Rank Structure and Insignia

Of The United States Marine Corps

World War II Era


General	Lieutenant General	Major General	Brigadier General


Colonel	Lieutenant Colonel	Major


Captain	First Lieutenant	Second Lieutenant


First Sergeant	First Grade Line/ Master Gunnery Sergeant	First Grade Staff/ Sergeant Major


Second Grade Line/ Gunnery Sergeant	Second Grade Staff/ Technical Sergeant	Third Grade Line/ Platoon Sergeant


3rd Grade Staff/ Staff Sergeant	4th Grade/ Sergeant	5th Grade/ Corporal	6th Grade/ Private First Class	7th Grade/ Private


Band Leader	Musician	Musician Private First Class	Four-Year Service Stripe


Officers' Dress Cap Pin	Officers' Service Cap Pin	Enlisted Dress Cap Pin	Enlisted Service Cap Pin

*NOTE*: The U.S. Marines used three types of chevrons: Gold on a red background for the dress blue uniform, green (dark khaki) on crimson red for the green winter uniform and black on light khaki for the summer shirt. The non-commissioned officers of the Line had chevrons joined by arcs while those of the Staff had theirs joined by ties, i.e. straight stripes.

Rank Structure and Insignia

Of The United States Marine Corps

World War II Era

This Homepage Copyright © 1997, USMC Living History Unit A Division of the Military History Education Association

This Homepage Copyright © 1997, USMC Living History Unit
A Division of the Military History Education Association