Editing United States Armed Forces (section)

===Rank structure===
Rank in the United States Armed Forces is split into three distinct categories: [[Officer (armed forces)|officers]], [[Warrant officer (United States)|warrant officers]], and [[Enlisted rank|enlisted]] personnel.

Officers are the leadership of the military, holding commissions from the president of the United States and confirmed to their rank by the [[United States Senate|Senate]].

Warrant officers hold a warrant from the secretaries of the military departments, serving as specialists in certain military technologies and capabilities. Upon promotion to chief warrant officer 2, they gain a commission from the president of the United States.

Enlisted personnel constitute the majority of the armed forces, serving as specialists and tactical-level leaders until they become senior non-commissioned officers or senior petty officers.

Military ranks across the services can be compared by U.S. Uniformed Services pay grade or NATO rank code.<ref name="ReferenceC">{{cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/Our-Story/Insignias/|title=U.S. Military Rank Insignia|website=U.S. Department of Defense}}</ref>

====Officer corps====
<div style="width:100%; overflow:auto">
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin:0 12px 12px 0;"
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Armed Forces/OF/Blank}}
{{United States uniformed services pay grades/officer/blank}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Armies/OF/United States}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Navies/OF/United States (USMC)}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Navies/OF/United States}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Air Forces/OF/United States}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Air Forces/OF/United States (USSF)}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Navies/OF/United States (USCG)}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Armed Forces/OF/Blank}}
{{United States uniformed services pay grades/officer/blank}}
|}
</div>

Officers represent the top 18% of the armed forces, serving in leadership and command roles.<ref name="bls.gov">{{cite web|url=https://www.bls.gov/ooh/military/military-careers.htm#:~:text=Enlisted+personnel+make+up+about,manage+operations+and+enlisted+personnel|title=Military Careers : Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics|website=www.bls.gov}}</ref> Officers are divided into three categories:<ref name="ReferenceC"/>
*O-1 to O-3: [[Company grade officers]] in the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force or [[junior officers]] in the Navy and the Coast Guard.
*O-4 to O-6: [[Field grade officers]] in the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force or [[mid-grade officers]] in the Navy and Coast Guard.
*O-7 to O-10: [[General officers]] in the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force or [[flag officers]] in the Navy and Coast Guard.
Officers are typically commissioned as second lieutenants or ensigns with a bachelor's degree after several years of training and education or [[Direct commission officer|directly commissioned]] from civilian life into a specific specialty, such as a medical professional, lawyer, chaplain, or cyber specialist.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.todaysmilitary.com/joining-eligibility/becoming-military-officer|title=Becoming an Officer — Today's Military|website=www.todaysmilitary.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2020/08/17/direct-commissions-for-army-cyber-officers-finally-gaining-steam-two-star-says/|title=Direct commissions for Army cyber officers finally gaining steam, two-star says|first=Kyle|last=Rempfer|date=17 August 2020|website=Army Times}}</ref>

{{Gallery
|width=200
|File:President Trump at the U.S. Military Academy Graduation (50009349552).jpg|The [[United States Military Academy]] commissions officers into the [[United States Army]].
|File:DSC 7108 (37186744105).jpg|The [[United States Naval Academy]] commissions officers into the [[United States Marine Corps]] and [[United States Navy]].
|File:SpaceForceCadets_USAFA2020.jpg|The [[United States Air Force Academy]] commissions officers into the [[United States Air Force]] and [[United States Space Force]].
|POTUS attends Coast Guard Academy Commencement 170517-G-ZX620-009.jpg|The [[United States Coast Guard Academy]] commissions officers into the [[United States Coast Guard]].
}}

Officers are commissioned through the [[United States service academies]], [[Reserve Officer Training Corps]] programs, and the [[Officer Candidate School|Officer Candidate]] and [[Officer Training School]]s. During a time of war, officers may be promoted to [[five-star rank]]s, with [[general of the Army (United States)|general of the Army]], [[fleet admiral (United States)|fleet admiral]], and [[general of the Air Force]] the only five-star ranks currently authorized.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/these-are-the-9-five-star-general/|title=These are the 9 general officers who have earned five stars|date=28 January 2019}}</ref>

