Us marines officers are called company grade officers in the pay grades of o 1 to o 3 field grade officers in pay grades o 4 to o 6 and general officers in pay. These officers hold presidential commissions and are confirmed at their ranks by the senate. The commissioned ranks are the highest in the military.
Us marine corps officer ranks. As a marine moves up the ladder his or her. Enlisted marine corps ranks are broken down into three levels junior enlisted non commissioned officers and staff non commissioned officers.
Staff ncos are career marines serving in grades e 6. Often referred to as the backbone of the corps enlisted marines with pay grades of e 4 and e 5 are non commissioned officers ncos. Marine corps customs and courtesies require junior marines to address all senior marines by their rank which is denoted by a rank insignia device usually worn on the collar.
Marine corps recruits must learn all marine corps ranks from private to general including enlisted officers and warrant officers. The e 8 and e 9 levels each have two ranks per pay grade each with different responsibilities. Enlisted marines with paygrades of e 4 and e 5 are non commissioned officers ncos while those at e 6 and higher are staff noncommissioned officers sncos.
The next two notable advancements are the advancement to a noncommissioned officer and then to a staff noncommissioned officer. After completing basic training the enlisted recuits advances to lance corporal. An enlisted member enters the marine corps as a private.
