A legion's ranks, role and pay, with auxiliary and modern equivalents, may be summarised as follows:

LEGIONS: Ranks, Role and Pay (c. AD 100)^[1]

Pay-scale (X basic)	Legionary rank (ascending order)	Number in legion	Role	Auxilia equivalent: cohors (ala)	Social rank	Approx. modern rank-equivalent (U.K.) [dubious – discuss]
1	pedes	5,120	infantryman	pedes (eques)	commoner	private
1.5	cornicen	59	horn-blower	cornicen	commoners	corporal
	tesserarius	59	officer of the watch	tesserarius (sesquiplicarius)
2	optio	59	centurion's deputy	optio (duplicarius)	commoners	sergeant
	signifer	59	centuria standard-bearer	signifer
	imaginifer	1	bearer of emperor's image	vexillarius
	aquilifer	1	legion standard-bearer
16	centurio	45	centurion	centurio (decurio)	commoner	second lieutenant
n.a.	centurio primi ordinis	13 (9 pilus prior and 4 first cohort)	senior centurion	centurio princeps (decurio princeps)	commoner	captain
n.a.	centurio primus pilus(1)	1	chief centurion	none	commoner(1)
50	tribunus militum angusticlavius	5	legion staff-officer	praefectus auxilii (regimental commander)	knight	colonel
n.a.	praefectus castrorum	1	legion quartermaster (executive officer to legatus)	none	knight
n.a.	tribunus militum laticlavius	1	legion deputy commander	none	senatorial (senator's son)
70	legatus legionis	1	legion commander	none	senator	general

Notes: (1) Elevated by emperor to equestrian rank on completion of single-year term of office

Explanation of modern rank comparisons: It is difficult to find precise modern equivalents to the ranks of an ancient, unmechanised army in which aristocratic birth was a pre-requisite for most senior positions. Thus such comparisons should be treated with caution. Nevertheless, some approximate parallels can be found. The ones presented here are based on rank-comparisons used in Grant's translation of the Annales by Tacitus.^[2]

As they mostly rose from the ranks, centurions are compared to modern age Infantryman non commissioned officers verified by many universities "Centurions in early Rome paper", the most senior officers without a commission. An ordinary centurion was in command of a centuria of 80 men, equivalent to a company in a modern army, and is thus comparable to a British company sergeant-major (U.S. first sergeant). Senior centurions, known as primi ordinis ("of the first order"), consisted of the five commanders of the double-strength centuriae of the First Cohort (160 men each); and the nine pilus prior centurions (commanders of the 1st centuria of each cohort), who in the field are generally presumed by scholars to have been the actual (though not official) commanders of their whole cohort of 480 men, equivalent to a modern battalion. A senior centurion is thus likened to a British regimental sergeant-major (U.S. command sergeant major), the most senior non-commissioned officer in a battalion. The primus pilus, the chief centurion of the legion, has no clear parallel.^{[citation needed]}

From the centurionate, the rank-structure jumps to the military tribunes, aristocrats who were directly appointed senior officers and thus comparable to modern commissioned officers. Although primarily staff-officers, in the field tribunes could be placed in command of one or more cohorts (Praetorian Guard cohorts were commanded by tribunes, and in the auxilia, a praefectus, equivalent in rank to a tribune, commanded a cohort-sized regiment). These officers are thus comparable to modern colonels, who normally command battalions or regiments in a modern army. Finally, the legatus legionis was in command of the whole legion (over 5,000 men, equivalent to a modern brigade), plus roughly the same number of auxiliaries in attached regiments, bringing the total to c. 10,000 men, equivalent to a modern division. Thus a legatus is comparable to a modern general officer. The legions thus lacked any equivalent to modern junior commissioned officers (lieutenant to major). This is because the Romans saw no need to complement their centurions, who were considered fully capable of field commands, with commissioned officers. As a consequence, a chief centurion promoted to praefectus castrorum would, in modern terms, leap from sergeant-major to the rank of colonel in one bound.^{[citation needed]}

Ranks and insignia of the Continental Army
General and Commander-in-Chief	Major general	Brigadier general	Colonel	Lieutenant colonel	Aide-de-camp	Major	Captain	Subaltern	Lieutenant	Ensign	Sergeant Major	Sergeant	Corporal	Private
			Gold epaulets Jacket with gold trim	Silver epaulets	Gold epaulets Hat with green cockade	Gold epaulets	Gold epaulet (Right shoulder)	Gold epaulet (Left shoulder)		No epaulets	Red epaulets	Red epaulet (Right shoulder)	Green epaulet (Right shoulder)	No epaulets

	General officers			Field officers			Junior officers		Non-commissioned officers			Enlisted
Title	Commander-in-chief	Major general	Brigadier general	Colonel	Lieutenant colonel	Major	Captain	Subaltern	Sergeant major	Sergeant	Corporal	Private
Insignia							No left shoulder insignia	No right shoulder insignia				No insignia
Source:[a]

