Military Ranks

British/American

rank (noun): a position in the hierarchy of an organization. He is an army officer of high rank.
rank (verb): give someone or something a place in a grading system. The company is now ranked number three in the world in terms of profits.

The following pages show ranks in the British and American armed forces, and how they compare to each other, as well as common abbreviations. It is a basic guide to the language of military rank and does not include some of the more specialized ranks peculiar to each service or country.

Army Ranks
An army is a country's armed force that fights on the land. Its most senior rank is usually General.

Navy Ranks
A navy is a country's armed force that fights on or in the sea. Its most senior rank is usually Admiral.

Air Force Ranks
An air force is a country's armed force that fights in the air. Its most senior rank is usually Air Chief Marshal or General.