Comparison of United Kingdom and United States Military Ranks - US "Enlisted" and UK "Other" Ranks Compared

US "Enlisted" and UK "Other" Ranks Compared

The British Armed Forces do not use the term Enlisted Ranks. The equivalent in the Royal Navy is Ratings and in the other services is Other Ranks (divided into Warrant Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Soldiers or Airmen).

UK and US ranks are categorised in the NATO rank code system OR-1 to OR-9. Ranks with the same code are equivalent.

Notes on comparison:

• In the US Army OR-1 to OR-4a (Specialist) are junior enlisted, and not Junior NCOs. OR-4b (Corporal) to OR-6 are Junior Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs), and OR-7 to OR-9 are Senior Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCOs).
• In the USAF OR-1 to OR-4 are junior enlisted, OR-5 to OR-6 are NCOs, and OR-7 to OR-9 are SNCOs.
• In the USMC, OR-1 to OR-3 are junior enlisted, OR-4 to OR-5 are NCOs, and OR-6 to OR-9 are Staff Non-Commissioned Officers.
• In the US Navy and Coast Guard, OR-1 to OR-3 or "nonrated (wo)men" are junior enlisted, OR-4 to OR-6 or Petty Officers are NCOs, and OR-7 to OR-9 or Chief Petty Officers are SNCOs.

Addendum: In the US Army (but not the USMC) the term "Trooper/(Troop)" may be used informally for lower enlisted in Cavalry, Scout, Airborne, Air Assault, Ranger, and Special Forces Units, along with the occasional use for any soldier, particularly dismounted Infantry. The specific definition of "Troop" is a company sized unit of Cavalry, organizationally equivalent to "Battery" in Artillery units.

Notes to table above

1. A Warrant Officer in UK service is a senior non-commissioned rank not comparable to the various grades of Warrant Officer in the US, although holding the Queen's Warrant and with certain privileges similar to those of officers. In the Army and Royal Marines, they are referred to by their appointment, of which there are many (for example, Regimental Sergeant Major is a WO1 appointment). The US rank is held by single track career specialists (ranking between Enlisted Ranks and 2nd Lieutenant) and have no NATO equivalent. A RN Warrant Officer Class 1 incorporated the former rank of Fleet Chief Petty Officer.
2. RAF Flight Sergeants: Although technically equivalent to British Army Staff Sergeant this does not equate to time served or experience since the RAF does not have the rank of WO2.
3. The RN created the rate of Warrant Officer Class 2 on 1 April 2004. Previously, there was a rate of Charge Chief Petty Officer, who usually ranked as OR-7, although above other CPOs. A Charge Chief Artificer (a highly-qualified technical CCPO) could be given a NATO OR-8 status, but still ranked below WO2 in the Army and Royal Marines. On the creation of WO2, all CCPOs were upgraded to this rate.
4. In the US "OR #" system, NCOs are from OR4 onwards hence the equivalents in rank name do not tie in exactly. In the US Army a Corporal is considered an NCO, but a Specialist is not.
5. British Sergeants/Petty Officers are seen as equal to E5 and E6 although Corporals as well as Sergeants may be appointed to an official OR-5 (i.e. E-5) military role as is suited to the particular situation.
6. From April 1, 1999 Able Rating and Ordinary Rating merged and the rate Operator Maintainer was created to replace them, Marine 1st Class and Marine 2nd Class merged, and Junior Rating and Junior Marine were abolished.
7. Aircraft Technical trades and musicians only.
8. Household Cavalry.
9. The most senior WO1s are, in descending order, the Conductors (Cdr) of the Royal Logistic Corps, the Academy Sergeant Major (AcSM), and the Garrison Sergeant Major (GSM) of the London District
10. The rank of Lance Corporal is used by the RAF Section of the Combined Cadet Force as an equivalent to OR-3.
11. Includes Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM), Garrison Sergeant Major (GSM), and Household Cavalry Regimental Corporal Major (RCM). These appointments are similar in function to the equivalent US rank indicated, but are equal in rank to other WO1 appointments.
12. Includes Company Sergeant Major (CSM), Squadron Sergeant Major (SSM), Royal Artillery Battery Sergeant Major (BSM), Household Cavalry Squadron Corporal Major (SCM), and Band Sergeant Major. These appointments are similar in function to the equivalent US rank indicated, but are equal in rank to other WO2 appointments.
13. Infantry regiments.
14. Staff Sergeants can also hold other appointments, such as Company Quartermaster Sergeant.
15. Royal Artillery.
16. Brigade of Guards.
17. The alternatives to the rank of Private are as follows:
    • Air Trooper (ATpr) in the Army Air Corps;
    • Gunner (Gnr) in the Royal Artillery and Royal Horse Artillery;
    • Highlander (Hdr) in The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons) regiment;
    • Ranger (Rgr) in the Royal Irish Regiment
    • Sapper (Spr) in the Royal Engineers;
    • Trooper (Tpr) in the Household Cavalry, Royal Armoured Corps, Honourable Artillery Company and Special Air Service;
    • Craftsman (Cfn) in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers;
    • Guardsman (Gdn) in Foot Guards regiments;
    • Kingsman (Kgn) in the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment;
    • Rifleman (Rfn) in The Rifles;
    • Signaller (Sig) in the Royal Corps of Signals;
    • Fusilier (Fus) in Fusilier regiments;
    • Musician (Mus) in the Corps of Army Music;
    • Where appropriate: Drummer (Dmr), Trumpeter (Tptr), Bugler, or Piper (Ppr).1
18. In the US Army, First Sergeant is considered senior to and promoted laterally from Master Sergeant when assigned to a First Sergeant billet, typically the senior NCO in a company (troop, battery) sized unit. Upon reassignment a 1SG reverts to his previous rank of MSG. In the USMC the OR-8 ranks are equivalent but on separate career tracks as are the OR-9 ranks, i.e. a Gunnery Sergeant (OR-7) is promoted to either First Sergeant or Master Sergeant depending on his indicated preference for a technical speciality or a command/senior enlisted advisor billet. A First Sergeant is promoted to Sergeant Major and a Master Sergeant to Master Gunnery Sergeant.
19. The alternatives to the rank of Seaman are as follows:
    • Fireman (FN) in engineering;
    • Airman (AN) in aviation;
    • Hospitalman (HN) for medical corpsmen;
    • Constructionman (CN) in Construction Battalions (Seabees).
    • The former rate of Dentalman (DN) was merged into Hospitalman in 2005.
20. Also Fireman Apprentice (FA), Airman Apprentice (AA), Hospitalman Apprentice (HA), Constructionman Apprentice (CA).
21. Also Fireman Recruit (FR), Airman Recruit (AR), Hospitalman Recruit (HR), Constructionman Recruit (CR).
22. Unique ranks; the senior NCO in each Service.