Should the different branches know the basics of rank for all the other branches?

SPC Brian Aranda — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 23:13:33 -0400

I remember leaving Ft. Bragg and heading down to Florida when I ETS'd. My sister was going through boot camp in Orlando and I decided to see if I could talk to her for a little bit. Whoever had the equivalent of CQ that evening was gracious enough to grant a 15 minute time frame, since it was not during the duty day. I was in my greens with my beret and both cords and oh so polished jump boots. I was getting saluted by almost every person on the base! I kept returning salutes and telling them not to salute me, I'm only an E-4.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Sep 18 at 2014 11:59 PM

MSG Brad Sand — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 23:59:42 -0400

I remember during Infantry OSUT, during the middle of training being given duty as human training dummies at the Eagle Skills Assessment (end of training testing). Because we were working the testing sites, the graders had us wear are patrol caps at the site...and every trainee was either trying to stand at parade rest or salute us. Even though all these testers were almost done with training and we were six weeks behind them, those trainees figured everyone out ranked them?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 19 at 2014 3:26 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 03:26:04 -0400

Yes I believe we all should know the ranks of the other branched but that probably wont happen it gets a little confusing. While in Iraq i had to learn the rank structure of their military and that to me was all over the place and hard to remember. Luckily most of their Generals wore plain cloths usually but had their ID out before hand and I could see the green strip on it far enough to lock up at attention and render the salute because we was supposed to treat them with the same courtesy as our own officers. They where actually pretty nice and spoke English very well also and would stop and speak to us from time to time and see how their guys that worked with me was doing. Really i think that there should be one rank structure across all our branches though to avoid confusion that happens so much.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 19 at 2014 3:30 AM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 03:30:54 -0400

I would say since now we operate in a very joint environment with Air Force and Navy embedded in Army units and vice versa, it makes some sense to understand the sister service rank structures. Each are different. The AF does not have NCO's until E-5. The Navy likes to refer their NCO's as Petty Officers. E-4's and up the Navy uses their specialty rate in their title. An E-4 in the Navy is generically a Petty Officer 3rd class. If he/she has a job rate called Electricians Mate then that person is refereed as an Electricians Mate 3rd class etc.

The Naval officers titles are way different then the other 3. A Captain in the Navy is an O-6 and wears an Eagle just like a Colonel. O-3 is a Lieutenant vs a Captain like the Army. There is no rank of major, it is an Lt Commander.

It is wise to know these things. The funniest thing I see is when my fellow junior Air Force see a Navy PO3 and salute them because the PO3 rank is an Eagle clutching a Chevron. I had an airman salute a guy once because he saw an eagle and assumed an O6. I laughed because he would have been the only O6 in his 20's.

Response by GySgt Joe Strong made Sep 19 at 2014 11:33 PM

GySgt Joe Strong — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 23:33:25 -0400

I like the idea of retaining the unique character of each of the services and thus don't like the idea of one rank structure across the services.
That said.
I do think everyone serving should know the rank structures of at least our own services and remember being instructed on and tested about those items of interest at a certain entry level training located in the environs of San Diego.
Now that's rank structure, when you start bringing rates into the picture not even all the Navy folks can keep up with all of the rates.
Allied or even Opposing forces are things I think forward deployed troops would WANT to be familiar with also.
Now, having gotten all of that out of the way and speaking with 6-7 years in Joint environments, an added benefit of knowing each services rank structures is that an equivalent rank doesn't necessarily equate to equal responsibility at each rank in each service and knowing these facts can tell you if you're talking to someone who has the authority to deal with whatever issue you may be working on. Their knowing your rank and service can also help them decide if they're comfortable taking action based on you and your rank or if they would prefer to seek comformation of your request a level up or not.
One might think that a unified rank structure would address that last paragraph, but IMHO, given the varying sizes of the services I can't see how that could work.(The following may not apply in all circumstances of course, but expresses my experience with the issue) As it is in the much smaller USMC an E-4 may have as much or more authority than say an Army E-6, Air Force E-6, or a Navy E-5. Would we then go thru then pains of elevating the authority/responsibilities given to those in the larger services or cause the Marines to suffer the indignities of lessening their authority/responsibility? I think neither should occur, but that being familiar with these peculiarities should definitely be learned by those who will encounter and coordinate with those from other Services. It can make your day much easier, especially if you extend that to knowing things like that an Army E-6 or E-7 might be fine with being called Sarge or Sergeant depending on your familiarity with them but a Marine E- 6 or E-7 are going to have a hard time even listening to you much less granting any requests you make after having just demoted them by one or two ranks, unless your request benefits them in some way or they're feeling especially tolerant that day. Also, Chiefs tend to simply ignore fools that call them Sergeant.

