| |
Using Personal
Titles
#14:
U.S.
Military Titles
Military
organizations throughout the world
also use specific
titles for different ranks. The general rule for
U.S.
military
titles is simple:
in
speaking:
rank + surname
or
sir / madam
in the address
of a letter:
Full rank + full name
address
in the greeting
of a letter:
Dear + rank + surname:
or
Dear Sir (or Madam):
____________________________________________
The major ranks
in each branch of the U.S.
military are:
Army, Air Force,
Marines |
| |
|
|
| General |
|
Captain |
| Lieutenant
General |
|
First
Lieutenant |
| Major General |
|
Second Lieutenant |
| Brigadier
General |
|
Chief Warrant
Officer |
| Colonel |
|
Warrant Officer |
| Lieutenant
Colonel |
|
Cadet |
| Major |
|
|
| Sergeant |
|
Private |
Navy |
| |
|
|
| Fleet Admiral |
|
Lieutenant |
| Admiral |
|
Lieutenant, Junior Grade |
| Vice
Admiral |
|
Ensign |
| Rear
Admiral |
|
Chief Warrant
Officer |
| Captain |
|
Warrant Officer |
| Commander |
|
Midshipman |
| Lieutenant Commander |
|
|
_________________________________________
Special Notes:
| 1. |
|
When there
is more than one "level"
of
a rank, show the
full rank
in addresses
of
letters, but use the rank in
speaking
and in
greetings of letters:
| full
rank |
|
rank |
General
Lieutenant
General
Major
General
Brigadier
General |
|
General |
| |
|
|
Commander
Lieutenant Commander |
|
Colonel |
| |
|
|
First Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant |
|
Lieutenant |
| |
|
|
Chief Warrant Officer
Warrant
Officer |
|
Warrant
Officer |
| full rank |
|
rank |
Fleet
Admiral
Admiral
Vice Admiral
Rear
Admiral |
|
Admiral |
| |
|
|
Commander
Lieutenant Commander |
|
Commander |
| |
|
|
Lieutenant
Lieutenant, Junior Grade |
|
Lieutenant |
| |
|
|
Chief Warrant Officer
Warrant
Officer |
|
Warrant
Officer |
|
| |
|
|
| 2. |
|
All of the above ranks may be held
by
either men or
women. |
| |
|
|
| 3. |
|
Some ranks have unusual
pronunciations:
Lieutenant =
loo-TEH-nunt
Colonel =
KER-null
Ensign =
EHN-son |
|
