The US Army and the State Guard of North Carolina rank insignia appears below as a training aid.

United States Army and SGNC Rank Insignias The United States Army and the State Guard of North Carolina use the following rank insignia & nomenclature for Enlisted, Warrant and Commissioned Personnel: A. The Title of Address is always used when speaking to the individual wearing the rank insignia along with the individual's name. IE: 'Private Williamson,' 'First Sergeant Rodriguez' or 'Colonel Smith.' Designated rank insignia appear to the right of the rank descriptions, etc.
US Army Rank Insignia
Enlisted		Warrant Officer	Commissioned Officer
Private E-1 Private PV1	No Rank Insignia	Warrant Officer, One W-1 Mister WO1	Second Lieutenant O-1 Lieutenant 2LT
Private E-2 Private PV2		Chief Warrant Officer, Two W-2 Mister CW2	First Lieutenant O-2 Lieutenant 1LT
Private First Class E-3 Private PFC		Chief Warrant Officer, Three W-3 Mister CW3	Captain O-3 Captain CPT
Specialist E-4 Specialist SPC		Chief Warrant Officer, Four W-4 Mister CW4	Major O-4 Major MAJ
Corporal E-4 Corporal CPL		Chief Warrant Officer, Five W-5 Mister CW5	Lieutenant Colonel O-5 Colonel LTC
Sergeant E-5 Sergeant SGT			Colonel O-6 Colonel COL
Staff Sergeant E-6 Sergeant SSG			Brigadier General O-7 General BG
Sergeant First Class E-7 Sergeant SFC			Major General O-8 General MG
Master Sergeant E-8 Sergeant MSG			Lieutenant General O-9 General LTG
First Sergeant E-8 First Sergeant 1SG			General O-10 General GEN
Sergeant Major E-9 Sergeant Major SGM			General of the Army Special General GA
Command Sergeant Major E-9 Sergeant Major CSM
Sergeant Major of the Army E-9 Sergeant Major SMA
NOTES: The approved address for Master Sergeants is Sergeant. However, the custom of addressing Master Sergeants as Master Sergeant is observed within most commands. The approved address for all Warrant Officers is Mister (Mrs./Miss/Ms.). However, the custom of addressing Chief Warrant Officers, WO2 - WO5 as Chief is observed within most commands.

Officer Ranks

Description

Second Lieutenant (O-1, 2LT)

Typically the entry-level rank for most Commissioned Officers. Leads platoon-size elements consisting of the platoon SGT and two or more squads (16 to 44 members).

First Lieutenant (O-2, 1LT)

A seasoned lieutenant with 18 to 24 months service. Leads more specialized platoons. As a senior Lieutenant, they are often selected to be the Executive Officer of a company-sized unit (110 to 140 personnel).

Captain (O-3, CPT)

Commands and controls company-sized units (62 to 190 members), together with a principal NCO assistant. Instructs skills at service schools and training centers and is often a Staff Officer at the battalion level.

Major (O-4, MAJ)

Serves as primary Staff Officer for brigade and task force command regarding personnel, logistical and operational missions.

Lieutenant Colonel (O-5, LTC)

Typically commands battalion-sized units (300 to 1,000 members), with a CSM as principal NCO assistant. May also be selected for brigade and task force Executive Officer.

Colonel (O-6, COL)

Typically commands brigade-sized units (3,000 to 5,000 members), with a CSM as principal NCO assistant. Also found as the chief of divisional-level staff agencies. As an example, the Commandant of the State Guard of North Carolina Military Academy shall be a Colonel unless a more senior rank is justified.

Brigadier General (O-7, BG)

Serves as Deputy Commander to the commanding general for Army divisions. Assists in overseeing the staff's planning and coordination of a mission.

Major General (O-8, MG)

Typically commands division-sized units (10,000 to 15,000 members). This is the most senior rank in the State Guard of North Carolina. The SGNC Commander will hold this rank until such time as a sufficient number of members warrants a higher rank.

Lieutenant General (O-9, LTG)

Typically commands corps-sized units (20,000 to 45,000 members).

General (O-10, GEN)

The senior level of Commissioned Officer typically has over 30 years of experience and service. Commands all operations that fall within their geographical area. The Chief of Staff of the Army is a four-star General.

General of the Army (O-10, GA)

This is only used in time of War where the Commanding Officer must be equal or of higher rank than those commanding armies from other nations. The last officers to hold this rank served during and immediately following WWII.

The highest Army rank, known as General of the Armies, is traditionally considered the equivalent of a six star general. No insignia has ever been authorized for the rank, and it has only been held by two people in history: John J. Pershing and George Washington (posthumously).

