Petty officer first class (E-6)
Petty officer first class is the sixth enlisted rank in the US Navy, pay grade E-6, and the highest petty officer rank below chief. Its badge is an eagle above three chevrons.
How to read it
The rating badge is an eagle over three chevrons pointing down, with the specialty mark between them, and the collar device on khakis is a small metal eagle and three chevrons. It sits above Petty officer second class (E-5) and below Chief petty officer (E-7), whose badge adds an arc above the chevrons. Navy.com says a petty officer first class leads larger teams while coordinating operations, managing resources and developing future leaders.
Also searched as: E-6 navy, PO1.
Ranks and insignia as the US Navy’s own uniform regulations and pages set them out. Pay grades are the Department of Defense’s.
Three chevrons: Navy or Army?
An Army sergeant also wears three chevrons, but pointing up. The Naval History and Heritage Command says Army NCOs wore their chevrons points down until 1902, when the Army turned them up; the Navy’s petty officer insignia have looked as they do today since 1894.
More navy ranks
Browse symbols drawn with lines.
Sources
- U.S. Military Rank Insignia, Resources: U.S. Military Rank Insignia (enlisted and officer insignia by paygrade), U.S. Department of Defense (defense.gov), Enlisted insignia, E-6
- U.S. Navy Ranks & Insignia, U.S. Navy Ranks & Insignia (navy.com), U.S. Navy Recruiting Command (navy.com), Petty Officers: E-4 to E-6
- Navy Uniform Regulations, articles 4221–4227: E-1 to E-6 rate insignia, United States Navy Uniform Regulations (NAVPERS 15665J), arts. 4221–4227, Navy Personnel Command (MyNavy HR), art. 4226; art. 4227.2b
- Naval Traditions: Names of Rank, “Chevrons”, Naval Traditions: Names of Rank, Enlisted Ranks, “Chevrons”, Naval History and Heritage Command, para. 4
- Naval Traditions: Names of Rank, “Petty Officer”, Naval Traditions: Names of Rank, Enlisted Ranks, “Petty Officer”, Naval History and Heritage Command, para. 6
Last reviewed September 29, 2026 by Rory Hansen. How we research