United States Army officer rank insignia

In terms of heraldic tradition, insignia changes over time created the situation of silver outranking gold. Beginning in 1780, general officer rank was designated by silver stars.^[3] Beginning in the 1830s, colonels wore silver eagles, with the color likely chosen because general officers already wore silver.^[3] Infantry officers wore silver epaulettes, while other branches wore gold, and their rank insignia was the opposite color of their epaulettes, so Infantry first lieutenants and captains wore gold bars.^[3] All second lieutenants wore epaulettes with no insignia.^[3]

During the American Civil War, all lieutenant colonels were directed to wear a silver oak leaf with gold braid on the epaulette, and all majors a gold leaf with silver braid.^[3] In 1872, the army began to use shoulder knots instead of epaulettes.^[3] Since generals, colonels, and lieutenant colonels already wore silver, changing the insignia of first lieutenants and captains from gold to silver was logical.^[3] Since majors already wore gold oak leaves, maintaining the current policy was also logical.^[3] Shoulder knots with no insignia designated second lieutenants.^[3] By World War I, metal collar insignia was regularly used to designate officers, requiring a way to differentiate between second lieutenants and privates; since silver bars already designated first lieutenants, the army opted to use gold for second lieutenants.^[3]

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
1775–1780
	General and Commander in chief						Major general		Brigadier general	Aide-de-camp	Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			Ensign
1780–1821
	Commander-in-chief						Major general		Brigadier general		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain[c]		Subaltern[d]
1832–1851[4]
					Major general Commanding the Army		Major general		Brigadier general		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant
1861–1864[5]
					Major general Commanding the Army		Major general		Brigadier general		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		First lieutenant			Second lieutenant
1864–1866[6]
					Lieutenant general		Major general		Brigadier general		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		First lieutenant			Second lieutenant
1866–1872[7]
			General of the Army of the United States		Lieutenant general		Major general		Brigadier general		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		First lieutenant			Second lieutenant
1872–1888[8][7]
			General of the Army of the United States		Lieutenant general		Major general		Brigadier general		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		First lieutenant			Second lieutenant
1888[7]
			General of the Army of the United States				Major general		Brigadier general		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		First lieutenant			Second lieutenant
1902–1917
1944–1959
1959–2015[9]
2015–2020
	General of the Army		General		Lieutenant general		Major general		Brigadier general		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		First lieutenant			Second lieutenant
Uniformed services pay grade	Special grade		O-10		O-9		O-8		O-7		O-6		O-5		O-4		O-3		O-2			O-1			Officer candidate/Cadet

United States Navy officer rank insignia

This table shows changes in insignia based on the date they appeared in or were removed from uniform regulations or official orders.^[10]

US DoD Pay Grade	Special Grade	O-10	O-9	O-8	O-7	O-6	O-5	O-4	O-3	O-2	O-1
Title	Admiral of the Navy and Fleet Admiral	Admiral	Vice admiral	Rear admiral	Commodore	Captain	Commander	Lieutenant commander	Lieutenant	Lieutenant (junior grade)	Ensign
(March 1852)	No equivalent							No equivalent			No equivalent
(July 1862)	No equivalent
(May 1863)	No equivalent
(Jan. 1864)	No equivalent
(Jan. 1865)	No equivalent
(Dec. 1866)	No equivalent
(March 1869)	No equivalent
(May 1869)	No equivalent
(Nov. 1874)	No equivalent
(Aug. 1881)	No equivalent
(July 1897)	No equivalent
(May 1899)	No equivalent		No equivalent		No equivalent
(Jan. 1905)		No equivalent
(Jan. 1913)
(Sept. 1922)	No equivalent
(Jan. 1945)
Title	Admiral of the Navy and Fleet Admiral	Admiral	Vice admiral	Rear admiral	Commodore	Captain	Commander	Lieutenant commander	Lieutenant	Lieutenant (junior grade)	Ensign
NATO Code	OF-10	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1

United States Air Force officer rank insignia

The current Air Force officer rank names and insignia were taken from the Army upon the establishment of the Air Force as a separate service in 1947. The insignia have been essentially unchanged since then, except for a brief period during the 1990s, when then-Air Force Chief of Staff General Merrill A. McPeak redesigned the service dress uniform.

His redesign replaced the metal rank insignia for officers with silver braid on the sleeves, similar to the officer rank insignia now used by the US Navy and Coast Guard. This was similar to the rank insignia of the British Royal Air Force, the Canadian Armed Forces and other Commonwealth air forces. The "McPeak uniform" was very unpopular, drawing comparisons to the jackets worn by airline pilots, and the traditional shoulder rank insignia were reinstated to the service coat within a week of General McPeak's retirement in 1994.^[12]

Uniformed services pay grade	Special grade		O-10		O-9		O-8		O-7		O-6		O-5		O-4		O-3		O-2			O-1			Officer candidate/Cadet
Service Dress Uniform Insignia
Title			General		Lieutenant General		Major General		Brigadier General		Colonel		Lieutenant Colonel		Major		Captain		First Lieutenant			Second Lieutenant
Abbreviation			Gen		Lt Gen		Maj Gen		Brig Gen		Col		Lt Col		Maj		Capt		1st Lt			2d Lt
NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1

