♦ US Armed Forces World War II ♦

Table of Officer Ranks

 
ARMY NAVY / COAST GUARD MARINE CORPS
 
General of the Army (G5) * Fleet Admiral (G5) (Navy) * —
General (G4) Admiral (G4) ** General (G4) ‡
Lieutenant General (G3) Vice Admiral (G3) *** Lieutenant General (G3)
Major General (G2) Rear Admiral (G2) Major General (G2)
Brigadier General (G1) Commodore (G1) † Brigadier General (G1)
 
Colonel (O6) Captain (O6) Colonel (O6)
Lieutenant Colonel (O5) Commander (O5) Lieutenant Colonel (O5)
Major (O4) Lieutenant Commander (O4) Major (O4)
Captain (O3) Lieutenant (O3) Captain (O3)
First Lieutenant (O2) Lieutenant (Junior Grade) First Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant (O1) Ensign (O1) Second Lieutenant (O1)


 

Notes

Since the Air Corps was an Army branch, US Army officer ranks also applied to the US Army Air Forces. When the US Air Force became an independent service in 1947 it retained Army officer rank titles, except that the G5 rank was changed to General of the Air Force.

In the Navy and Coast Guard, Captain and Commodore were also courtesy titles, the former for the commander of a commissioned ship and the latter for a officer commanding a squadron if below flag rank.

* The ranks of General of the Army and Fleet Admiral were authorized in December 1944.

** The rank of Admiral (G4) was authorized for the Coast Guard in April 1945.

*** The rank of Vice Admiral (G3) was authorized for the Coast Guard in March 1942.

† Prior to April 1943 the G1 Navy/Coast Guard rank was titled Rear Admiral (Lower Half); the G2 rank was titled Rear Admiral (Upper Half).

 ‡ The rank of General (G4) was authorized for the Marine Corps in March 1945.
 

 

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