List of ranks used by the United States Army

This is a list of every rank used by the United States Army, with dates showing each rank's beginning and end.

Ranks used to the end of the Revolutionary War are shown as ending on June 2, 1784. This is the date that the Continental Army was ordered to be demobilized;Continental Congress 1784 27:515 actual demobilization took until June 20.

A Acting Hospital Steward: March 1, 1887 24 Stat. 435- March 2, 190332 Stat. 930, Acting Hospital Stewards became Sergeants of the Hospital Corps. Apothecary: July 27, 1775Continental Congress 1775, 2:210 - June 2, 1784 Apothecary General: February 27, 1777Continental Congress 1777, 7:162 - June 2, 1784, March 2, 17991 Stat. 721 - May 14, 1800,2 Stat. 85 officers raised under previous acts to be discharged March 3, 18132 Stat. 820 - March 2, 1821 3 Stat. 615 Armorer: March 14, 1777Continental Congress 1777, 7:178 on pay table - May 27, 1778Continental Congress 1778, 11:541 not on pay table Artificer: March 5, 17921 Stat. 241 - June 3, 191639 Stat. 166, Artificers became Mechanics. Assistant Apothecary : March 30, 18133 Stat. 115 - March 2, 1821 Assistant Apothecary General: October 6, 1780Heitman, Francis B, Historical Register of the Continental Army. Washington, Lowdermplk & CO., 1893, Page 242. - July 23, 1782 Assistant Band Leader: June 3, 191639 Stat. 166, Principal Musicians became Assistant Band Leaders - July 1, 1920General Order 36, June 19, 1920, The Assistant Band Leader at West Point became a Master Sergeant, and all others Staff Sergeants. Assistant Chauffeur: July 15, 1917AEF General Order 14, July 15, 1917. Rank created under executive authority granted on May 18, 1917 40 Stat 76. - July 1, 1920General Order 36, June 19, 1920 End of World War I ranks. Proposed legislation in 1918 to make Assistant Chauffeur a regular rank in the army did not pass Assistant Commissary: March 3, 18132 Stat. 816 - March 2, 1821 Assistant Deputy Apothecary: September 20, 1781Heitman, Francis B, Historical Register of the Continental Army. Washington, Lowdermplk & CO., 1893, Page 116. - June 2, 1784 Assistant Deputy Director of Hospitals: January 7, 1777 - May 9, 1777 Assistant District Paymaster: April 18, 18143 Stat. 128 - March 3, 18153 Stat. 224 not included in law Assistant Engineer: June 3, 191639 Stat. 166 - July 1, 1920General Order 36, June 19, 1920, Assistant Engineers became Technical Sergeants Assistant Medical Purveyor: October 6, 1780Heitman, Francis B, Historical Register of the Continental Army. Washington, Lowdermplk & CO., 1893, Page 259. - July 23, 1782, July 28, 186614 Stat. 332 - July 27, 1892 27 Stat. 226, Assistant Medical Purveyors became Assistant Surgeons General. Assistant Steward, Mine Planter Service: July 9, 191840 Stat. 882 - July 1, 1920General Order 36, June 19, 1920, Assistant Stewards became Specialists Fifth Class Assistant Surgeon: March 2, 18213 Stat. 615, Post Surgeons and Surgeon’s Mates became Assistant Surgeons - April 23, 190835 Stat 67, Assistant Surgeons became Captains or First Lieutenants Assistant Surgeon General: April 14, 18183 Stat. 426 - March 2, 1821, April 16, 186212 Stat. 378 - April 23, 190835 Stat. 67, Assistant Surgeons General became Colonels Aviator: June 3, 1916 - July 1, 1920Not listed in General Order 36, June 19, 1920, but probably abolished by it as an enlisted rank.

