History UsefulNotes / CommonMilitaryRanks

The terminology used for military ranks (at least in the Western world) began with the appearance of standing armies at the end of Middle Ages and during the Renaissance. Typically, most countries had only one standing army, led by <i>the</i> general, the commander-in-chief, who was either the king himself or a close relative. He was assisted by a deputy, called the lieutenant general, usually a nobleman experienced in warfare, and an assistant called the sergeant major general (later called major general), who was usually in charge of logistics and administration and not always a nobleman. These were positions, rather than "ranks": becoming the lieutenant general did not require that you had gone through the various lower ranks. While the appearance of the rank system a few centuries later made this obsolete, variations of this persisted well into 20th century in some cases. For example, after Italian king Victor Emmanuel II appointed his son Humbert the regent after being discredited due to his involvement in the Mussolini regime during World War II, the title that Humbert was given was "the Lieutenant General of the Realm," not in the sense of 3-star general that a "lieutenant general" rank is, but in the old sense of "Deputy Commander-in-Chief." This was also the reason why US Army was so hesitant to give anyone the rank of general, with the connotation of "commander-in-chief" (and why George Washington, while he lived, never attained a rank higher than that of a lieutenant general, since the commander-in-chief of US Army and Navy is the president.

*** Uniquely in the US armed forces, holders of five-star ranks technically remain on active duty for life, receiving full pay and benefits even after they "retire".[[note]]UsefulNotes/DwightDEisenhower resigned his Army commission to become President; Congress restored him to five-star rank after his Presidency ended. George C. Marshall received a waiver from Congress to allow him to serve as Secretary of Defense, a position normally barred to uniformed military personnel.[[/note]]

*** Only three individuals have ever held this rank in the entire history of the United States Armed Forces, though none of them were technically six-star commanders while alive. UsefulNotes/GeorgeWashington (who died as a lieutenant general) was posthumously promoted to this rank (his rank is officially "General of the Armies of the United States"), as he must by law be the most senior officer on the rolls of the United States Army. John J. Pershing was promoted to the rank of General of the Armies (at the time equivalent to a five-star rank) as a one-time affair so that he would not be outranked by the field marshals then commanding the other major Allied armies on the Western Front;[[note]]The rank of (four-star) General was new to the US Army. European armies, even those smaller than America's, had five-star ranks much earlier[[/note]] he is traditionally seen as senior to the current five-star rank, but this has never been officially confirmed (in part because this would mean promoting Washington to a new [[RankInflation seven-star rank]]). George Dewey was promoted to Admiral of the Navy (also held as equivalent to a five-star rank at the time, though he actually wore three) during the Spanish-American War. Unlike Pershing's case, however, the Department of the Navy explicitly made the newly-created Fleet Admiral rank junior to Dewey's.
*** The United States did consider creating an explicit 6-star rank for both the Army and the Navy during UsefulNotes/WorldWarII in anticipation of the invasion of Japan, to be held by Douglas [=MacArthur=] and Chester Nimitz respectively. Like the rest of the invasion plans, these were discarded after the atomic bombs fell and Japan surrendered.

** US: [[green:General of the Army]], [[blue:Fleet Admiral]], [[gray:General of the Air Force]]. A total of nine 5-star Army and Navy officers were appointed in 1944-45, with two more appointments immediately after WWII. [[note]]When the Air Force was split from the Army in 1949, 5-star Army General Henry Arnold was made head of the Air Force and allowed to keep his 5-star status by the one-off creation of the General of the Air Force rank. When 4-star General Omar Bradley was made Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1950, he was promoted to 5-star to ensure he would not be outranked by his subordinate, 5-star General Douglas [=MacArthur=].[[/note]] By 1953, all 5-star generals had retired from active duty. Omar Bradley, the last surviving 5-star officer, passed away in 1981.

** US: [[green:Sergeant]], [[blue:Petty Officer Second Class]], [[color:blue:Sergeant]], [[gray:Staff Sergeant]]

Officers play the commanding role in the military. If enlisted ranks are its hands, the officers are its brains. Usually, an officer has [[MilitaryAcademy formal education in warfare]] in addition to the usual training, so that he can assume the responsibility for others and [[OfficerAndAGentleman uphold the officer honor]]. In fiction (and often in RealLife), they are usually also [[AuthorityEqualsAsskicking way more badass]] than their non-commissioned and enlisted subordinates.

See also UsefulNotes/CommonMilitaryUnits.
For when someone is promoted on show, see RankUp.

The technical difference between an "actual" officer and a warrant officer is that the former has been ''commissioned'' (''[[TheChainsOfCommanding charged]]'' with performing their duties of office) - they likely graduated from officer school and were sworn in as such. A warrant officer, by comparison, received a ''warrant'' - a writ issued by a lawful authority ''authorizing'' them to perform their duties. The first warrant officers served on [[WoodenShipsAndIronMen sailing ships]]; they were the sailing masters, gunners, carpenters, and other skilled experts that actually operated the ship while under the command of commissioned officers (many of whom were landlubber noblemen [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney who paid for their commission]] and [[ModernMajorGeneral didn't know an anchor from a yardarm]]).[[note]]Although this was a practice that was far more common in army regiments than on warships - even a frigate cost more to build than recruiting a battalion from scratch. Strongly averted in the British Royal Navy, which demanded professional competence through years of seagoing experience in its naval officers and did ''not'' sell commissions[[/note]] Later on, specialists who weren't directly involved in operating the ship (such as pursers, cooks, and even schoolmasters for the younger midshipmen onboard) were considered warrant officers as well.

