Military Titles

The following are a list of abbreviations of military titles, in the order of highest rank to lowest, that should be
used before the full name of a member of the military. For informal purposes, including press releases, social media and similar uses, the abbreviation should be used. For more formal purposes, such as invitations and letters of memorandum, the full title should be used.

Commissioned Officers

Army, Air Force and Marine Corps

Navy and Coast Guard
general Gen. admiral Adm.
lieutenant general Lt. Gen. vice admiral Vice Adm.
major general Maj. Gen. rear admiral upper half Rear Adm.
colonel Col. captain Capt.
lieutenant colonel Lt. Col. commander Cmdr.
major Maj. lieutenant commander Lt. Cmdr.
captain Capt. lieutenant Lt.
first lieutenant 1st Lt. lieutenant junior grade Lt. j.g.
second lieutenant 2nd Lt. ensign Ensign

Warrant Officers

Army

Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard
chief warrant officer five Chief Warrant Officer 5 chief warrant officer Chief Warrant Officer
chief warrant officer four Chief Warrant Officer 4
chief warrant officer three Chief Warrant Officer 3
chief warrant officer two Chief Warrant Officer 2
warrant officer Warrant Officer

Enlisted Personnel

Army Marine Corps Navy & Coast Guard Air Force
sergeant major of the Army Sgt. Maj. of the Army sergeant major of the Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps master chief petty officer of the Navy Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy chief master sergeant of the Air Force
Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force
command sergeant major Command Sgt. Maj. sergeant major Sgt. Maj. command master chief petty officer Command Master Chief Petty Officer command chief master sergeant
Command Chief Master Sgt.
sergeant major Sgt. Maj. master gunnery sergeant Master Gunnery Sgt. master chief petty officer Master Chief Petty Officer chief master sergeant
Chief Master Sgt.
first sergeant 1st Sgt. first sergeant 1st Sgt. senior chief petty officer Senior Chief Petty Officer senior master sergeant
Senior Master Sgt.
master sergeant Master Sgt. master sergeant Master Sgt.
sergeant first class Sgt. 1st Class gunnery sergeant Gunnery Sgt. chief petty officer Chief Petty Officer master sergeant Master Sgt.
staff sergeant Staff Sgt. staff sergeant Staff Sgt. petty officer first class Petty Officer 1st Class technical sergeant Tech. Sgt.
sergeant Sgt. sergeant Sgt. petty officer second class Petty Officer 2nd Class staff sergeant Staff Sgt.
corporal Cpl. corporal Cpl. petty officer third class Petty Officer 3rd Class senior airman Senior Airman
specialist Spc.
private first class Pfc. lance corporal Lance Cpl. seaman Seaman airman first class
Airman 1st Class
private Pvt. private first class Pfc. seaman apprentice Seaman Apprentice airman Airman
private Pvt. seaman recruit Seaman Recruit airman basic Airman