Master gunnery sergeant (E-9)

How to read it

Master gunnery sergeant is the top of the Marine Corps’ technical track, above master sergeant (E-8). The Marine Corps says master sergeants and master gunnery sergeants provide technical leadership as specialists in their military occupational specialty. The Department of Defense says master gunnery sergeants and sergeants major receive the same pay but have different responsibilities, and that the sergeant major has the higher rank of the two.

Also searched as: E-9 marines, master guns, MGySgt.

Master gunnery sergeant or sergeant major?

Both wear three chevrons over four rockers. The master gunnery sergeant has a bursting bomb between them, the sergeant major a star.

The other bursting bomb

A chief warrant officer serving as an infantry weapons officer carries the title Marine Gunner and wears a bursting bomb insignia on the left collar in place of the warrant officer insignia. The uniform regulations describe it as a gold-colored replica of a bursting bomb. It is an officer’s device, not an enlisted rank.

Four rockers or three?

Marine E-9 insignia have four rockers. The Army’s E-9 sergeant major has three chevrons above three arcs.