These are officers-in-training, found mostly at a MilitaryAcademy or occasionally in the field or at sea accompanying full officers, basically as apprentices. Militaries vary from country to country, service to service, and era to era on whether they are considered actual officers with authority over the Other Ranks (enlisted)[[note]]as with the British Royal Navy above[[/note]] or whether they are simply trainees for the officer role[[note]]as in the US military[[/note]]. Occasionally there is a class system to denote how far through their training they are[[note]]e.g., a Midshipman 1st Class in the USN is a 4th year student, compared to a Midshipman 4th class in 1st year[[/note]] and/or special cadet ranks that give students authority over other students but nobody in the normal chain of command[[note]]e.g., a Cadet Colonel in charge of an entire US Army Reserve Officer Training Corps Battalion, who is still junior to even a 2nd Lieutenant who was commissioned 30 seconds ago[[/note]]. Confusingly, some navies also use Midshipman as a title for their naval warrant officer ranks[[note]]As with Russia, the USSR, and Third Reich, below[[/note]].

** US: [[green:Corporal/Specialist]],[[note]]Unlike examples like First/Master Sergeant, in this case there is a distinction in authority. A corporal is considered an NCO, and has completed the required training, while a specialist is effectively a highly paid private. There had existed higher specialist ranks, but those were dropped in the 70s.[[/note]] [[blue:Petty Officer Third Class]], [[color:blue:Corporal]], [[gray:Senior Airman]], Specialist Four[[note]]All enlisted ranks in the US Space Force are titled "Specialist" plus the number that corresponds to the holder's pay grade.[[/note]]

** US: [[green:Private]], [[blue:Seaman Apprentice]], [[color:blue:Private First Class]], [[gray:Airman]]
** UK: [[blue:Able Rate]], [[color:blue:Private]], [[gray:Senior Aircraftman]], Specialist Two

** US: [[green:Corporal/Specialist]],[[note]]Unlike examples like First/Master Sergeant, in this case there is a distinction in authority. A corporal is considered an NCO, and has completed the required training, while a specialist is effectively a highly paid private. There had existed higher specialist ranks, but those were dropped in the 70s.[[/note]] [[blue:Petty Officer Third Class]], [[color:blue:Corporal]], [[gray:Senior Airman]], Specialist Four[[note]]All enlisted ranks in the US Space Force are titled "Specialist" plus the number that corresponds to the holder's pay grade.

** US: [[green:Corporal/Specialist]],[[note]]Unlike examples like First/Master Sergeant, in this case there is a distinction in authority. A corporal is considered an NCO, and has completed the required training, while a specialist is effectively a highly paid private. There had existed higher specialist ranks, but those were dropped in the 70s.[[/note]] [[blue:Petty Officer Third Class]], [[color:blue:Corporal]], [[gray:Senior Airman]]

** US: [[green:Private First Class]], [[blue:Seaman]], [[color:blue:Lance Corporal]], [[gray:Airman First Class]]

** UK: [[blue:Able Rate]], [[color:blue:Private]], [[gray:Senior Aircraftman]]

** US: [[green:Private]],[[note]]The US Army has two ranks called Private, with the higher one abbreviated as "[=PV2=]" instead of "PVT"[[/note]] [[blue:Seaman Recruit]],[[note]]Or Fireman Recruit, Airman Recruit, Constructionman Recruit & Hospitalman Recruit. This depends mainly on the Recruit's rate. They carry over until they become a PO3.[[/note]] [[color:blue:Private]], [[gray:Airman Basic]]

Following is a list of Common Ranks in some of the world's prominent existing and historical military forces: USA (UsefulNotes/YanksWithTanks), UK (UsefulNotes/BritsWithBattleships), USSR/Russia (UsefulNotes/RedsWithRockets and UsefulNotes/RussiansWithRustingRockets, respectively), UsefulNotes/ImperialJapan, the Third Reich (UsefulNotes/NazisWithGnarlyWeapons) [[UsefulNotes/CanucksWithChinooks and Canada]]. The Imperial Japan military (UsefulNotes/KatanasOfTheRisingSun) while included, was more commonly seen in anime than the modern Japanese ranks (UsefulNotes/KaijuDefenseForce), unless the work involves the Self-Defense Forces themselves. See also certain UsefulNotes pages for historical armies to find uncommon ranks that were used in them, such as UsefulNotes/RussiansWithRifles.

** IJ: [[green:Field Marshal (Rikugun Gensui)]], [[blue:Marshal-Admiral (Kaigun Gensui)]]

Following is a list of Common Ranks in some of the world's prominent existing and historical military forces: USA (UsefulNotes/YanksWithTanks), UK (UsefulNotes/BritsWithBattleships), USSR/Russia (UsefulNotes/RedsWithRockets and UsefulNotes/RussiansWithRustingRockets, respectively), UsefulNotes/ImperialJapan, the Third Reich (UsefulNotes/NazisWithGnarlyWeapons) [[UsefulNotes/CanucksWithChinooks and Canada]]. The Imperial Japan military (UsefulNotes/KatanasOfTheRisingSun) is included instead of JSDF (UsefulNotes/KaijuDefenseForce) because the imperial ranks are far more common in {{Anime}} than JSDF ones, so that's [[SmallReferencePools what you are probably looking for, anyway]]. See also certain UsefulNotes pages for historical armies to find uncommon ranks that were used in them, such as UsefulNotes/RussiansWithRifles.