United States Space Force rank insignia

Category:Military rank insignia of the Royal Navy (18th and 19th centuries)

Goes: Royal Navy ranks, rates, and uniforms of the 18th and 19th centuries

Rank group	Flag officers					Senior officers			Junior officers
1787-1795
	3 gold stripes on white cuff with gold buttons	3 gold stripes on white cuff with gold buttons	2 gold stripes on white cuff with gold buttons	1 gold stripe on white cuff with gold buttons	1 gold stripe on white cuff with gold buttons	2 gold stripes on white cuff with gold buttons	1 gold stripe on white cuff with gold buttons	1 gold stripe on blue cuff with gold buttons	White cuff with buttons and lined button holes	Blue cuff with buttons
	Admiral of the Fleet	Admiral	Vice admiral	Rear admiral	Commodore (wears R. Adm. uniform)	(Post) Captain (over 3 yrs seniority)	Captain (under 3 yrs seniority)	Master & Commander	Lieutenant	Mate/Midshipman

Goes: Royal Navy ranks, rates, and uniforms of the 18th and 19th centuries

Rank group	Flag officers					Senior officers			Junior officers
1795-1812
									Lieutenant	Mate/Midshipman
	3 gold stripes on blue cuff with gold buttons and lined button holes	3 gold stripes on blue cuff with gold buttons and lined button holes	2 gold stripes on blue cuff with gold buttons and lined button holes	1 gold stripe on blue cuff with gold buttons and lined button holes	1 gold stripe on blue cuff with gold buttons and lined button holes	2 gold stripes on slashed cuff	2 gold stripes on slashed cuff	1 gold stripe on slashed cuff	White cuff with buttons and lined button holes
	Admiral of the Fleet	Admiral	Vice admiral	Rear admiral	Commodore (wears R. Adm. uniform)	(Post) Captain (over 3 yrs seniority)	Captain (under 3 yrs seniority)	Master & Commander	Lieutenant	Mate/Midshipman

Goes: Royal Navy ranks, rates, and uniforms of the 18th and 19th centuries

Rank group	Flag officers					Senior officers			Junior officers
1812-1825
										Mate/Midshipman
	3 gold stripes on blue cuff with gold buttons and lined button holes	3 gold stripes on blue cuff with gold buttons and lined button holes	2 gold stripes on blue cuff with gold buttons and lined button holes	1 gold stripe on blue cuff with gold buttons and lined button holes	1 gold stripe on blue cuff with gold buttons and lined button holes	2 gold stripes on slashed cuff	2 gold stripes on slashed cuff	1 gold stripe on slashed cuff	White cuff with buttons and lined button holes
	Admiral of the Fleet	Admiral	Vice admiral	Rear admiral	Commodore (wears R. Adm. uniform)	(Post) Captain (over 3 yrs seniority)	Captain (under 3 yrs seniority)	Master & Commander	Lieutenant	Mate/Midshipman

Goes: Royal Navy ranks, rates, and uniforms of the 18th and 19th centuries

Rank group	Flag officers					Senior officers			Junior officers
1827-1833
										Mate/Midshipman
										1 line of gold braid on cuff
	Admiral of the Fleet	Admiral	Vice admiral	Rear admiral	Commodore (wears R. Adm. uniform)	(Post) Captain (over 3 yrs seniority)	Captain (under 3 yrs seniority)	Master & Commander	Lieutenant	Mate/Midshipman

Goes: Royal Navy ranks, rates, and uniforms of the 18th and 19th centuries

Rank group	Flag officers					Senior officers				Junior officers
1843-1864											Mate/Midshipman
		Admiral of the Fleet	Admiral	Vice admiral	Rear admiral	Commodore (wears R. Adm. uniform)	(Post) Captain (over 3 yrs seniority)	Captain (under 3 yrs seniority)	Commander	Lieutenant	Mate/Midshipman

