US Army Ranks and Customs

No insignia

Private (PV1)

Private (PV2)

Private First Class (PFC)

Specialist (SPC)

Corporal (CPL)

Sergeant (SGT)

Staff Sergeant (SSG)

Sergeant First Class (SFC)

Master Sergeant (MSG)

First Sergeant (1SG)

Sergeant Major (SGM)

Command Sergeant Major (CSM)

Sergeant Major of the Army (SMA)

Warrant Officer 1 (WO1)

Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CW2)

Chief Warrant Officer 3 (CW3)

Chief Warrant Officer 4 (CW4)

Chief Warrant Officer 5 (CW5)

Second Lieutenant (2LT)

First Lieutenant (1LT)

Captain (CPT)

Major (MAJ)

Lieutenant Colonel (LTC)

Colonel (COL)

Brigadier General (BG)

Major General (MG)

Lieutenant General (LTG)

General (GEN)

General of the Army (GA)

1st General Order

I will guard everything within the limits of my post and quit my post only when properly relieved.

2nd General Order

I will obey my special orders and perform all my duties in a military manner.

3rd General Order

I will report violations of my special orders, emergencies, and anything not covered in my instructions to the commander of the relief.

Loyalty

Bear true faith and allegiance to the U.S. Constitution, the Army, your unit and other Soldiers. Bearing true faith and allegiance is a matter of believing in and devoting yourself to something or someone.

Duty

Fulfill your obligations. Doing your duty means more than carrying out your assigned tasks. Duty means being able to accomplish tasks as part of a team.

Respect

Treat people as they should be treated. In the Soldier’s Code, we pledge to “treat others with dignity and respect while expecting others to do the same.” Respect is what allows us to appreciate the best in other people.

Selfless Service

Put the welfare of the nation, the Army and your subordinates before your own. Selfless service is larger than just one person.

Honor

Honor is a matter of carrying out, acting, and living the values of respect, duty, loyalty, selfless service, integrity and personal courage in everything you do.

Integrity

Do what’s right, legally and morally. Integrity is a quality you develop by adhering to moral principles. It requires that you do and say nothing that deceives others.

Personal Courage

Face fear, danger or adversity (physical or moral). Personal courage has long been associated with our Army. With physical courage, it is a matter of enduring physical duress and at times risking personal safety.