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United States Armed Forces
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====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 β 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>
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