Goes: Royal Navy officer rank insignia

Rank group	Flag officers					Senior officers			Junior officers				Trainee
1856–1861
	Admiral of the Fleet	Admiral	Vice admiral	Rear admiral	Commodore 1st class	Commodore 2nd class	Captain	Commander	Lieutenant		Mate	Midshipman	Officer cadet
1861–1863
	Admiral of the Fleet	Admiral	Vice admiral	Rear admiral	Commodore 1st class	Commodore 2nd class	Captain	Commander	Lieutenant, over 8 years	Lieutenant, under 8 years	Sub-Lieutenant	Midshipman	Officer cadet
1863–1877
	Admiral of the Fleet	Admiral	Vice admiral	Rear admiral	Commodore 1st class	Commodore 2nd class	Captain	Commander	Lieutenant, over 8 years	Lieutenant, under 8 years	Sub-Lieutenant	Midshipman	Officer cadet
1877–1891
	Admiral of the Fleet	Admiral	Vice admiral	Rear admiral	Commodore 1st class	Commodore 2nd class	Captain	Commander	Lieutenant, over 8 years	Lieutenant, under 8 years	Sub-Lieutenant	Midshipman	Officer cadet
1891–1914
	Admiral of the Fleet	Admiral	Vice admiral	Rear admiral	Commodore 1st class	Commodore 2nd class	Captain	Commander	Middle stripe increased from 3⁄16in to 1⁄4in Lieutenant, over 8 years	Lieutenant, under 8 years	Sub-Lieutenant	Midshipman	Officer cadet
1914-interwar period
	Admiral of the Fleet	Admiral	Vice admiral	Rear admiral	Commodore 1st class	Commodore 2nd class	Captain	Commander	Lieutenant Commander	Lieutenant (under 8 years)	Sub-Lieutenant	Midshipman	Officer cadet
interwar period/1939-present					N/A
	Admiral of the Fleet	Admiral	Vice admiral	Rear admiral	N/A	Commodore	Captain	Commander	Lieutenant Commander	Lieutenant (under 8 years)	Sub-Lieutenant	Midshipman	Officer cadet

From 1795 rank badges could also be shown on epaulettes. The system changed several times, but after 1864 was as follows:

Admiral of the fleet	Crown, crossed batons, and four stars
Admiral	Crown, crossed baton & sword, and three stars
Vice admiral	Crown, crossed baton & sword, and two stars
Rear admiral	Crown, crossed baton & sword, and one (larger) star
Commodore & Captain over three years	Crown, two stars, and foul anchor	.
Captain under 3 years	Crown, one star, and foul anchor
Commander	Crown and foul anchor
Lieutenant over eight years after 1914 Lieutenant commander	Star and foul anchor
Lieutenant under 8 years	Foul anchor

Rank group	Flag officers					Senior officers				Junior officers			Trainee
1864-1891 epaulettes reserved for dress uniforms after 1939 only in royal attendance by admirals													None
		Admiral of the Fleet	Admiral	Vice admiral	Rear admiral	Commodore	Captain (over 3 yrs seniority)	Captain (under 3 yrs seniority)	Commander	Lieutenant (over 8 yrs seniority)	Lieutenant (less than 8 yrs seniority)	Sub-lieutenant (was Mate)	Midshipman
1891-1926 Shoulder Boards													Mate/Midshipman
		Admiral of the Fleet	Admiral	Vice admiral	Rear admiral	Commodore 1st Class	Commodore (2nd Class)	Captain	Commander	Lieutenant (over 8 yrs seniority) in 1914 became Lt. commander	Lieutenant (less than 8 yrs seniority)	Sub-lieutenant	Midshipman

Sub-lieutenants and commissioned warrant officers wore scales (epaulettes without fringes, officially termed "shoulder straps") and the same device as a lieutenant.

Epaulettes of the military branch were gold throughout with silver devices, while those of the civil branches had a silver edging and gold devices. Instead of the baton and sword or foul anchor, civil branch epaulettes substituted a star. Navigating branch epaulettes were the same as the military branch, but with crossed plain anchors in place of the foul anchor. The epaulette stars had eight points, quite unlike the Order of the Bath stars worn by army officers.^[h]

In 1891 the admiral of the fleet changed to a crown above two crossed batons within a wreath, similar to the badge of a field marshal.

Also in 1891 shoulder-straps were introduced for use on white uniforms and on the greatcoat, and more recently in "shirt sleeve order". For these commodores first class and above used the same badge as on their epaulettes, and commodores second class and below used their rank rings.

From 1926 only commodores had two stars, other captains one.

Epaulettes were not worn after 1939 except by the royal family and in attendance on the royal family on ceremonial occasions by admirals.

In 2001,^[i] the shoulder boards on dress uniforms were changed to match the NATO system of stars for Flag Officers and are currently:

Admiral of the fleet	Crown, 2 crossed batons within a wreath
Admiral	Crown, crossed baton & sword and 4 stars
Vice admiral	Crown, crossed baton & sword and 3 stars
Rear admiral	Crown, crossed baton & sword and 2 stars
Commodore	Crown, crossed baton & sword and 1 star
Captain	Crown, one star, and foul anchor
Commander	Crown and foul anchor

In 2001,^[j] the shoulder boards on dress uniforms were changed to match the NATO system of stars for Flag Officers and are currently:

From 1863 officers were commissioned in the Royal Naval Reserve this was for serving merchant navy officers only. They had rings each formed from two 1⁄4 inch wavy lines intersecting each other. The curl was formed into a six-pointed star. The lieutenant commander's half-ring was straight, but only 1⁄8 inch wide. The commodore had a broad straight ring, but the same star for a curl. Midshipmen had a blue collar patch.

Officers of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (formed 1903) for civilians, had single wavy rings 1⁄4 inch wide, with the curl a squarish shape. The lieutenant commander's narrow ring was originally straight, but after 1942 was waved also. This system of rank insignia is still worn today by officers in the Sea Cadets. Midshipmen in the RNVR had a maroon collar patch.