!Cadets and Midshipmen
These are officers-in-training, found mostly at a MilitaryAcademy or occasionally in the field or at sea accompanying full officers, basically as apprentices. Militaries vary from country to country, service to service, and era to era on whether they are considered actual officers with authority over the Other Ranks (enlisted) or whether they are simply trainees for the officer role. Occasionally there is a class system to denote how far through their training they are (e.g., a Midshipman 1st Class in the USN is a 4th year student, compared to a Midshipman 4th class in 1st year) and/or special cadet ranks that give students authority over other students but nobody in the normal chain of command (e.g., a Cadet Colonel in charge of an entire US Army Reserve Officer Training Corps Battalion, who is still junior to even a 2nd Lieutenant who was commissioned 30 seconds ago).

* Also note that the ranks for UsefulNotes/RedsWithRockets as listed here were estabilished in 1940s (non-general officer ranks were in late 1930s). Before that, the Red Army used position names (e.g. brigade commander, regiment commander) instead of ranks. Rudiments of this system existed during WWII in ranks such as "regiment commissar" or "division military lawyer".
* Ranks above OF-9 (four star general) have never been awarded in peacetime in the USA.

* Even the NATO rank scale isn't perfect. For example although a Lance Corporal is only a single promotion up from a Private in the British Army, they are often considered equivalent to a US Sergeant in terms of responsibility [They both command a fire-team], even sometimes wearing the American 3 Chevrons when working with American units. It doesn't help that Lance Corporals are considered [=NCOs=] in the British Army, while a US PFC, or even a Specialist is just a higher paid Private, or that before 1961, Lance Corporal was an appointment, given to a private acting as NCO, not a substantive rank and could be rescinded by the CO rather than court martial. Long story short, rank's a [[CurseCutShort complicated-]]

Informally, officers (and particularly officers at about OF-5 and above) are often referred to as "brass", or sometimes "shinies" owing to the shiny metal their insigna is made from on their service uniforms.

* '''Supreme (six star general)''' (off the NATO scale but still within range)

* '''OF-10 (five star general)'''

*** India has appointed only three men to five star rank. The Army appointed two Field Marshals, [[RenaissanceMan Kodadendra Madappa Cariappa]] and [[OfficerAndAGentleman Sam Hormus Jamshed Fram Manekshaw]]. UsefulNotes/WorldWarTwo era fighter pilot Arjan Singh was appointed Marshal of the Air Force at age eighty, decades after he had retired.
* '''OF-9 (four star general)''' a.k.a. FourStarBadass, cf. GeneralRipper and GeneralFailure

* '''OF-8 (three star general)'''

* '''OF-7 (two star general)''', cf. ModernMajorGeneral

*** This is the highest ''permanent'' peacetime rank possible in the US armed forces. All higher ranks are tied to specific positions whose holders are required by law to have 3 or more stars. Under current policy, an officer is expected to retire upon leaving a 3- or 4-star position, unless he or she is moved to another position of equal or higher rank. Virtually all officers who retire at this point are approved to retire at their highest rank.

* '''OF-6 (one star general)''' a.k.a. TheBrigadier

*** Intermittently, the US Navy has had the rank of Commodore in place of Rear Admiral (lower half), much like the UK and other commonwealth countries, usually during times of war, such as the Civil War, World War II, but also during peactime high tensions like the mid-Cold War. However originally (in the late 1700s and early 1800s) it was used as a title for a senior Captain in charge of a group of other ships, and since 1982 it has returned to that function. The spilt between Rear Admiral (lower half) and (upper half) was originally created to ensure that the Navy and Army had equivalent rank structures, as at one point the Navy did not have a one-star rank at all and it was possible for Army Brigadier Generals to be outranked by officers junior to them who had skipped straight from Captain to Rear Admiral. This [[InterserviceRivalry obviously created some resentment among Army officers]] until it was changed.

The technical difference between an "actual" officer and a warrant officer is that the former has been ''commissioned'' (''[[TheChainsOfCommanding charged]]'' with performing their duties of office) - they likely graduated from officer school and were sworn in as such. A warrant officer, by comparison, received a ''warrant'' - a writ issued by a lawful authority ''authorizing'' them to perform their duties. The first warrant officers served on [[WoodenShipsAndIronMen sailing ships]]; they were the sailing masters, gunners, carpenters, and other skilled experts that actually operated the ship while under the command of commissioned officers (many of whom were landlubber noblemen [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney who paid for their commission]] and [[ModernMajorGeneral didn't know an anchor from a yardarm]]).[[note]]Although this was a practice that was far more common in army regiments than on warships - even a frigate cost more to build than recruiting a battalion from scratch. Strongly averted in the British Royal Navy, which demanded professional competence through years of seagoing experience in its naval officers and did ''not'' sell commissions[[/note]] Later on, specialists who weren't directly involved in operating the ship (such as pursers, cooks, and even schoolmasters for the younger midshipmen on board) were considered warrant officers as well.