Response by PO1 Michael G. made Sep 20 at 2014 3:43 PM

PO1 Michael G. — Sat, 20 Sep 2014 15:43:56 -0400

There was a chapter in my trainee guide at boot camp that had a table for the rate/rank equivalents for each branch, and we were tested on the material. Absolutely, there ought to be an understanding of the different branches rank structure, especially since there are plenty of enlisted schools that are a joint bases. Luckily, too, when it comes to who is entitled a salute, the all branches use the same officer collar insignia on their service uniforms.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 28 at 2014 12:15 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 28 Sep 2014 00:15:01 -0400

Yes. It is great for situational awareness to understand the ranks and how to address SMs of the other branches. I've worked with SMs from every branch and that knowledge has always been useful.

Response by SSG Harper Peterson made Nov 1 at 2014 11:43 PM

SSG Harper Peterson — Sat, 01 Nov 2014 23:43:39 -0400

Yes, as a Marine Corps MP I could have had any service member from any branch come on base. An E4 in the Air Force or the Navy isn't a Corporal.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 19 at 2015 10:06 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 22:06:02 -0400

100% yes. I am a SSG in the Army Reserves, and am prior Active Duty Air Force. I remember my first tour in Iraq getting chewed out by a SSG when I was a PFC in the AF for only calling him SGT. I didn't know any better. Just took the chewing and learned

Response by PO1 Ralph Wynn made Jun 22 at 2015 10:58 PM

PO1 Ralph Wynn — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 22:58:36 -0400

In boot camp in the 70s when I went through it was taught and should be.

Response by CPL Mark Carlson made Jul 2 at 2015 11:34 PM

CPL Mark Carlson — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 23:34:02 -0400

When in doubt,... Whip it out!

Response by SGT Scott Bell made Aug 29 at 2015 3:53 PM

SGT Scott Bell — Sat, 29 Aug 2015 15:53:06 -0400

yes

Response by CWO2 John Markiewicz made Aug 30 at 2015 2:33 PM

CWO2 John Markiewicz — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 14:33:59 -0400

In boot camp I believe that they are required to salute anyone senior to them.

Response by SPC Randall Eichelberger made Dec 13 at 2015 6:51 PM

SPC Randall Eichelberger — Sun, 13 Dec 2015 18:51:09 -0500

When I went through MP OSUT in 2005 at Fort Lost in the Woods our silly little smart books we were forced to read anytime we weren't actively training contained all the ranks,and we were regularly quizzed. And the fact that just about every BN or higher HQ in Iraq had a Navy LtCdr or Cdr as an electronic warfare specialist that serviced all our counter IED ECW systems, among other integrated environments in the military, is crucial. It was definitely crucial during my time as an investigator in Mannheim where I would have to go to the confinement facility for various reasons and they were staffed by all branches.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made May 31 at 2019 2:36 AM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 31 May 2019 02:36:59 -0400

Yes!

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 3 at 2020 7:46 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 19:46:55 -0400

It's not like it's hard to learn. Army and Marine are almost identical save for a couple enlisted.
Air force is a little weird but again not hard (count stripes and add one - boom pay grade)
Navy....weirder than AF but not impossible (to figure out pay grade/what level Petty Officer, but that color coded/Rate-Rank is weird)
Officers are almost all the same save for the O's which you can learn easy enough - just watch down periscope, crimson tide, and mchales navy. And they ALL use the same insignia, so you know if they deserve a salute or not.
Easy to tell enlisted from Officer in ALL which is the main part of the discussion - who do I salute? Well it'd be the person with bar(s), oak leaves, a bird, or stars
if its some combination of chevrons and stripes - not an Officer, go off the "do they have more than I do" mentality.
And you can always use Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine, Redshirt, and (Coast) Guardsman!
IF they go "I'm a Gunnery Sergeant, not just Marine" then explain "Well I'm not in the Marines and I didn't know how to address you properly so I used the term for anyone in that service" and if you wanna have fun you may add "it's not like I called you a pink elephant. I apologize Gunny, now let me buy you your favorite flavor Crayola."

Response by CWO4 Dave Warfield made Dec 7 at 2022 10:12 PM

CWO4 Dave Warfield — Wed, 07 Dec 2022 22:12:00 -0500

Bootcamp, you're learning. Ok, afterwards, everyone should have a clue! Everyone!