In 1951 both reserves lost their distinctive insignia and got normal straight stripes like the regulars, but with a letter 'R' inside the curl. The two organisations were merged in 1958. In 2007 officers of the Royal Naval Reserve had the 'R' distinction from badges of rank removed. Honorary officers in the RNR however continue to wear the 'R' inside the curl.

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Royal Naval Reserve (1916-1951) v t e
									Commodore		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Sub lieutenant			Midshipman			Naval Cadet
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (1916-1941) v t e
									Commodore		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Sub lieutenant			Midshipman			Naval Cadet
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (1942-1951) v t e
									Commodore		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Sub lieutenant			Midshipman			Naval Cadet
Royal Naval Reserve (1952-2006) v t e
									Commodore		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Sub lieutenant			Midshipman			Naval Cadet
NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1

Goes here: Fleet Air Arm

Goes here: British Army officer rank insignia

In 1953, the crown was changed from the Tudor Crown to the Crown of St Edward, when Queen Elizabeth II adopted a stylised image of the crown for use in coats of arms, badges, logos and various other insignia.[15] King Charles III reinstated the Tudor Crown in 2022.[16]

Rank group	General officers					Field officers				Junior officers
(1760-1802)
	Field marshal	General	Lieutenant-general	Major-general	Brigadier-general		Colonel	Lieutenant-colonel	Major	Captain	Lieutenant	Second lieutenant	Officer cadet
(1802-1855)
	Field marshal	General	Lieutenant-general	Major-general	Brigadier-general		Colonel	Lieutenant-colonel	Major	Captain	Lieutenant	Second lieutenant	Officer cadet
(1855-1880)					(1856-1864) (1864-1880)		(1856-1867) (1867-1880) Note Filligree on bottom gold lining.	(1856-1867) (1867-1880)	(1856-1867) (1867-1880)
	Field marshal	General	Lieutenant-general	Major-general	Brigadier-general		Colonel	Lieutenant-colonel	Major	Captain	Lieutenant	Second lieutenant	Officer cadet
(1880–1902)
	Field marshal	General	Lieutenant-general	Major-general	Brigadier-general		Colonel	Lieutenant-colonel	Major	Captain	Lieutenant	Second lieutenant	Officer cadet
(1902–1920)
	Field marshal	General	Lieutenant-general	Major-general	Brigadier-general		Colonel	Lieutenant-colonel	Major	Captain	Lieutenant	Second lieutenant	Officer cadet
(1920–1921)
	Field marshal	General	Lieutenant-general	Major-general	Brigadier-general		Colonel	Lieutenant-colonel	Major	Captain	Lieutenant	Second lieutenant	Officer cadet
(1921–1928)
	Field marshal	General	Lieutenant-general	Major-general		Colonel commandant/ Colonel on the staff	Colonel	Lieutenant-colonel	Major	Captain	Lieutenant	Second lieutenant	Officer cadet
(1928–1953)
	Field marshal	General	Lieutenant-general	Major-general		Brigadier	Colonel	Lieutenant-colonel	Major	Captain	Lieutenant	Second lieutenant	Officer cadet
(1953–2022)
	Field marshal	General	Lieutenant-general	Major-general		Brigadier	Colonel	Lieutenant-colonel	Major	Captain	Lieutenant	Second lieutenant	Officer cadet
(2022–)
	Field marshal	General	Lieutenant-general	Major-general		Brigadier	Colonel	Lieutenant-colonel	Major	Captain	Lieutenant	Second lieutenant	Officer cadet
NATO Code	OF-10	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6		OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1		OF-D