Note: In Britain and some Commonwealth nations "sergeant major" no longer exists as a distinct rank but still exists as a title, with [=RCMs=] (Regimental Sergeant Majors) being Warrant Officers First Class who have earned the extra title though long and distinguished service, and who maintain standards in drill and discipline for their unit. In USSR and Russia the sergeant major equivalent (starshina) exists both as a rank and as a position[[note]]Basically of a unit's Quartermaster.[[/note]] that can be filled by either a sergeant major or a warrant officer. Also note in the UK only commissioned officers and warrant officers are called "Sir". Calling a Sergeant "sir" if you are a private soldier is SeriousBusiness and will earn you the traditional reply "Don't call me Sir: I work for a living."

Although British officer cadets are to be treated as officers by Other Ranks, they are not saluted, but are either referred to by their name in the manner of officers ("Mr Trope”, “Miss Example”) or called "Sir" "ma'am,” etc. However, as they do not hold a commission they must refer to Warrant Officers as "Sir," leading to the line that pretty much everyone to pass though RMA Sandhurst (picture West Point, but nastier) hears on their first day from their Warrant officer drill instructors: "You will call me sir. I will call you Sir. The difference being, one of us means it!"

** USSR: [[maroon:Generalissimus of the Soviet Union (Generalissimus Sovétskogo Soyuza)]]. Intended as a rank specifically for Joseph Stalin to distinguish him from other high-ranked Marshals of the Soviet Union but was refused several times.

** USSR: [[color:maroon:Senior Lieutenant (Starshiy leytenant)]]

** USSR: [[color:maroon:Lieutenant (Leytenant)]]
*** The lowest officer rank the Soviets had was [[color:maroon:Junior Lieutenant (Mladshiy leytenant)]], which was reserved for demoting normal lieutenants or bestowing to half-year officer training course graduates during wartime. It is therefore usually lumped with full Lieutenant.

** US: [[color:maroon:Chief Warrant Officer 5, 4, 3, or 2]], respectively.[[note]]Chief Warrant Officers in the US Armed Forces are commissioned officers, due to the fact that authority of Chief Warrant Officers is by commission from the President of the United States. They're still lower than Officers, but can be placed in command as needed.[[/note]]

** US: [[color:maroon:Warrant Officer 1]]

** IJ: [[color:maroon:Warrant Officer (Jun-i)]]

** IJ: [[color:maroon:Sergeant Major (Souchou)]]

** IJ: [[color:maroon:Sergeant (Gunsou)]]

** IJ: [[color:maroon:Corporal (Gochou)]]

** IJ: [[color:maroon:Lance Corporal (Heichou)]]

** IJ: [[color:maroon:Private 1st Class (Ittouhei)]]

** IJ: [[color:maroon:Private 2nd Class (Nitouhei)]]

** US: [[color:maroon:Chief Warrant Officer 5, 4, 3, or 2]], respectively.[[labelnote:Note]] Chief Warrant Officers in the US Armed Forces are commissioned officers, due to the fact that authority of Chief Warrant Officers is by commission from the President of the United States. They're still lower than Officers, but can be placed in command as needed. [[/labelnote]]

Additionally, sometimes militaries group sets of officer ranks together into categories based loosely on their roles in the chain of command. In the US, OF-6 and above are called General Officers in the Army/Air Force/Marine Corps/Space Force, and Flag Officers in the Navy/Coast Guard.[[note]]so-called because they are allowed to fly a special flag with the appropriate number of stars on it from the ship or base that they command from[[/note]] USA/USAF/USMC/USSF calls its OF-5 to OF-3s Field Grade Officers[[note]]because they are the highest ranks expected to be found in the field with their troops, in "mobile" units[[/note]] while the USN/USCG calls their OF-5 and OF-4s Senior Officers[[note]]yes, the split is at a different rank in different services, by tradition[[/note]]. USA/USAF/USMC/USSF OF-2s to OF-1 (lower) are Company Grade Officers[[note]]as they are expected to be found at the level of the Company[[/note]] and USN/USCG OF-3s to OF-1 (lower) are Junior Officers.

** US: [[color:green:General of the Armies]], [[color:navy:Admiral of the Navy]], [[color:gray:''none'']]

** USSR: [[color:maroon:Generalissimus of the Soviet Union (Generalissimus Sovétskogo Soyuza)]]. Intended as a rank specifically for Joseph Stalin to distinguish him from other high-ranked Marshals of the Soviet Union but was refused several times.

** IJ: [[color:maroon:Grand Marshal (Dai-Gensui)]], reserved exclusively for the Emperors of Japan.
** Third Reich: [[color:maroon:Reich Marshal of the Greater German Reich (Reichsmarschall des Großdeutschen Reiches)]], created solely for Hermann Göring to differentiate him from the other generals promoted to Field Marshal after the Battle of France and to firmly establish him as Hitler's successor.

** US: [[color:green:General of the Army]], [[color:navy:Fleet Admiral]], [[color:gray:General of the Air Force]]. A total of nine 5-star Army and Navy officers were appointed in 1944-45, with two more appointments immediately after WWII. [[note]]When the Air Force was split from the Army in 1949, 5-star Army General Henry Arnold was made head of the Air Force and allowed to keep his 5-star status by the one-off creation of the General of the Air Force rank. When 4-star General Omar Bradley was made Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1950, he was promoted to 5-star to ensure he would not be outranked by his subordinate, 5-star General Douglas [=MacArthur=].[[/note]] By 1953, all 5-star generals had retired from active duty. Omar Bradley, the last surviving 5-star officer, passed away in 1981.

