1 (2ndLt)

A Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps is 0-1. His/her insignia comprises a single gold bar collar device.

First Lieutenant—O-2 (1stLt)

A First Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps is 0-2. His/her insignia is a collar device with one silver bar.

Captain—O-3 (Capt)

A Captain in the United States Marine Corps is a 0-3. His/her insignia is a collar device with two silver bars.

Major—O-4 (Maj)

A Major in the United States Marine Corps is an 0-4. His/her collar device is a single gold oak leaf.

Lieutenant Colonel—O-5 (LtCol)

A Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Marine Corps is a 0-5. His/her insignia is a collar device with one silver oak leaf.

Colonel—O-6 (Col)

A Colonel in the United States Marine Corps is a 0-6. His/her insignia is a collar device with one silver eagle.

Brigadier General—O-7 (BGen)

A Brigadier General in the United States Marine Corps is a 0-7. His/her collar device is a single silver star.

Major General—O-8 (MajGen)

A Major General in the United States Marine Corps is an 0-8. His/her insignia is a collar device with two silver stars.

Lieutenant General—O-9 (LtGen)

A Lieutenant General in the United States Marine Corps is a 0-9. His/her insignia is a collar device with three silver stars.

General—O-10 (Gen)

A General in the United States Marine Corps is a 0-10. His/her insignia is a collar device with four silver stars.