====Warrant officer corps====
<div style="width:100%; overflow:auto">
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin:0 12px 12px 0;"
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Armies/WO/Blank}}
{{United States uniformed services pay grades/warrant officer/blank}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Armies/WO/United States}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Navies/WO/United States (USMC)}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Navies/WO/United States}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Air Forces/WO/United States}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Navies/WO/United States (USCG)}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Armies/WO/Blank}}
{{United States uniformed services pay grades/warrant officer/blank}}
|}
</div>

[[Warrant officer (United States)|Warrant officers]] are specialists, accounting for only 8% of the officer corps.<ref name="bls.gov"/> Warrant officers hold warrants from their service secretary and are specialists and experts in certain military technologies or capabilities. The lowest-ranking warrant officers serve under a warrant, but they receive commissions from the president upon promotion to chief warrant officer 2. They derive their authority from the same source as commissioned officers but remain specialists, in contrast to commissioned officers, who are generalists. There are no warrant officers in the Air Force or Space Force.<ref name="ReferenceC"/>

Warrant officers are typically non-commissioned officers before being selected, with the exception of Army Aviation where any enlisted grade can apply for a warrant. Army warrant officers attend the [[Warrant Officer Candidate School (United States Army)|Army Warrant Officer Candidate School]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/current-and-prior-service/advance-your-career/warrant-officer.html|title=What is a Warrant Officer?|website=goarmy.com|access-date=27 October 2020|archive-date=1 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101020739/https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/current-and-prior-service/advance-your-career/warrant-officer.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====Enlisted corps====
<div style="width:100%; overflow:auto">
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin:0 12px 12px 0;"
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Armies/OR/Blank}}
{{United States uniformed services pay grades/enlisted/blank (no special grade)}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Armies/OR/United States}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Navies/OR/United States (USMC)}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Navies/OR/United States}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Air Forces/OR/United States}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Air Forces/OR/United States (USSF)}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Navies/OR/United States (USCG)}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Armies/OR/Blank}}
{{United States uniformed services pay grades/enlisted/blank (no special grade)}}
|}
</div>

[[File:Air Force Basic Training Field.jpg|thumb|upright|Air Force basic trainees in a base defense exercise at [[United States Air Force Basic Military Training|Air Force Basic Military Training]]]]

Enlisted personnel comprise 82% of the armed forces, serving as specialists and tactical leaders.<ref name="bls.gov" /> Enlisted personnel are divided into three categories:
* E-1 to E-3/4: Junior enlisted personnel are usually in initial training or at their first assignment. E-1 to E-3 in the Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard, and E-1 to E-4 in the Army, Air Force, and Space Force. In the Army, specialists (E-4) are considered to be junior enlisted, while corporals (E-4) are non-commissioned officers.
* E-4/5 to E-6: [[Non-commissioned officers]] in the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force and [[petty officers]] in the Navy and Coast Guard. In the Air Force and Space Force, E-5 is the first non-commissioned officer rank. Non-commissioned officers and petty officers are responsible for tactical leadership.
* E-7 to E-9: [[Senior non-commissioned officers]] in the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force and [[chief petty officers]] in the Navy and Coast Guard. Serve as senior enlisted advisors to officers.

The rank of [[senior enlisted advisor]] is the highest rank in each service, serving as the primary advisor to its service secretary and service chief on enlisted matters.

Prior to entering service, enlisted personnel must complete their service's [[Recruit training|basic training]]. In the Army, after completing [[United States Army Basic Training|Basic Combat Training]], recruits then go to [[advanced individual training]] for their [[United States military occupation code|military occupational specialty]]. Upon completion of [[United States Marine Corps Recruit Training|Marine Corps Recruit Training]], Infantry Marines attend the [[United States Marine Corps School of Infantry|School of Infantry]]. Non-infantry Marines complete Marine Combat Training before advancing to technical schools for their [[List of United States Marine Corps MOS|Military Occupational Specialty]]. In the Navy, after completing [[Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois|Recruit Training]], sailors advance to their "A" schools to complete training for their [[List of United States Navy ratings|rating]]. In the Air Force and Space Force, recruits complete combined [[Air Force Basic Military Training|Basic Military Training]] before going to technical training for their [[Air Force Specialty Code]]s. In the Coast Guard, after completing [[United States Coast Guard Training Center Cape May|Recruit Training]], sailors advance to their "A" schools to complete training for their [[List of United States Coast Guard ratings|rating]].