** UK: [[color:green:Field Marshal]], [[color:navy:Admiral of the Fleet]], [[color:gray:Marshal of the Royal Air Force]]
** USSR: [[color:maroon:Marshal of the Soviet Union (Marshal Sovetskogo Soyuza)]], [[color:navy:Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union (Admiral Flota Sovetskogo Soyuza)]], [[color:gray:Chief Marshal of Aviation (Glavny Marshal Aviatsii)]]; note that these ranks technically have only ''ONE'' large star.

** IJ: [[color:green:Field Marshal (Rikugun Gensui)]], [[color:navy:Marshal-Admiral (Kaigun Gensui)]]
** Third Reich: Reich Leader SS (Reichsführer-SS), [[color:green:General Field Marshal (Generalfeldmarschall)]], [[color:navy:Grand Admiral (Großadmiral)]]

** India: [[color:green:Field Marshal]], [[color:navy:Admiral of the Fleet]], [[color:gray:Marshal of the Air Force]]

** US: [[color:green:General]], [[color:navy:Admiral]]. There are approximately 40 4-star ranks in the US military, all of them at either the highest or second-highest level of command.[[note]]As in, they either answer directly to the civilian leadership of the President and Secretary of Defense, or to another 4-star who does so.[[/note]]
** UK: [[color:green:General]], [[color:navy:Admiral]], [[color:gray:Air Chief Marshal]]
** USSR: [[color:green:General of the Army (General armii)]], [[color:navy:Admiral of the Fleet (Admiral flota)]], [[color:gray:Marshal of Aviation (Marshal aviatsii)]]; note that due to the absence of TheBrigadier rank in the Soviet Union, General of the Army and Admiral of the Fleet only carry ''four'' stars, while being generally equivalent to their five-star Western counterparts.

** IJ: [[color:green:General (Rikugun Taishou)]], [[color:navy:Admiral (Kaigun Taishou)]]
** Third Reich: Supreme Group Leader (Oberstgruppenführer), [[color:green:General Colonel or (more accurately) Supreme General (Generaloberst)]], [[color:navy:General Admiral (Generaladmiral)]]
** Canada: [[color:green:General (Général)]], [[color:black:Admiral (Amiral)]]

** US: [[color:green:Lieutenant General]], [[color:navy:Vice Admiral]]
** UK: [[color:green:Lieutenant General]] (pronounced ''Leff''tenant [[note]]Presumably so we can spot American spies[[/note]]), [[color:navy:Vice Admiral]], [[color:gray:Air Marshal]]
** USSR: [[color:green:General-Colonel (General-polkovnik)]], [[color:navy:Admiral]]

** IJ: [[color:green:Lieutenant General (Rikugun Chuujou)]], [[color:navy:Vice Admiral (Kaigun Chuujou)]]
** Third Reich: Senior Group Leader (Obergruppenführer), [[color:green:General]],[[note]]Properly, it's General der (arm). These included Kavallerie (calvary), Artillerie (artillery), Infanterie (infantry), Panzertruppen (armoured troops), Gebirgstruppen (mountain troops), Pioniere (engineers), Fallschirmtruppen (parachute troops), Flieger (aviators), Flakartillerie (anti-aircraft artillery), and Nachrichtentruppen (communications troops).[[/note]] [[color:navy:Admiral]]
** Canada: [[color:green:Lieutenant-General (Lieutenant-Général)]] [[note]]''Also'' pronounced ''Leff''tenant, just like the UK, [[BrickJoke presumably for the same reasons]][[/note]] , [[color:black:Vice-Admiral (Vice-Amiral)]].

** US: [[color:green:Major General]], [[color:navy:Rear Admiral (upper half)]]

** UK: [[color:green:Major General]], [[color:navy:Rear Admiral]], [[color:gray:Air Vice-Marshal]]
** USSR: [[color:green:General-Lieutenant (General-leytenant)]], [[color:navy:Vice Admiral (Vicee-Amiral)]]

** IJ: [[color:green:Major General (Rikugun Shoushou)]], [[color:navy:Rear Admiral (Kaigun Shoushou)]]
** Third Reich: Group Leader (Gruppenführer), [[color:green:General Lieutenant (Generalleutnant)]], [[color:navy:Vice Admiral (Vizeadmiral)]]
** Canada: [[color:green: Major-General (Major-Général)]], [[color:black: Rear-Admiral (Contre-Amiral)]]

** US: [[color:green:Brigadier General]], [[color:navy:Rear Admiral (lower half)]]

** UK: [[color:green:Brigadier, formerly Brigadier-General]], [[color:navy:Commodore]], [[color:gray:Air Commodore]]
** Imperial Russia: [[color:green:Brigadier]], [[color:navy:Captain-Commander (Kapitan-komandor)]]; both of these were abolished back in the Tsarist times, so neither USSR nor modern Russia ever used them, except for the late 1930s, when the rank of Brigade Commander (Kombrig) existed (the corresponding naval rank of Flagman, 3rd rank is not attested). On the other hand, there are talks about reinstating them, due to ongoing reorganization of the command structure.

