Officer Insignias 101
February 18, 2025
For civilians, understanding military ranks and insignias can be overwhelming, especially with each branch of the U.S. military having its own unique symbols. Soldiers’ Angels is here to make it easier with a crash course on warrant officer and commissioned officer ranks.
In this blog, we’ll explain the significance of these ranks and their role within the military structure. Warrant officers are highly skilled specialists who bridge the gap between enlisted personnel and officers, while commissioned officers serve as the leaders responsible for managing and guiding troops.
Rank Insignia Basics
Rank insignias are visual symbols won on the uniforms of our Service Members that signify a member’s rank in 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 warrant officers and commissioned officers insignias. Click here for an overview of enlisted rank insignias.
Warrant Officers represent highly specialized experts bridging the gap between enlisted and officer ranks. Meanwhile, commissioned officers represent leaders who manage and guide troops. These ranks are represented in writing through “W” or “O” then a number, for example, O-3. The “W” stands for warrant officer while the “O” stands for commissioned officer similar to how an enlisted member’s rank will start with “E”.
Warrant Officers
Army
Warrant Officer 1 – Silver bar with a black square in the middle.
Marine Corps
Warrant Officer 1 – Gold bar with two red rectangles at each end.
Navy
USN Warrant Officer 1 – Gold bar with two dark blue rectangles at each end.
Army
Chief Warrant Officer 2 – Silver bar with two black squares in the middle.
Marine Corps
Chief Warrant Officer 2 – Gold bar with three red squares evenly spaced out.
Navy
USN Chief Warrant Officer 2 – Gold bar with three blue squares evenly spaced out.
Coast Guard
Chief Warrant Officer 2 – Gold bar with three dark blue squares evenly spaced out.
Army
Chief Warrant Officer 3 – Silver bar with three black squares in the middle.
Marine Corps
Chief Warrant Officer 3 – Silver bar with two red rectangles at each end.
Navy
USN Chief Warrant Officer 3 – Silver bar with two blue rectangles at each end.
Coast Guard
Chief Warrant Officer 3 – Silver bar with two dark blue squares in the middle.
Army
Chief Warrant Officer 4 – Silver bar with four black squares evenly spaced out.
Marine Corps
Chief Warrant Officer 4 – Silver bar with three red squares evenly spaced out.
Navy
USN Chief Warrant Officer 4 – Silver bar with three blue squares evenly spaced out.
Coast Guard
Chief Warrant Officer 4 – Silver bar with three dark blue evenly spaced out.
Army
Chief Warrant Officer 5 – Silver bar with one black line in the middle extending from the top to the bottom.
Marine Corps
Chief Warrant Officer 5 – Silver bar with one red line in the middle extending from the top to the bottom.
Navy
USN Chief Warrant Officer 5 – Silver bar with one blue line in the middle extending from the top to the bottom.
Commissioned Officer
Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force
Second Lieutenant – One gold bar.
Navy and Coast Guard
Ensign – One gold bar.
Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force
First Lieutenant – One silver bar.
Navy and Coast Guard
Lieutenant Junior Grade – One silver bar.
Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force
Captain – Two silver bars side by side.
Navy and Coast Guard
Lieutenant – Two silver bars side by side.
Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force
Major – Gold oak leaf.
Navy and Coast Guard
Lieutenant Commander – Gold oak leaf.
Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force
Lieutenant Colonel – Silver oak leaf.
Navy and Coast Guard
Commander – Silver oak leaf.
Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force
Colonel – Silver eagle with spread wings.
Navy and Coast Guard
Captain – Silver eagle with spread wings.
Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force
Brigadier General – One silver star.
Navy and Coast Guard
Rear Admiral Lower Half – One silver star.
Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force
Major General – Two silver stars side by side.
Navy and Coast Guard
Rear Admiral Upper Half – Two silver stars side by side.
Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force
Lieutenant General – Three silver stars side by side.
Navy and Coast Guard
Vice Admiral – Three silver stars side by side.
Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force
General – Four silver stars side by side.
Navy and Coast Guard
Admiral – Four silver stars side by side.
Army
General of the Army – Five silver stars connected to make a pentagon.
Navy
Fleet Admiral – Five silver stars connected to make a pentagon.
Air Force
General of the Air Force – Five silver stars connected to make a pentagon.
Coast Guard
Fleet Admiral – Five silver stars connected to make a pentagon.
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. Interested in learning about enlisted insignias? Read our blog: Enlisted Insignias 101 For ways to show your support through Soldiers’ Angels click here.
