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Enlisted Insignias 101

For civilians, understanding military rank can be a bit of a challenge—especially when it comes to identifying ranks based on insignias. With each branch of the U.S. military having its own unique symbols, it can be tricky to decipher what they all mean. That’s why Soldiers’ Angels is here to help with a quick crash course!

In this blog, we’ll break down enlisted rank insignias, explaining how they are structured and what they represent. Whether you’re looking to gain a better understanding for personal knowledge or to show appreciation for those who serve, this guide will give you a solid foundation.

Rank Insignia Basics

Rank insignias are visual symbols worn on the uniforms of our Service Members that signify a member’s rank within the military. Each branch of the U.S. military has its own insignias unique to its branch but follows a general structure. The ranks are typically separated into three categories: enlisted ranks, warrant officers, and commissioned officers. This blog will go over the enlisted ranks insignias.

Enlisted ranks represent the junior and senior enlisted personnel. These ranks are represented in writing through the letter “E”, then a number, for example, E-4. The E stands for enlisted similar to how a commissioned officer will start with “O” and a warrant officer with “W”.

Enlisted Insignias Guide

Click on each rank to explore a quick breakdown and visual guide of its insignia across all military branches.

There are no insignias for an E-1 in any branch of the military. This rank is typically held by new recruits, most of whom are still in basic training.

Army  
Private – A single chevron pointing upwards with a pointed tip.  

Marine Corps  
Private – Single chevron pointing upwards with a pointed tip.  

Navy  
Seaman Recruit – Two diagonal stripes in a box.  

Air Force 
Airman Basic – One chevron pointing down with a star in the center as a part of the curve.  

Space Force  
Specialist 2 – One delta symbol and one horizontal stripe in the center of a hexagon. 

Coast Guard  
Seaman Apprentice – Two diagonal stripes in a box.

E-2 is the first enlisted ranks insignia.

Army  
Private First Class – One Chevron pointing upwards with a pointed tip and a rounded rocker underneath.  

Marine Corps  
Lance Corporal – One chevron pointing upwards with a pointed tip and crossed rifles below. 

Navy  
Seaman – Three diagonal stripes in a box. 

Air Force  
Airman First Class -Two chevrons pointing down with a star in the center as a part of the curve.  

Space Force  
Specialist 3 – One delta symbol and two horizontal stripes in the center of a hexagon. 

Coast Guard  
Seaman – Three diagonal stripes in a box. 

The enlisted ranks insignias for the Coast Guard and the Navy are the same design but different colors.

Army 
Corporal – Two chevrons pointing upwards with a pointed tip.   
Specialist – A green shield-shaped insignia with the eagle from the Great Seal of the United States in the center. 

Marine Corps  
Corporal – Two chevrons pointing upwards with a pointed tip and crossed rifles below. 

Navy 
Petty Officer Third Class – An eagle perched above crossed anchors and one chevron pointed down with a pointed tip.  

Air Force  
Senior Airman – Three chevrons pointing down with a star in the center as a part of the curve.  

Space Force  
Specialist 4 – One delta symbol and three horizontal stripes in the center of a hexagon. 

Coast Guard  
Petty Officer Third Class – An eagle perched above crossed anchors and one chevron pointed down with a pointed tip.

Army 
Sergeant – Three chevrons pointing upwards with a pointed tip.  

Marine Corps 
Sergeant – Three chevrons pointing upwards with a pointed tip and crossed rifled below. 

Navy 
Petty Officer Second Class – An eagle perched above crossed anchors and two chevrons pointed down with a pointed tip. 

Air Force 
Staff Sergeant – Three chevrons pointing down with a star in the center as a part of the curve and one additional chevron below the star. 

Space Force 
Sergeant – One delta and globe symbol and three chevrons pointing down with a pointed tip in a hexagon shape.  

Coast Guard 
Petty Officer Second Class – An eagle perched above crossed anchors and two chevrons pointed down with a pointed tip.

Army 
Staff Sergeant – Three chevrons pointing upwards with a pointed tip and one rocker underneath.  

Marine Corps 
Staff Sergeant – Three chevrons pointing upwards with a pointed tip and one rocker underneath plus crossed rifles in the center. 

Navy 
Petty Officer First Class – An eagle perched above crossed anchors and three chevrons pointed down with a pointed tip. 

Air Force 
Technical Sergeant – Three chevrons pointed down with a star in the center as a part of the curve and two additional chevrons below the star. 

Space Force 
Technical Sergeant – One delta and globe symbol and four chevrons pointing down with a pointed tip in a hexagon shape.  

Coast Guard 
Petty Officer First Class -An eagle perched above crossed anchors and three chevrons pointed down with a pointed tip.

Army 
Sergeant First Class – Three chevrons pointing upwards with a pointed tip and two rockers underneath. 

Marine Corps 
Gunnery Sergeant – Three chevrons pointing upwards with a pointed tip and two rockers underneath plus crossed rifles in the center. 

Navy 
Chief Petty Officer – An eagle perched above crossed anchors and three chevron pointed down with a pointed tip and a rocker above. 