** USSR: [[color:green:General-Major (General-mayor)]], [[color:navy:Counter Admiral (Kontr-admiral)]]

** Third Reich: Brigade Leader (Brigadeführer), [[color:green:General Major (Generalmajor)]], [[color:navy:Counter Admiral (Konteradmiral)]]
** Canada: [[color:green: Brigadier-General (Brigadier-Général)]], [[color:black: Commodore]]

** US: [[color:green:Colonel]], [[color:navy:Captain]]
** UK: [[color:green:Colonel]], [[color:navy:Captain]], [[color:gray:Group Captain]]
** USSR: [[color:green:Colonel (Polkovnik - literally "regimentary")]], [[color:navy:Captain, 1st Rank (Kapitan pervogo ranga)]]

** IJ: [[color:green:Colonel (Rikugun Taisa)]], [[color:navy:Captain (Kaigun Taisa)]]; note that it is also customary to refer to the ship's captain as "Kanchou" (on warships) and "Senchou", regardless of the actual rank he holds
** Third Reich: Regiment Leader (Standartenführer), [[color:green:Colonel (Oberst - literally "uppermost")]], [[color:navy:Captain (Kapitän zur See)]]
** Canada: [[color:green: Colonel]], [[color:black: Captain (Capitaine de vaisseau)]]

** US: [[color:green:Lieutenant Colonel]], [[color:navy:Commander]]
** UK: [[color:green:Lieutenant Colonel]], [[color:navy:Commander]], [[color:gray:Wing Commander]]
** USSR: [[color:green:Lieutenant Colonel (Podpolkovnik)]], [[color:navy:Captain, 2nd Rank (Kapitan vtorogo ranga)]]
** IJ: [[color:green:Lieutenant Colonel (Rikugun Chuusa)]], [[color:navy:Commander (Kaigun Chuusa)]]
** Third Reich: Senior Storm Unit Leader (Obersturmbannführer), [[color:green:Lieutenant Colonel (Oberstleutnant)]], [[color:navy:Frigate Captain (Fregattenkapitän)]]
** Canada: [[color:green: Lieutenant-Colonel]], [[color:black: Commander (Capitaine de frégate)]]

** US: [[color:green:Major]], [[color:navy:Lieutenant Commander]]
** UK: [[color:green:Major]], [[color:navy:Lieutenant Commander]], [[color:gray:Squadron Leader]]
** USSR: [[color:green:Major (Mayor)]], [[color:navy:Captain, 3rd Rank (Kapitan tret'ego ranga)]]
** IJ: [[color:green:Major (Rikugun Shousa)]], [[color:navy:Lieutenant Commander (Kaigun Shousa)]]
** Third Reich: Storm Unit Leader (Sturmbannführer), [[color:green:Major]], [[color:navy:Corvette Captain (Korvettenkapitän)]]
** Canada: [[color:green: Major]], [[color:black: Lieutenant-Commander (Capitaine de corvette)]]

** US: [[color:green:Captain]], [[color:navy:Lieutenant]]
** UK: [[color:green:Captain]], [[color:navy:Lieutenant]], [[color:gray:Flight Lieutenant]]
** USSR: [[color:green:Captain (Kapitan)]], [[color:navy:Captain Lieutenant (Kapitan-leytenant)]]
** IJ: [[color:green:Captain (Rikugun Taii)]], [[color:navy:Lieutenant (Kaigun Taii)]]
** Third Reich: Head Storm Leader (Hauptsturmführer), [[color:green:Captain (Hauptmann)]], [[color:navy:Captain Lieutenant (Kapitänleutnant)]]
** Canada: [[color:green: Captain (Capitaine)]], [[color:black: Lieutenant (Lieutenant de vaisseau)]]

** US: [[color:green:First Lieutenant]], [[color:navy:Lieutenant, Junior Grade]]
** UK: [[color:green:Lieutenant]], [[color:navy:Sub-Lieutenant]], [[color:gray:Flying Officer]]

** IJ: [[color:green:Lieutenant (Rikugun Chuui)]], [[color:navy:Sub-Lieutenant (Kaigun Chuui)]]
** Third Reich: Senior Storm Leader (Obersturmführer), [[color:green:Senior Lieutenant (Oberleutnant)]], [[color:navy:Senior Navy Lieutenant (Oberleutnant zur See)]]
** Canada: [[color:green: Lieutenant]], [[color:black: Sub-Lieutenant (Enseigne de vaisseau de 1re classe)]]

** US: [[color:green:Second Lieutenant]], [[color:navy:Ensign]]
** UK: [[color:green:Second Lieutenant]],[[note]]Ensign in some regiments until 1871.[[/note]] [[color:navy:Midshipman]], [[color:gray:Pilot Officer]]

** IJ: [[color:green:Second Lieutenant (Rikugun Shoui)]], [[color:navy:Ensign (Kaigun Shoui)]]
** Third Reich: Junior Storm Leader (Untersturmführer), [[color:green:Lieutenant (Leutnant)]], [[color:navy:Navy Lieutenant (Leutnant zur See)]]
** Canada: [[color:green: Second Lieutenant (Sous-Lieutenant)]], [[color:black: Acting Sub-Lieutenant (Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe)]]

** USSR: [[color:green:Senior Warrant Officer (Starshiy praporschik)]], [[color:navy:Senior Midshipman (Starshiy michman)]]

** Third Reich: [[color:green:Senior Warrant Officer (Oberfähnrich)]], [[color:navy:Senior Midshipman (Oberfähnrich zur See)]]

