The United States Navy has various ranks for its enlisted seamen and officers. The rank of admiral is the highest in the Navy, with five stars, and it can only be held temporarily during wartime.

Officers have different roles and responsibilities depending on their rank. A lieutenant junior grade, for example, serves as a division officer on smaller ships, aircraft squadrons and submarines.
Seaman Recruit

The United States Navy has a variety of enlisted ranks and ratings, from the entry-level Seaman Recruit (SR, paygrade E1) to the senior Flag rank of Admiral. Enlisted sailors are rated according to their job, technical proficiency and level of leadership. The enlisted ranks are divided into petty officer grades and warrant officer and limited duty officers. Warrant officers are technical experts in their fields, and commissioned officers serve as advanced leaders to their Marines.

Sailors who do not achieve the rank of seaman apprentice after graduating from basic training are called “undesignated strikers.” Although they have completed training, they do not receive specialty job training and are assigned menial duties until they can earn promotion.

Upon promotion to seaman, sailor’s responsibilities grow, and they are able to attend ascension training in their division. They also can start to fulfill extra-duty assignments and collateral duties. By the time they reach petty officer third class, these midgrade sailors have proven their skills in their watch station. They can mentor junior sailors and take charge of tasks without supervision. They can also begin to attend more advanced “C” schools. Advancement into the petty officer ranks requires meeting certain requirements including time in service, superior evaluation scores and passing advancement exams. https://gameboost.com/coaching
Petty Officer First Class

A petty officer first class is an advanced position within the Navy, and one that is based on both technical expertise and leadership skills. These sailors typically serve in a supervisory role and have a high level of responsibility for mentoring junior noncommissioned officers and leading their division teams. They also handle personnel and equipment issues for their command.

Petty Officer First Class is the second-most senior rank in the noncommissioned officer ranks and is equivalent to a sergeant in most other military services. Those in this position are known as “Crows.” They lead division teams of about 50 sailors and have a large degree of supervision. They are responsible for training and mentoring junior noncommissioned officers, and they manage significant resources and delegate duties to their peers.

A petty officer master chief (MCPON) is the highest-ranked enlisted member of the United States Navy and is the equivalent to the sergeant major of the Army, chief master sergeant of the Air Force and master chief petty officer of the Marine Corps. They are a key component of the Navy’s chain of command and contribute to forming and implementing policy in their rating and across the entire spectrum of Navy ratings.
Petty Officer Second Class

The Petty Officer Second Class position is a midgrade enlisted rank that has accountability and supervisory responsibilities. These petty officers can repair and maintain their division’s equipment and take charge of daily tasks without a superior. They can also attend more advanced “C schools” to start learning leadership skills.

These sailors are considered leaders and have more specialized knowledge than other petty officers. They mentor junior sailors, and they can also fulfill extra duty assignments or collateral duties to improve their chances of advancing. Their specialized knowledge and technical expertise make them critical to their division’s success on the ship.

Advancement into the CPO rates requires time in service, high evaluation scores, and a successful specialty examination. These petty officers are highly skilled and have the highest level of leadership in the Navy. They can also serve in staff positions.

This is the initial commissioned officer rank for graduates of the U.S. Naval Academy, NROTC, and Officer Candidate School. These sailors may be assigned to line command ships, fleets, air squadrons, or shore installations. They may also be assigned to the staff corps in fields like health care, law, and civil engineering. Alternatively, these commissioned officers can choose to join one of the eight staff corps communities and serve in both line and staff positions.
Petty Officer Third Class

The crow-shaped rating badge worn on the sleeves of Navy uniforms represents the rank of petty officer third class. This rate is the first step up in seniority from seaman fleet E-3. It’s the starting point for many sailors, who often feel this is the beginning of their long term career in the Navy. The crow depicts wings outstretched, ready to grasp a rating mark and the chevron.

These petty officers serve as the leaders of their Divisions and work centers and delegate tasks to junior petty officers and seamen. They are able to perform a wide range of duties and possess significant technical expertise in their specialty fields. Generally, advancement from this position is dependent upon time in service, performance evaluations by their superiors and rate (technical specialty) examinations. The advancement cycle is currently every six months.

They can also begin attending advanced schools to advance in their careers. Their technical expertise and leadership skills make them important members of the division. The next step up in the enlisted ranks is master chief petty officer of the Navy (MCPON). These senior petty officers are relied on for their technical supervision and managerial expertise. They also serve as department chiefs and can even be named the command master chief petty officer of the Navy.
Senior Noncommissioned Officer

The rank of senior noncommissioned officer is the highest enlisted position in the Navy and Coast Guard. It is the equivalent of sergeant major in the Army. These sailors are specialized and experienced technicians, managers and leaders within their rates. Senior noncommissioned officers provide leadership and expertise to sailors at the highest level of their ratings. They are also expected to lead a wider range of tasks, including training junior petty officers.

Commissioned naval officers are graduates of the United States Naval Academy, other service academies, the United States Military Academy or the Marine Corps Officer Candidate School. The service has a variety of commissioning programs, including the Seaman to Officer-21 program and limited duty officer/chief warrant officer selection programs.

Naval officers at the rear admiral lower half, rear admiral upper half, vice admiral and admiral rank are considered flag officers. They typically command large groups of ships. These commands can include amphibious groups, carrier-cruiser groups, expeditionary strike groups and carrier air wings at sea or combatant submarines, patrol craft or special operations units ashore. They also serve as deputies to larger commanders in numbered fleets, major combatant and geographic command, the unified commands and DoD agencies.
Warrant Officer

The Warrant Officer position is the highest non-commissioned officer in the Navy and Coast Guard. These highly specialized experts serve as the primary advisors for other officers and enlisted personnel. They are the ones other officers look to for technical advice, and they have the authority to administer oaths, military justice and command units.

Advancement to this rank is a major promotion for a Sailor. It takes years of service and high peer evaluations. It also requires passing specialty examinations. Senior warrant officers are former drill sergeants and often serve as chief petty officers. They are highly trained specialists in their fields, and they perform essential duties to support the chain of command.

Those who reach the rank of senior warrant officer two or chief warrant officer five earn the right to wear gold or silver bars broken by strips of scarlet enamel, which distinguishes them from their non-warrant officer peers. This ranks them senior to all enlisted chief petty officers and junior to all commissioned officers.

These experts are critical to the success of a mission. They are the individuals other officers and enlisted personnel look to for technical and tactical advice. They are the people other officers rely on for continued mission success, and they have the ability to provide the branch with the best technology and capabilities available.
Senior Officer

The senior officer position represents the highest level of naval authority. Its holder directs major sea and land operations and Navy fleets of ships, or acts as the commander of a geographic or combatant command. Senior officers also sponsor high-potential officers for promotion to admiral, mitigating fratricide in the stratification process and strengthening an officer’s record in his or her subsequent promotions.

The chief petty officer (CPO, E-7), the most senior of the noncommissioned officers, leads the sailors within his or her rate. Advancement to this rank requires extensive service, superior evaluations and the recommendation of peers. It is the most significant promotion in enlisted ranks and carries considerable responsibility, including shared primary collateral duties. CPOs wear khaki uniforms and have separate dining and living areas.

Lieutenants junior grade (LTJG, O4) serve as division officers, mentoring new officers. They are qualified in warfare and have strong leadership skills. On smaller ships, aircraft squadrons and submarines, LTJGs also act as service heads or department heads. On SEAL teams, LCDRs serve as executive officers. In wartime, a temporary five-star rank called fleet admiral is possible, although only four have held this title since World War II, including Chester Nimitz.