Warrant Officer Ranks

WARRANT OFFICER 1 (W-1, WO1)
Expert in certain technologies or capabilities (e.g., helicopter pilots). Soldiers with this rank serve under a warrant from a Brigade Commander or higher. WOs are single-track specialty officers, experts and trainers who, by gaining progressive levels of expertise and leadership, operates, maintains, administers and manages the SGNC's equipment, support activities or technical systems for their entire career.

CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 2 (W-2, CW2)
Appointed as a commissioned officer by the SGNC Commander, Chief Warrant Officers have the authority of other Commissioned Officers (who are generalists), but in contrast WOs are specialists. They command detachments, units, activities and vessels as well as lead, coach, train and counsel subordinates.

CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 3 (W-3, CW3)
As leaders and technical experts, Chief Warrant Officers provide valuable skills, guidance, and expertise to commanders and organizations in their particular field.

CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 4 (W-4, CW4)
Chief Warrant Officers remain single-specialty Officers whose career track is oriented towards progressing within their career field rather than focusing on increased levels of command and staff-duty positions.

CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 5 (W-5, CW5)
The grades (CW2-CW5) are normally indicative of the length of time a person has served as a Warrant Officer and degrees of proficiency.

Enlisted Rank Chart

Description

PRIVATE (E-1, PVT)
Lowest rank: a trainee who's starting Basic Training (BT). Primary role is to carry out orders issued to them to the best of his/her ability. (PVT does not have an insignia)

PRIVATE (E-2, PV2)
A trainee who has normally competed Basic Training. Primary role is to carry out orders issued to them to the best of his/her ability.

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS (E-3, PFC)
PV2s are promoted to this level after one year or earlier by request of supervisor. Individual can begin BT at this level with experience or prior military training. Carries out orders issued to them to the best of his/her ability.

SPECIALIST (E-4, SPC)
Can manage other enlisted members of lower rank. Has served a minimum of two years and attended a specific training class to earn this promotion. People enlisting with a four year college degree can enter BT as a Specialist.

CORPORAL (E-4, CPL)
The base of the Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) ranks, CPLs serve as team leader of the smallest Army units. Like SGTs, they are responsible for individual training, personal appearance and cleanliness of members.

SERGEANT (E-5, SGT)
Typically commands a squad (9 to 10 members). Considered to have the greatest impact on members because SGTs oversee them in their daily tasks. In short, SGTs set an example and the standard for Privates to look up to, and live up to.

STAFF SERGEANT (E-6, SSG)
Also commands a squad (9 to 10 members). Often has one or more SGTs under their leadership. Responsible for developing, maintaining and utilizing the full range of his members' potential.

SERGEANT FIRST CLASS (E-7, SFC)
Key assistant and advisor to the platoon leader. Generally has 15 to 18 years of military or related professional experience and puts it to use by making quick, accurate decisions in the best interests of the members and the country.

MASTER SERGEANT (E-8, MSG)
Principal NCO at the battalion level, and often higher. Not charged with all the leadership responsibilities of a 1SG, but expected to dispatch leadership and other duties with the same professionalism.

FIRST SERGEANT (E-8, 1SG)
Principal NCO and life-blood of the company: the provider, disciplinarian and wise counselor. Instructs other SGTs, advises the Commander and helps train all enlisted Soldiers. Assists Officers at the company level (62 to 190 members).

SERGEANT MAJOR (E-9, SGM)
SGMs experience and abilities are equal to that of the CSM, but the sphere of influence regarding leadership is generally limited to those directly under his charge. Assists Officers at the battalion level (300 to 1,000 members).

COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR (E-9, CSM)
Functioning without supervision, a CSM's counsel is expected to be calm, settled and accurate with unflagging enthusiasm. Supplies recommendations to the commander and staff, and carries out policies and standards on the performance, training, appearance and conduct of enlisted personnel. Assists Officers at the brigade level (3,000 to 5,000 members).

SERGEANT MAJOR OF THE ARMY (E-9, SMA)
There's only one Sergeant Major of the Army. This rank is the epitome of what it means to be a Sergeant and oversees all Non-Commissioned Officers. Serves as the senior enlisted advisor and consultant to the Chief of Staff of the Army (a four-star General).

All ranks of Corporal or Sergeant and higher are considered non-commissioned officers (NCOs).

The rank of Specialist is a member of grade E-4 who has not yet attained non-commissioned officer status. It is common that a member may never be a Corporal and will move directly from Specialist to Sergeant, attaining NCO status immediately.

In each command of company sized units and smaller, there is assigned a senior enlisted who is the monitor and advocate of the Enlisted Personnel to the commanding officer. This position is known as the First Sergeant, though the person carrying that title does not have to be the rank of First Sergeant (it is the highest ranking enlisted person in the company). In a battalion or larger unit, the senior enlisted man is a Command Sergeant-Major. The rank of Sergeant-Major is usually carried by one person in a battalion or larger unit, known as the Operations Sergeant-Major.