** USSR: [[color:green:Warrant Officer (Praporschik)]], [[color:navy:Midshipman (Michman)]]

** Third Reich: [[color:green:Warrant Officer (Fähnrich)]], [[color:navy:Midshipman (Fähnrich zur See)]]

** US: [[color:green:Sergeant Major]], [[color:navy:Master Chief Petty Officer]], [[color:blue:Sergeant Major/Master Gunnery Sergeant]], [[color:gray:Chief Master Sergeant]] [[note]]Each branch has a single E-9 that is given the title of Sergeant Major of the Army, CPO of the Navy and such. Additionally, the National Guard, consisting of Army and Air Force reservists with a core of active-duty soldiers in leadership roles, has an E-9 with the title of Senior Enlisted Advisor for the National Guard Bureau, and one E-9 (who may be from any branch) has the title of Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman [of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]. These are considered to be the voice of the enlisted ranks to the high brass.[[/note]]
** UK: [[color:green:Warrant Officer Class 1]], [[color:navy:Warrant Officer Class 1]], [[color:gray:Warrant Officer Master Aircrew]]
** USSR: [[color:green:Sergeant Major (Starshina)]], [[color:navy:Chief Ship Petty Officer (Glavniy korabel'niy starshina)]]

** Third Reich: Storm Squad Leader (Sturmscharführer), [[color:green:Staff Sergeant (Stabsfeldwebel)]], [[color:navy:Master Chief Petty Officer (Stabsoberfeldwebel)]]
** Canada: [[color:green: Chief Warrant Officer (Adjudant-chef)]] [[note]]Note here that Warrant Officer is a strictly NCO rank[[/note]], [[color:black: Chief Petty Officer 1st Class (Premier maître de 1re classe)]]

** US: [[color:green:First/Master Sergeant]], [[color:navy:Senior Chief Petty Officer]], [[color:blue:First/Master Sergeant]], [[color:gray:Senior Master Sergeant]]
** UK: [[color:green:Warrant Officer Class 2]], [[color:navy:Warrant Officer Class 2]], [[color:gray:''none'']]
*** Warrant Officer 2nd Class is incorrect, and using it within earshot of a WO2 will provoke the response "I am not a second class anything."
** USSR: [[color:green:Senior Sergeant (Starshiy serzhant)]], [[color:navy:Chief Petty Officer (Glavniy starshina)]]
** Third Reich: Head Squad Leader (Hauptscharführer), [[color:green:Sergeant Major (Oberfeldwebel)]], [[color:navy:Senior Chief Petty Officer (Oberfeldwebel)]]
** Canada: [[color:green: Master Warrant Officer (Adjudant-maître)]], [[color:black: Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class (Premier maître de 2e classe)]]

** US: [[color:green:Sergeant First Class]], [[color:navy:Chief Petty Officer]], [[color:blue:Gunnery Sergeant]], [[color:gray:Master Sergeant]]
** UK: [[color:green:Staff/Colour Sergeant]], [[color:navy:Chief Petty Officer]], [[color:blue:Colour Sergeant]], [[color:gray:Flight Sergeant]]
** USSR: [[color:green:Sergeant (Serzhant)]], [[color:navy:Petty Officer, 1st class (Starshina pervoy stat'i)]]

** Third Reich: Senior Squad Leader (Oberscharführer), [[color:green:Sergeant First Class (Feldwebel)]], [[color:navy:Chief Petty Officer (Stabsfeldwebel)]]
** Canada: [[color:green: Warrant Officer (Adjudant)]], [[color:black: Petty Officer 1st Class (Maître de 1re classe)]]

** US: [[color:green:Staff Sergeant]], [[color:navy:Petty Officer First Class]], [[color:blue:Staff Sergeant]], [[color:gray:Technical Sergeant]]
** UK: [[color:green:Sergeant]], [[color:navy:Petty Officer]], [[color:blue:Sergeant, Chief Technician]]
** USSR: [[color:green:Junior Sergeant (Mladshiy serzhant)]], [[color:navy:Petty Officer, 2nd class (Starshina vtoroy stat'i)]]
** Third Reich: Squad Leader (Scharführer), [[color:green:Sergeant (Unterfeldwebel)]], [[color:navy:Petty Officer, 1st Class (Feldwebel/Bootsmann)]]
** Canada: [[color:green: Sergeant (Sergent)]], [[color:black: Petty Officer 2nd Class (Maître de 2e classe)]]

** US: [[color:green:Sergeant]], [[color:navy:Petty Officer Second Class]], [[color:blue:Sergeant]], [[color:gray:Staff Sergeant]]
** UK: [[color:gray:Sergeant]]
** Third Reich: Junior Squad Leader (Unterscharführer), [[color:green:Unteroffizier]], [[color:navy:Petty Officer, 2st Class (Obermaat)]]
** Canada: [[color:green: Master Corporal (Caporal-chef)]], [[color:black: Master Seaman (Matelot-chef)]]

** US: [[color:green:Corporal/Specialist]],[[note]]Unlike examples like First/Master Sergeant, in this case there is a distinction in authority. A corporal is considered an NCO, and has completed the required training, while a specialist is effectively a highly paid private. There had existed higher specialist ranks, but those were dropped in the 70s.[[/note]] [[color:navy:Petty Officer Third Class]], [[color:blue:Corporal]], [[color:gray:Senior Airman]]
*** There used to be a rank of [[color:gray:Sergeant]] in the US Air Force, with a similar dual arrangement to the Army's Specialist and Corporal, but it was eliminated in TheNineties[[note]]Though a Senior Airman who has attended Airman Leadership School is treated as a ''de facto'' Sergeant.[[/note]]
** UK: [[color:green:Corporal/Specialist/Bombardier]], [[color:navy:Leading Rate]], [[color:blue:Corporal]], [[color:gray:Corporal, Junior Technician]]
** USSR: [[color:green:Gefreiter (Yefreytor)]], [[color:navy:Senior Matrose (Starshiy matros)]]

