Naval ranks and Naval titles?

Question

My dad and his brothers were in the Navy for many years but I could never figure out the ranks. He was a Chief Petty Officer (similiar to Sgt.?). What are the other ranks? Is a commander a rank or a job title?

Answer 1

Navy Ranks

E-1 Seaman Reruit (SR)
E-2 Seaman Apprentice (SA
E-3 Seaman (SN)
E-4 Petty Officer Third Class (PO3)
E-5 Petty Officer Second Class (PO2)
E-6 Petty Officer First Class (PO1)
E-7 Chief Petty Officer (CPO)
E-8 Senior Chief Petty Officer (SCPO)
E-9 Master Chief Petty Officer (MCPO)
E-9 Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON)

W-2 Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CWO-2)
W-3 Chief Warrant Officer 3 (CWO-3)
W-4 Chief Warrant Officer 4 (CWO-4)
W-5 Chief Warrant Officer 5 (CWO-5)

O-1 Ensign (ENS)
O-2 Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG)
O-3 Lieutenant (LT)
O-4 Lieutenant Commander (LCDR)
O-5 Commander (CDR)
O-6 Captain (CAPT)
O-7 Rear Admiral-Lower Half (RDML)
O-8 Read Admiral-Upper Half (RADM)
O-9 Vice Admiral (VADM)
O-10 Admiral (ADM)
O-11 Fleet Admiral (FADM)

Army Ranks

E-1 Private (PV1)
E-2 Private (PV2)
E-3 Private First Class (PFC)
E-4 Specialists (SPC)
E-4 Corporal (CPL)
E-5 Sergeant (SGT)
E-6 Staff Sergeant (SSG)
E-7 Sergeant First Class (SFC)
E-8 Master Sergeant (MSG)
E-8 First Sergeant (1SG)
E-9 Sergeant Major (SGM)
E-9 Command Sergeant Major (CSM)
E-9 Sergeant Major of the Army (SMA)

W-1 Warrant Officer (WO1)
W-2 Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CW2)
W-3 Chief Warrant Officer 3 (CW3)
W-4 Chief Warrant Officer 4 (CW4)
W-5 Chief Warrant Officer 5 (CW5)

O-1 Second Lieutenant (2LT)
O-2 First Lieutenant (1LT)
O-3 Captain (CPT)
O-4 Major (MAJ)
O-5 Lieutenant Colonel (LTC)
O-6 Colonel (COL)
O-7 Brigadier General (BG)
O-8 Major General (MG)
O-9 Lieutenant General (LTG)
O-10 General (GEN)
O-11 General of the Army (GA)

Answer 2

A Commander can be a rank AND a job title. For instance, Commander, Navy Region Northwest is a job title, for an Admiral. However, Commander Johnson is a rank (O-5, like a Lieutenant Colonel in the other services. A Commander is considered a senior officer (the Navy has no field grade officers, as Sailors go to sea, not stand in a field). A Chief Petty Officer (E7) is similar to a Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant, an Army Sergeant First Class, or an Air Force First Sergeant (or Master Sergeant) with regard to pay. The Navy does not have non-commissioned officers (also called non-comms or NCOs), it has petty officers, and are so recognized by law. If you ask your dad, he will tell you that a Chief Petty Officer is much more than just another E7, and that the process for advancement to Chief is unique to all the services, and generally looked upon with respect and envy worldwide.

Answer 3

The Navy has enlisted and officer.
E-1 Seaman Recruit
E-2 Seaman Apprentice
E-3 Seaman
E-4 Petty Officer 3rd class
E-5 Petty Officer 2nd class
E-6 Petty Officer 1st class
E-7 Chief Petty Officer
E-8 Senior Chief Petty Officer
E-9 Master Chief Petty Officer

O-1 Ensign
O-2 LT junior grade
O-3 LT
O-4 LT Commander
O-5 Commander
O-6 Captain
O-7 and up are various admiral ranks

I dont remember all the Army ranks or I would post them to compare.

Answer 4

The previous post was mostly correct. The MCPON is E-10, the most senior ranking enlisted man in the Navy, and there is only one. O-11 is a fleet admiral, but there has not been a 5-star officer in any service since WWII.

Answer 5

Your Father was an E7, this Senior noncommissioned officer rank is equivalent to:
USMC Senior Gunnery Sergeant
USAF: Master Sergeant
USA: Sgt First Class
"Commander" is a field-grade officer rank (O5) equivalent to: Lieutenant Colonel in the other services.

Answer 6

Currently the question has been answered though one thing stands out. There is no such thing as an E-10 in any of the Services. There is however a Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. This position (just like the Chairman's position) will change from service to service. This position was created in 2005, as there were no enlisted advisors at this level.

Answer 7

http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/insignias/enlisted.html

It's a rank.
Let me know if you have any more questions.