Self-Study: Rates and Ranks

Question 1

How many separate paygrades are there and how many are Enlisted, Warrant, and Commissioned Officers?

Answer 1

22 Separate Paygrades
9 Enlisted (MCPOG is an E9 also)
10 Officer
3 CWO’s

Question 2

Rate

Answer 2

Plain name languages for enlisted persons

Question 3

Rank

Answer 3

Plain name language for Officer

Question 4

Rating

Answer 4

Occupational Specialty

Question 5

Non-Rates

Answer 5

E1 = 1 stripe
E2 = 2 stripe 
E3 = 3 stripe 

White for Seaman
Red for Fireman
Green Airman (does not exist anymore)

Question 6

Chief Warrant Officer Shoulder Boards

Answer 6

Specialty insignia over shield over rank

Rank
CWO2 - 2 Gold Stripes
CWO3 - 3 Gold Stripes
CWO4 - 2 Gold Stripes (thick enough for 4 gold stripes)

** count gold stripes for rank . i.e. 3 gold stripes = chief warrant officer 3

Question 7

Service Stripes significance

Answer 7

Service Stripes are found on sleeve of Bravo Jacket

Each strip represents 4 year of service

E6 and Below have Red stripes

E7 and Above have gold stripes

Question 8

CWO Collar Rank Identification

Answer 8

CWO2 has 2 gold stripes
CWO3 has 1 Silver on a blue band
CWO4 has 2 Silver on a Blue Band

Think about it has 2 gold stripes = rank and each additional silver stripe adds another rank.

i.e. CWO2 2 gold stripes
CWO3 has one silver stripe so CWO2+1 = CWO3 and CWO4 has 2 silver stripes so CWO2+2 = CWO4.

You can also think Silver = Silver hair the more you have the higher rank or older you are.

Question 9

Officer Shoulder Boards

Answer 9

ENS = 1/2" gold band 
LTJG = 1/2" + 1/4" 
LT = 1/2"+1/2" (just like his collar 2 stripes)
LCDR = 1/2" + 1/4" + 1/2" (think 1/4" sandwhich)

Senior Officers
CDR = 1/2” x 3
CAPT = 1/2” x 4

Flag Officers 
O-7 Rear Admiral = 1 Star
O-8 Rear Admiral Upper Half = 2 Star 
O-9 Vice Admiral = 3 Stars 
O-10 Admiral = 4 stars

Question 10

Flag Officer Sleeves

Answer 10

Starting from O7

O-7 has a 2” gold band
Every rank after adds 1/2” gold band

O-8 has 2” gold band +1/2” x 1
O-9 has 2” +1/2” x 2
O-10 has 2” +1/2” x 3

Question 11

Officer Covers

Answer 11

Junior Officers O-1 to O-4 have combination cover with eagle

Senior Officers O-5 to O-6 have a Eagle cover with single row of Oak leaves

Flag officers O-7 to O-10 have 2 rows of oak leaves

Question 12

Garrison cover

Answer 12

has Eagle on Left Side 1” from side and bottom and rank on Right side

Question 13

Officer Ranks

Answer 13

JO's 
O1 = Gold Bar 
O2 = Silver Bar 
O3 = 2 Silver Bars 
O4 = Gold Oak Leaf
O5 = Silver Oak Leaf 
O6 = Silver Eagle 
O7 = 1 Silver Star 
O8 = 2 Silver Stars 
O9 = 3 Silver Stars 
O10 = 4 Silver Stars