** Third Reich: Section Leader (Rottenführer), [[color:green:Corporal (Obergefreiter)]], [[color:navy:Petty Officer, 3st Class (Maat)]]
** Canada: [[color:green: Corporal (Caporal)]], [[color:black: Leading Seaman (Matelot de 1re classe)]]

** US: [[color:green:Private First Class]], [[color:navy:Seaman]], [[color:blue:Lance Corporal]], [[color:gray:Airman First Class]]
** UK: [[color:green:Lance-Corporal/Lance-Bombardier]], [[color:navy:''none'']], [[color:blue:Lance Corporal]], [[color:gray:''none'']]

** Third Reich: Storm Trooper (Sturmmann), [[color:green:Acting Corporal (Gefreiter)]], [[color:navy:Leading Seaman (Matrosenhaupgefreiter)]]
** Canada: [[color:green: Private (Trained) (Soldat Formé)]], [[color:black: Able Seaman (Matelot de 2e classe)]], [[color:blue: Aviator (Trained) (Aviateur Formé)]]

** US: [[color:green:Private]], [[color:navy:Seaman Apprentice]], [[color:blue:Private First Class]], [[color:gray:Airman]]
** UK: [[color:navy:Able Rate]], [[color:blue:Private]], [[color:gray:Senior Aircraftman]]

** Third Reich: Senior Trooper (Obermann), [[color:green:Senior Rifleman (Oberschütze)]], [[color:navy:Able Seaman (Matrosenobergefreiter)]]
** Canada: [[color:green: Private (Basic) (Soldat Confirmé)]], [[color:black: Ordinary Seaman (Basic) (Matelot de 3e classe)]], [[color:blue: Aviator (Basic) (Aviateur Confirmé)]]

** US: [[color:green:Private]],[[note]]The US Army has two ranks called Private, with the higher one abbreviated as "[=PV2=]" instead of "PVT"[[/note]] [[color:navy:Seaman Recruit]],[[note]]Or Fireman Recruit, Airman Recruit, Constructionman Recruit & Hospitalman Recruit. This depends mainly on the Recruit's rate. They carry over until they become a PO3.[[/note]] [[color:blue:Private]], [[color:gray:Airman Basic]]
** UK: [[color:green:Private/Trooper]] (other titles may occur in some regiments), [[color:blue:Marine]], [[color:gray:Leading Aircraftman, Aircraftman]]
** USSR: [[color:green:Private (Ryadovoy)]], [[color:navy:Matrose (Matros)]]

** Third Reich: Trooper (Mann), [[color:green:Rifleman (Schütze)]], [[color:navy:Seaman (Matrosengefreiter)]]
** Canada: [[color:green: Private (Recruit) (Soldat Recrue)]], [[color:black: Ordinary Seaman (Recruit) (Matelot de 3e classe Recrue)]], [[color:blue: Aviator (Recruit) (Aviateur Recrue)]]

This list is largely a wiki-friendly adaptation of this [[http://legacy.koveras.org/ranks/ranks.html external table]]. Refer to it for the original spelling of foreign rank titles.

* Even the NATO rank scale isn't perfect. For example although a Lance Corporal is only a single promotion up from a Private in the British Army, they are often considered equivalent to a US Sergeant in terms of responsibility [They both command a fire-team], even sometimes wearing the American 3 Chevrons when working with American units. It doesn't help that Lance Corporals are considered [=NCOs=] in the British Army, while a US PFC, or even a Specialist is just a higher paid Private, or that before 1961, Lance Corporal was an appointment, given to a private acting as NCO, not a substantive rank and could be rescinded by the CO rather than court martial. Long story short, rank's a [[CurseCutShort complicated]]

*** Intermittently, the US Navy has had the rank of Commodore in place of Rear Admiral (lower half), much like the UK and other commonwealth countries, usually during times of war, such as the Civil War, World War II, but also during peactime high tensions like the mid-Cold War. However originally (in the late 1700s and early 1800s) it was used as a title for a senior Captain in charge of a group of other ships, and since 1982 it has returned to that function. the spilt between Rear Admiral (lower half) and (upper half) was originally created to ensure that the Navy and Army had equivalent rank structures, as at one point the Navy did not have a one-star rank at all and it was possible for Army Brigadier Generals to be outranked by officers junior to them who had skipped straight from Captain to Rear Admiral. This [[InterserviceRivalry obviously created some resentment among Army officers]] until it was changed.

** Third Reich: [[color:maroon:Reich Marshal of the Greater German Reich(Reichsmarschall des Großdeutschen Reiches)]], created solely for Hermann Göring to differentiate him from the other generals promoted to Field Marshal after the Battle of France and to firmly establish him as Hitler's successor.

** Third Reich: [[color:maroon:Imperial Marshal of the Greater German Reich (Reichsmarschall des Großdeutschen Reiches)]], created solely for Hermann Göring to differentiate him from the other generals promoted to Field Marshal after the Battle of France and to firmly establish him as Hitler's successor.

** Third Reich: Supreme Group Leader (Oberstgruppenführer), [[color:green:General Colonel (Generaloberst)]], [[color:navy:General Admiral (Generaladmiral)]]