Army ranks

The private wears no insignia

The lowest rank, private (PV1, E-1), has no insignia at all: the Army’s uniform guide, DA Pamphlet 670-1, says the private wears no grade insignia. The Army calls the private (E-2) the first rank at which a soldier wears rank insignia, a single chevron.

Chevrons and arcs

Army chevrons point up. From about 1820 to 1903 they were sewn on point down, according to the Army’s Soldier’s Guide. A corporal has two chevrons and a sergeant three. From staff sergeant, arcs are added below the chevrons: one for staff sergeant, two for sergeant first class, three for master sergeant. The E-8 and E-9 insignia above that put a device between the chevrons and arcs: a pierced lozenge for the first sergeant, a star for the sergeant major and a star in a wreath for the command sergeant major.

The specialist is the exception. Its insignia is shaped like an inverted chevron at the bottom, with an eagle in the centre, and AR 600-20 ranks it immediately below corporal, though both are E-4. The Defense Department explains that the corporal is expected to lead.

Warrant officers

Army warrant officers wear a silver bar with black enamel squares: one square for warrant officer 1, two for chief warrant officer 2, and so on to four for CW4. The CW5 bar has a black line in the centre instead. The lowest-ranking warrant officers serve under a warrant and are commissioned by the president on promotion to CW2, the Defense Department notes.

General of the Army

Above the four-star general is General of the Army, a five-star rank the Army says is used only in time of war. Five officers have held it: George C. Marshall, Douglas MacArthur, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Henry H. Arnold and Omar N. Bradley. The Defense Department’s chart labels it O-11; AR 600-20 gives its pay grade as “Special”.