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
(1802 – 1855)
	Sergeant Major			N/A			N/A		Staff/Colour Sergeant		Sergeant												Corporal				Lance Corporal		Private (or equivalent)
(1855 – 1880)
	Sergeant Major			N/A			N/A		Staff/Colour Sergeant		Sergeant												Corporal				Lance Corporal		Private (or equivalent)
(1889(?)/1920 – 1937)																													No insignia
	Conductor Staff Sergeant Major			Warrant Officer Class I			Warrant Officer Class II		Staff/Colour Sergeant		Sergeant												Corporal				Lance Corporal		Private (or equivalent)
(1938 – 1947)[17]																													No insignia
	Conductor Staff Sergeant Major			Warrant Officer Class I			Warrant Officer Class II	Warrant Officer Class III	Staff/Colour Sergeant		Sergeant												Corporal				Lance Corporal		Private (or equivalent)
(1948 – 1953)																													No insignia
	Conductor Staff Sergeant Major			Warrant Officer Class I			Warrant Officer Class II		Staff/Colour Sergeant		Sergeant												Corporal				Lance Corporal		Private (or equivalent)
(1953 – 2015)																													No insignia
	Conductor
	Warrant Officer Class I/1						Warrant Officer Class II/2		Staff/Colour Sergeant		Sergeant												Corporal				Lance Corporal		Private (or equivalent)
(2015 – present)																													No insignia
	Army Sergeant Major		Conductor
	Warrant Officer Class 1						Warrant Officer Class 2		Staff/Colour Sergeant		Sergeant												Corporal				Lance Corporal		Private (or equivalent)
NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Royal Flying Corps (1912–April 1918)
					Lieutenant-General		Major-General		Brigadier-General		Colonel		Lieutenant Colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			2nd lieutenant			Cadet
Royal Naval Air Service (1914–April 1918)																	Squadron Commander (less than 8 years seniority) Flight Commander Flight Lieutenant
											Wing Captain		Wing Commander		Squadron Commander (more than 8 years seniority)				Flight Sub-Lieutenant
April 1918 - August 1918
			General		Lieutenant-General		Major-General		Brigadier-General		Colonel		Lieutenant Colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			2nd lieutenant
August 1918 - 1919
			General		Lieutenant-General		Major-General		Brigadier-General		Colonel		Lieutenant Colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			2nd lieutenant
1919–1952
	Marshal of the RAF		Air chief marshal		Air marshal		Air vice-marshal		Air commodore		Group captain		Wing commander		Squadron leader		Flight lieutenant		Flying officer			Pilot officer /acting pilot officer			Officer cadet
Royal Observer Corps (1925–1996)
									Air commodore		Observer captain		Observer commander		Observer lieutenant commander		Observer lieutenant		Observer officer
1952–2022
	Marshal of the RAF		Air chief marshal		Air marshal		Air vice-marshal		Air commodore		Group captain		Wing commander		Squadron leader		Flight lieutenant		Flying officer			Pilot officer /acting pilot officer			Officer cadet
2022–Current
	Marshal of the RAF		Air chief marshal		Air marshal		Air vice-marshal		Air commodore		Group captain		Wing commander		Squadron leader		Flight lieutenant		Flying officer			Pilot officer /acting pilot officer			Officer cadet
NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1

Grande Armée rank	Modern U.S./U.K./NATO equivalent	Line Insignia Left/Right Shoulder [18]	Hussar Insignia* **[19]
Marshal of the Empire	Field marshal
Général d'armée , (not a rank, an appointment)	General
Général de corps d'armée, (not a rank, an appointment)	Lieutenant general
Général de division, Lieutenant général (ancien régime rank reintroduced in 1814)	Major General
Général de brigade, Maréchal de camp (ancien régime rank reintroduced in 1814)	Brigadier General	later:
Adjudant-commandant	Staff Colonel
Colonel	Colonel
Colonel en second	Senior lieutenant colonel
Major	Lieutenant Colonel
Major en second	Senior Major
Chef de bataillon or Chef d'escadron[20]	Major
Capitaine adjutant-major	Staff Captain
Capitaine	Captain
Lieutenant	First Lieutenant	Cavalry:
Sous-lieutenant	Second Lieutenant	Cavalry:
Non-commissioned officers
Adjudant sous-officier	Chief Warrant Officer
Adjudant-Chef	Warrant Officer
Adjudant	Sergeant-Major
Sergent-Major or Maréchal des logis Chef[20]	First sergeant
Sergent or Maréchal des Logis[20]	Sergeant
Caporal-Fourrier or Brigadier-Fourrier[20]	Company clerk/supply Sergeant
Caporal or Brigadier (Cavalry, Horse Artillery and Gendarmerie)[20]	Corporal
Soldat or Cavalier(Cavalry) or Canonnier(Artillery)	Private or UK equivalent

• Hussar insignia was represented with elaborate curved embroidered chevrons in gold lace on the lower sleeve of the wearer's coat and pelisse extending from the cuff to the elbow of the wearer. Officer's chevrons had the point facing up. Warrant officers and NCOs were the same, but less elaborate.
  • The Hussar system later became the insignia of French officers from the rank of Colonel to below.

Badges in the New York City Police Department are referred to as "shields" (the traditional term), though not all badge designs are strictly shield-shaped. Some officers have used "Pottsy" badges, "dupes", or duplicate badges, as officers are punished for losing their shield by also losing up to ten days' pay.^[21]

Every rank has a different badge design (except "police officer" and "probationary police officer") and, upon change in rank, officers receive a new badge. Lower-ranked police officers are identified by their shield numbers, and tax registry numbers. Lieutenants and above do not have shield numbers and are identified by tax registry numbers. All sworn members of the NYPD have their ID card photos taken against a red background. Civilian employees of the NYPD have their ID card photos taken against a blue background, signifying that they are not commissioned to carry a firearm. All ID cards have an expiration date. Although the First Deputy Commissioner and Chief of Department share the same insignia (four stars), the First Deputy Commissioner outranks the Chief of Department. The Deputy Commissioners Bureau Chiefs/Bureau Chief Chaplains and Chief Surgeon have three stars.

