Self-Study: Rates and Ranks Flashcards
How many separate paygrades are there and how many are Enlisted, Warrant, and Commissioned Officers?
22 Separate Paygrades
9 Enlisted (MCPOG is an E9 also)
10 Officer
3 CWO’s
Rate
Plain name languages for enlisted persons
Rank
Plain name language for Officer
Rating
Occupational Specialty
Non-Rates
E1 = 1 stripe E2 = 2 stripe E3 = 3 stripe
White for Seaman
Red for Fireman
Green Airman (does not exist anymore)
Chief Warrant Officer Shoulder Boards
Specialty insignia over shield over rank
Rank
CWO2 - 2 Gold Stripes
CWO3 - 3 Gold Stripes
CWO4 - 2 Gold Stripes (thick enough for 4 gold stripes)
** count gold stripes for rank . i.e. 3 gold stripes = chief warrant officer 3
Service Stripes significance
Service Stripes are found on sleeve of Bravo Jacket
Each strip represents 4 year of service
E6 and Below have Red stripes
E7 and Above have gold stripes
CWO Collar Rank Identification
CWO2 has 2 gold stripes
CWO3 has 1 Silver on a blue band
CWO4 has 2 Silver on a Blue Band
Think about it has 2 gold stripes = rank and each additional silver stripe adds another rank.
i.e. CWO2 2 gold stripes
CWO3 has one silver stripe so CWO2+1 = CWO3 and CWO4 has 2 silver stripes so CWO2+2 = CWO4.
You can also think Silver = Silver hair the more you have the higher rank or older you are.
Officer Shoulder Boards
ENS = 1/2" gold band LTJG = 1/2" + 1/4" LT = 1/2"+1/2" (just like his collar 2 stripes) LCDR = 1/2" + 1/4" + 1/2" (think 1/4" sandwhich)
Senior Officers
CDR = 1/2” x 3
CAPT = 1/2” x 4
Flag Officers O-7 Rear Admiral = 1 Star O-8 Rear Admiral Upper Half = 2 Star O-9 Vice Admiral = 3 Stars O-10 Admiral = 4 stars
Flag Officer Sleeves
Starting from O7
O-7 has a 2” gold band
Every rank after adds 1/2” gold band
O-8 has 2” gold band +1/2” x 1
O-9 has 2” +1/2” x 2
O-10 has 2” +1/2” x 3
Officer Covers
Junior Officers O-1 to O-4 have combination cover with eagle
Senior Officers O-5 to O-6 have a Eagle cover with single row of Oak leaves
Flag officers O-7 to O-10 have 2 rows of oak leaves
Garrison cover
has Eagle on Left Side 1” from side and bottom and rank on Right side
Officer Ranks
JO's O1 = Gold Bar O2 = Silver Bar O3 = 2 Silver Bars O4 = Gold Oak Leaf O5 = Silver Oak Leaf O6 = Silver Eagle O7 = 1 Silver Star O8 = 2 Silver Stars O9 = 3 Silver Stars O10 = 4 Silver Stars