United States Coast Guard » Rank Structure & Insignia

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List of Military Ranks United States Coast Guard Ranks (Ordered By Seniority)

E-1Coast Guard Seaman RecruitSeaman RecruitSRSeaman
E-2Coast Guard Seaman ApprenticeSeaman ApprenticeSASeaman
E-3Coast Guard SeamanSeamanSNSeaman
E-4Coast Guard Petty Officer Third ClassPetty Officer Third ClassPO3Petty Officer
E-5Coast Guard Petty Officer Second ClassPetty Officer Second ClassPO2Petty Officer
E-6Coast Guard Petty Officer First ClassPetty Officer First ClassPO1Petty Officer
E-7Coast Guard Chief Petty OfficerChief Petty OfficerCPOChief Petty Officer
E-8Coast Guard Senior Chief Petty OfficerSenior Chief Petty OfficerSCPOChief Petty Officer
E-9Coast Guard Master Chief Petty OfficerMaster Chief Petty OfficerMCPOChief Petty Officer
E-9Coast Guard Command Master Chief Petty OfficerCommand Master Chief Petty OfficerCMCChief Petty Officer
E-9Coast Guard Master Chief Petty Officer Of The Coast GuardMaster Chief Petty Officer Of The Coast GuardMCPOCChief Petty Officer (Special)
W-2Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer 2Chief Warrant Officer 2CWO-2Chief Warrant Officer
W-3Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer 3Chief Warrant Officer 3CWO-3Chief Warrant Officer
W-4Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer 4Chief Warrant Officer 4CWO-4Chief Warrant Officer
O-1Coast Guard EnsignEnsignENSJunior Officer
O-2Coast Guard Lieutenant Junior GradeLieutenant Junior GradeLTJGJunior Officer
O-3Coast Guard LieutenantLieutenantLTJunior Officer
O-4Coast Guard Lieutenant CommanderLieutenant CommanderLCDRJunior Officer
O-5Coast Guard CommanderCommanderCDRSenior Officer
O-6Coast Guard CaptainCaptainCAPTSenior Officer
O-7Coast Guard Rear Admiral Lower HalfRear Admiral Lower HalfDRMLFlag Officer
O-8Coast Guard Rear AdmiralRear AdmiralRADMFlag Officer
O-9Coast Guard Vice AdmiralVice AdmiralVADMFlag Officer
O-10Coast Guard AdmiralAdmiralADMFlag Officer

United States Coast Guard Ranks In Order

This table of the United States Coast Guard ranks from lowest to highest shows the Coast Guard's rank structure from lowest to highest including rank insignia, abbreviation, and rank classification.

The United States Coast Guard has twenty four grades of enlisted seamen and officers, with most seamen enlisting at the entry-level rank of Seaman Recruit (SR, paygrade E-1). The highest rank achievable in the Coast Guard is Admiral.

Click any rank for detailed rank information including duties and responsibilities, promotion information, salary, and more.

History of the Coast Guard

The Coast Guard has changed names several times over its 200+ year history, but it is largely the same organization as it was in 1790 as the Revenue Marine. Uniforms, culture, and professions are very similar to the Navy, but the mission is different. While the Navy ensures freedom of navigation internationally, the Coast Guard does so for our nation's coasts through vessel inspections, law enforcement, drug and migrant interdiction, maintenance of navigation aids, environmental protection and research, ice operations, and search-and-rescue. Sailors of the Navy and Coast Guard have a high respect for each other, knowing that one can do what the other cannot.

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Military Discounts & Benefits for Seamen:

In addition to basic pay and allowances, active-duty seamen, veterans, and even their families are eligible for hundreds of discounts and additional benefits offered by organizations and private companies like JetBlue , United Airlines , Verizon , and hundreds more.

Learn more about Military Discounts