Rank	Insignia	Badge design	Badge color	Badge number	Uniform
Police Commissioner		With requisite number of stars and rank	Gold, with silver star(s)	No	White shirt, dark blue peaked cap, gold hat badge
First Deputy Commissioner
Chief of Department
Deputy Commissioner (has no operational command; however, has a rank equivalent to a bureau chief)
Bureau Chief & Bureau Chief Chaplain †
Assistant Chief & Assistant Chief Chaplain †
Deputy Chief & Deputy Chief Chaplain †		Chaplain and Surgeon badges differ
Inspector & Chaplain †		Chaplain and Surgeon badges differ	Gold
Deputy Inspector
Captain
Lieutenant	(shoulder & collar)
Sergeant	(sleeve)			Yes	Navy blue shirt, peaked cap, gold hat badge
Detective	None
Police Officer			Silver	Yes, matching hat badge	Navy blue shirt, peaked cap, silver hat badge with matching number
Probationary Officer
Recruit Officer				Yes	Slate grey, black garrison cap
Cadet		None

^ †: Rank that has no police powers

National police corps

Rank	First chief commissioner (Eerste Hoofdcommissaris)	Chief commissioner (Hoofdcommissaris)	Commissioner (Commissaris)	Chief inspector (Hoofdinspecteur)	Inspector (Inspecteur)	Sergeant (Brigadier)
Shoulder
Sleeve
Rank	Chief agent (Hoofdagent)	Agent (Agent)	Police patrol officer (Surveillant)	Police trainee (Aspirant)	Non-executive employee (Niet-Executieve Medewerker)
Shoulder
Sleeve

Royal Marechaussee (military police)

Officers

NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1
Royal Marechaussee[22] v t e
					Luitenant-generaal		Generaal-majoor		Brigade-generaal		Kolonel		Luitenant-kolonel		Majoor		Kapitein		Eerste-luitenant			Tweede-luitenant

NCO/enlisted

NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
Royal Marechaussee[22] v t e
	Adjudant-onderofficier								Opperwachtmeester		Wachtmeester der 1e klasse						Wachtmeester						Marechaussee der 1e klasse				Marechaussee der 2e klasse		Marechaussee der 3e klasse						Marechaussee der 4e klasse

Great Britain Police ranks and insignia
Rank	Chief constable	Deputy chief constable	Assistant chief constable	Chief superintendent	Superintendent	Chief inspector	Inspector	Sergeant	Constable
Epaulette insignia

Metropolitan Police ranks
Rank	Commissioner	Deputy commissioner	Assistant commissioner	Deputy assistant commissioner	Commander	Chief superintendent	Superintendent	Chief inspector	Inspector	Sergeant	Constable
Epaulette insignia

Police Service of Northern Ireland ranks
Rank	Chief constable	Deputy chief constable	Assistant chief constable	Chief superintendent	Superintendent	Chief inspector	Inspector	Sergeant	Constable
Epaulette insignia

Insígnia of TNG, DS9, VOY	Provisional	Rank	Officers of Note
		Admiral
		Vice Admiral	Alynna Nechayev, William Ross, Norah Satie
		Rear Admiral
		Rear Admiral (lower half) Commodore
		Captain	Kathryn Janeway, Jean-Luc Picard, Benjamin Sisko
		Commander	Beverly Crusher, William Riker, Deanna Troi
		Lieutenant Commander	Data, Jadzia Dax, Geordi La Forge
		Lieutenant	Julian Bashir, Worf, Tasha Yar
		Lieutenant Junior Grade	Nog
		Ensign	Wesley Crusher

Uniform item	Captain	First officer	Second officer/Flight engineer Additional crew member	Third officer/ Trainee
Blazer/epaulets
Qualification badge	Wings with a star enclosed in a laurel wreath	Wings with a star	Wings	Wings

Inter-service awards and decorations of the United States military to show order of General order of precedence of all the awards and decorations.

Template:Ribbon devices

[Category:Award numerals (image set)]

• Midshipman – – Given the actor's age and the date of the first movie, the most likely time for Maverick to be at the academy is 1978-1982.

Ensign	Lieutenant (junior grade)	Lieutenant	Lieutenant Commander	Commander	Captain
O-1	O-2	O-3	O-4	O-5	O-6
1982 (most likely)	1984 (req'd 2 yr)	by 1986 (req'd 2 yr)	1991 (req'd 3 yrs, and 9-11 yrs commissioned sevice)	Unknown. Earliest 1994 (req'd 3 yrs, and 15-17 yrs commissioned sevice)	by 2020. Earliest 1997 (req'd 3 yrs, and 21–23 yrs commissioned sevice)

Given the 2nd movie, it is unlikely that Maverick made the earliest possible dates shown here, at least from Lt. Cmdr to Cmdr. and on to Capt.

Also, given the Navy retirement requirements, as has been pointed out before, its implausible that Maverick is still in the Navy.

