Rank, Military or Naval
Rank, Military or Naval, the grade held by members of the armed services, which indicates their official standing. In United States forces, rank is divided broadly into three classes: commissioned officers, warrant officers, and enlisted men.
In the U.S. Army, commissioned officers are further divided into three groups. Line or company-grade officers—lieutenants and captains—command troops directly. Field-grade officers—majors and colonels—command large field units through line officers. General officers, the highest-ranking group, are not assigned to specific arms or services. In the Navy, line officers are qualified for combat commands, and are distinguished from staff, or administrative, officers. Admirals, known as flag officers, are the equivalent of the army's general officers.
Many United States officers hold temporary ranks higher than their permanent ranks, for which they draw the higher pay. The use of temporary ranks provides flexibility for the armed forces in adjusting the number of officers in each grade. During the late 18th and most of the 19th century a different system was used—the brevet, a temporary commission that gave an officer a rank higher than the one for which he was being paid. The brevet was normally used as a reward for outstanding service but during the Civil War it was used to quickly expand the number of middle-grade and high-ranking officers.
Reserve officers may hold a higher rank in the reserves than they do on active duty. Officers of the same grade are ranked according to the dates of their commissions.
Most foreign services use approximately the same titles for officer ranks as the United States services. Some slightly different titles include the British sub-lieutenant and German colonel-general. The highest grades in the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force— general of the army, general of the air force, and admiral of the fleet—correspond to the foreign ranks of marshal or field marshal. The number of enlisted ranks varies from country to country. Most armies use, in one form or another, the titles private, corporal, and sergeant, and most navies the titles seaman and petty officer.