Air Force 
Master Sergeant – Three chevrons pointed down with a star in the center as a part of the curve, two additional chevrons below the star and one chevron with a pointed tip inverted on top of the first chevrons.  
First Sergeant – Same as Master Sergeant but with a diamond in space between chevrons.  

Space Force  
Master Sergeant – Four chevrons pointing down with a pointed tip and the globe symbol above. The delta symbol is now on a rocker above the globe symbol. All in a hexagon shape. 

Coast Guard 
Chief Petty Officer – An eagle perched above crossed anchors and three chevrons pointed down with a pointed tip and a rocker above. 

Army 
Master Sergeant – Three chevrons pointing upwards with a pointed tip and three rockers underneath.  
First Sergeant – Same as Master Sergeant but with a diamond in middle. 

Marine Corps 
Master Sergeant – Three chevrons pointing upwards with a pointed tip and three rockers underneath plus crossed rifles in the center. 
First Sergeant – Same as Master Sergeant but with a diamond in the middle.  

Navy 
Senior Chief Petty Officer – An eagle perched above crossed anchors and three chevron pointed down with a pointed tip and a rocker above. One star centered above the eagle.  

Air Force 
Senior Master Sergeant – Three chevrons pointed down with a star in the center as a part of the curve, two additional chevrons below the star and two chevrons with a pointed tip inverted on top of the first chevrons. 
First Sergeant – Same as Senior Master Sergeant but with a diamond in the space between chevrons.  

Space Force 
Senior Master Sergeant – Four chevrons pointing down with a pointed tip and the globe symbol above. The delta symbol is on two rockers above the globe symbol. All in a hexagon shape.  

Coast Guard 
Senior Chief Petty Officer – An eagle perched above crossed anchors and three chevron pointed down with a pointed tip and a rocker above. One star centered above the eagle.

Army  
Sergeant Major – Three chevrons pointing upwards with a pointed tip and three rockers underneath. The center is a star.  
Command Sergeant Major – Three chevrons pointing upwards with a pointed tip and three rockers underneath. The center is a star with a wreath around the star.  
Sergeant Major of the Army – Three chevrons pointing upwards with a pointed tip and three rockers underneath. The center is the eagle from the Great Seal of the United States.  

Marine Corps 
Master Gunnery Sergeant – Three chevrons pointing upwards with a pointed tip and four rockers underneath. The center is a bursting bomb. 
Sergeant Major – Three chevrons pointing upwards with a pointed tip and four rockers. The center is a star. 
Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps – Three chevrons pointing upwards with a pointed tip and four rockers underneath. The center is the United States Marine Corps symbol and two stars. 

Navy 
Master Chief Petty Officer – An eagle perched above crossed anchors and three chevron pointed down with a pointed tip with a rocker above. Two stars above the eagle at each corner. 
Fleet/Command Master Chief Petty Officer – An eagle perched above one star, and three chevron pointed down with a pointed tip with a rocker above. Two stars above the eagle at each corner. 
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy – An eagle perched above a star, and three chevron pointed down with a pointed tip with a rocker above. Three stars above the eagle in a straight line.  

Air Force  
Chief Master Sergeant – Three chevrons pointed down with a star in the center as a part of the curve, two additional chevrons below the star and three chevrons with a pointed tip inverted on top of the first chevrons. 
First Sergeant – Same as Chief Master Sergeant but with a diamond in the space between chevrons. 
Command Chief Master Sergeant – Three chevrons pointed down with a star in the center as a part of the curve, two additional chevrons below the star and three chevrons with a pointed tip inverted on top of the first chevrons. Star in center of chevrons.  
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force – Three chevrons pointed down with a star with a wreath around the star in the center as a part of the curve, two additional chevrons below the star and three chevrons with a pointed tip inverted on top of the first chevrons. The center is the eagle from the Great Seal of the United States. 

Space Force  
Chief Master Sergeant – Four chevrons pointed down with a pointed tip and the globe symbol above. The delta symbol is on three rockers above the globe symbol. All in a hexagon shape. 
Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force – Four chevrons pointed down with a pointed tip and the space force delta symbol with a star to each side above. The delta symbol is on three rockers above the space force delta symbol. All in a hexagon shape.  

Coast Guard  
Master Chief Petty Officer – An eagle perched above crossed anchors and three chevrons pointed down with a pointed tip and a rocker above. Two stars above the eagle at each corner.  
Fleet/Command Master Chief Petty Officer – An eagle perched above a shield and three chevrons pointed down with a pointed tip and a rocker above. Two stars above the eagle at each corner.  
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard – An eagle perched above a shield and three chevrons pointed down with a pointed tip and a rocker above. Three stars are above the eagle. 

Enlisted ranks insignias E-9 image one.
Enlisted ranks insignias E-9 image two.

Note

Besides the Seaman Recruit rank the Coast Guard insignias are the same design as the Navy but in a different color. This is because the Coast Guard is a part of the Navy during times of war and the Department of Homeland Security in peacetime.

These symbols not only represent the rank of our Service Members but their dedication and responsibilities. Recognizing insignias helps honor and show our appreciation for those who serve. To learn more about military insignias please see the U.S. Department of Defense website. For ways to show your support through Soldiers’ Angels click here.