By US Statute, the mandatory retirement for (https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Career-Management/Reserve-Personnel-Mgmt/Officers/Attrition-Retirement/)

Statutory Retirement for Active-Duty Captains and Commanders (non LDO)

References: 10 USC 633 (https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section633&num=0&edition=prelim), 10 USC 634, 10 USC 1370

For retirement as a CAPT: - 30 years of active commissioned service (10 USC 634)

Statutory Retirement for Active Duty LDOs (limited duty officers)

References: 10 USC 8372, 10 USC 1370

For retirement as a CAPT: - End of month following the month completing 38 years of active naval service

Captains - in an active status (USNR-R or USNR-S1) who are not on the promotion list to the next higher pay-grade will be transferred to the Retired Reserve, if qualified, or be honorably discharged from the Navy Reserve not later than the first day of the month following the month in which the officer completes 30 years of commissioned service. Captains can request continuation up to 35 years of commissioned service as a Captain. Continuation is dependent on the final adjudication of the request. Continuation is not automatic.

Title 10, U.S. Code, Section 12308, 14509, 14510, 14703 Section 12308: Any person who has qualified for retired pay under chapter 1223 of this title may, with his consent and by order of the Secretary concerned, be retained on active duty, or in service in a reserve component other than that listed in section 12732(b) of this title. A member so retained shall be credited with that service for all purposes.

Section 14509, 14510: Navy Reserve officers must be separated on the last day of the month in which they reach age 62.

Rear Admiral (lower half)	Rear Admiral	Vice Admiral	Admiral
O-7	O-8	O-9	O-10
Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	By 2020

In order of precedence:

	Navy "E" Ribbon - One 3⁄16 inch silver letter "E" device denotes first award.
Navy Expeditionary Medal	Humanitarian Service Medal	Sea Service Deployment Ribbon

Orders and medals usually tell the story of a service person's career.

	Silver Star Medal	Legion of Merit Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal	Meritorious Service Medal	Air Medal with Strike/Flight numeral 5 and Valor Device*
Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal	Navy E Ribbon	Navy Expeditionary Medal
National Defense Service Medal	Southwest Asia Service Medal	Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal	Humanitarian Service Medal
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon	Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)	Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

• (Gold "V" device for third award (standard device for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps before December 2016))

1.		Silver Star Medal
2.	Legion of Merit Medal	Defense Meritorious Service Medal	Meritorious Service Medal
3.	Air Medal with Strike/Flight numeral 5	Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal, 4 awards	Navy & Marine Corps Achievemment Medal
4.	Combat Action Ribbon	Joint Meritorious Unit Award	Navy E Ribbon, 1st award
	Navy Expeditionary Medal (was on Top Gun, missing) ()
5.	National Defense Service Medal	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (replaces Navy version from Top Gun?)	Southwest Asia Service Medal, 3 awards
6.	Afghanistan Campaign Medal, 3 awards	Iraq Campaign Medal, 3 awards	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal**
			Humanitarian Service Medal (was on Top Gun, missing)
7.	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal**	Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (also in Top Gun)	United Nations Medal
8.	Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)	US Navy Expert Rifleman Medal	US Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal

• Note 1: **Based on the Order of Precedence of Military Medals/Awards, these 2 should be switched with each other. But, the reference provided on the wiki page for these medals on the order of precedence citing the regulation has it this way.

How will they award Maverick for his latest mission? There are only 2 awards for gallantry above what he already has, either one or both of which the events would seem to qualify him for:

Ribbon/award name[23] Personal decorations Awarded for "Conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty"   Medal of Honor Service cross medals – Awarded for "extraordinary heroism in combat"   Navy Cross

In order of precedence:

Presidential Unit Citation	Meritorious Unit Commendation	Navy "E" Ribbon - One 3⁄16 inch silver letter "E" device denotes first award.
Navy Expeditionary Medal	Humanitarian Service Medal	Sea Service Deployment Ribbon

• Midshipman –

Ensign	Lieutenant (junior grade)	Lieutenant	Lieutenant Commander	Commander	Captain
O-1	O-2	O-3	O-4	O-5	O-6
Unknown	Unknown	by 1986	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown

Rear Admiral (lower half)	Rear Admiral	Vice Admiral	Admiral
O-7	O-8	O-9	O-10
Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	By 2020

In order of precedence:

	Defense Distinguished Service Medal	Distinguished Flying Cross
Either a Bronze Star Medal or Defense Meritorious Service Medal	Meritorious Service Medal - One 5⁄16 inch silver star device denotes sixth award.	Meritorious Service Medal - This is an error / duplicate medal.
Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal - Two 5⁄16 inch star devices (colors unknown / hard to distinguish) denote amount of awards.	Joint Service Achievement Medal	Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal - One 5⁄16 inch gold star device denotes second award.
Combat Action Ribbon - One 5⁄16 inch gold star device denotes awards in two separate theaters of war.	Presidential Unit Citation	Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Navy Unit Commendation	Sea Service Deployment Ribbon - This is an error in order of precedence as well as a duplicate medal.	National Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal - Two 3⁄16 inch bronze star devices denote third award.	Afghanistan Campaign Medal	Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal	Sea Service Deployment Ribbon - One 5⁄16 inch silver star device denotes sixth award.
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)	Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)	United Nations Medal

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