B Band Corporal: June 3, 1916 - July 1, 1920General Order 36, June 19, 1920, Band Corporals became Corporals Band Leader: June 3, 1916 - June 4, 19201 Stat. 761, Band Leaders became Warrant Officers Band Sergeant: June 3, 1916 - July 1, 1920General Order 36, June 19, 1920, Band Sergeants became Sergeants, those in the West Point Band Became Master Sergeants. Battalion Commissary Sergeant: July 29, 186112 Stat. 279 - July 28, 1866 Battalion Hospital Steward: July 29, 1861 - July 28, 186614 Stat. 332 rank not included in law Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant: July 29, 1861 - June 3, 1916 Battalion Saddler Sergeant: July 29, 1861 - July 17, 186212 Stat. 599 Battalion Sergeant Major: July 29, 1861 - July 1, 1920General Order 36, June 19, 1920, Battalion Sergeants Major became Staff Sergeants Battalion Supply Sergeant: June 3, 191639 Stat. 166, Battalion Quartermaster Sergeants became Battalion Supply Sergeants - July 1, 1920General Order 36, June 19, 1920, Battalion Supply Sergeants Staff Sergeants Battalion Veterinary Sergeant: July 29, 1861 - July 17, 1862 Battery Quartermaster Sergeant: April 26, 189830 Stat. 363 - June 3, 191639 Stat. 166, Battery Quartermaster Sergeants became Battery Supply Sergeants Battery Supply Sergeant: June 3, 1916 - July 1, 1920General Order 36, June 19, 1920, Battery Supply Sergeants became Sergeants Blacksmith: March 3, 17991 Stat. 750 - April 12, 1808,2 Stat. 482 rank not included in law June 26, 1812 1 2 Stat. 764 - March 3, 18153 Stat. 224 Boatswain, Sea Fencibles: July 26, 18133 Stat. 47 - February 27, 18153 Stat. 219 Bombardier: July 29, 1775Continental Congress 1775, 2:223 - June 2, 1784 Brigadier General: June 17, 1775Continental Congress 1775, 2:97 - June 2, 1784, March 3, 1791 -1 Stat. 223 Bugler: March 30, 1814 3 Stat. 114- March 3, 1815,3 Stat 225 March 2, 18334 Stat 652 - March 3, 1863,12 Stat. 737, Buglers became Trumpeters June 3, 1916 - July 1, 1920General Order 36, June 19, 1920, Buglers Became Specialists Sixth Class Bugler First Class: July 9, 191840 Stat. 893 - July 1, 1920General Order 36, June 19, 1920, Buglers First Class Became Specialists Sixth Class

C Captain: June 14, 1775Continental Congress 1775, 2:89 - Captain Lieutenant: July 29, 1775Continental Congress 1775, 2:220, on Pay Table - June 2, 1784 Chaplain: March 3, 17911 Stat. 222 - June 4, 192041 Stat. 769, Chaplains given regular line ranks Chauffeur: July 24, 191740 Stat. 244 - July 1, 1920General Order 36, June 19, 1920, Chauffeurs became Specialists Fifth Class Chauffeur First Class: July 24, 1917 - July 1, 1920General Order 36, June 19, 1920, Chauffeurs First Class became Specialists Fifth Class Chief Bugler: March 2, 18334 Stat. 652 - July 17, 186212 Stat. 599, Chief Buglers became Chief Trumpeters Chief Hospital Physician: September 30, 1780Continental Congress 1780 18:878 - January 3, 1782Continental Congress 1782 22:5 Chief Mechanic: January 25, 190734 Stat. 862 - July 1, 1920General Order 36, June 19, 1920, Chief Mechanics became Specialists Fourth Class Chief Medical Purveyor: July 28, 1866 14 Stat. 334- July 27, 189227 Stat. 276, Chief Medical Purveyor became an Assistant Surgeon General Chief Musician: March 2, 1799 1 Stat 750 - March 16, 1802,2 Stat. 132, Chief Musicians became Teachers of Music March 3, 186915 Stat. 318 - June 3, 191639 Stat. 166, Chief Musicians became Band Leaders Chief Physician: July 15, 1775Heitman, Francis B, Historical Register of the Continental Army. Washington, Lowdermplk & CO., 1893, Page 365. - December 1, 1776, March 22, 1780 Heitman, Francis B, Historical Register of the Continental Army. Washington, Lowdermplk & CO., 1893, Page 102.- June 2, 1784 Chief Physician and Hospital Surgeon: March 1, 1781Heitman, Francis B, Historical Register of the Continental Army. Washington, Lowdermplk & CO., 1893, Page 109. - June 2, 1784 Chief Physician and Surgeon of the Army: October 6, 1780Heitman, Francis B, Historical Register of the Continental Army. Washington, Lowdermplk & CO., 1893, Page 129. - December 23, 1783Heitman, Francis B, Historical Register of the Continental Army. Washington, Lowdermplk & CO., 1893, Page 138. Chief Trumpeter: July 17, 1862 - June 3, 1916 Chief Warrant Officer: August 21, 1941 55 Stat. 651. The Mine Planter Service positions of Master and Chief Engineer were classified as Chief Warrant Officers. Chief Warrant Officers became Chief Warrant Officers 2, 3, 4 and eventually 5.- May 29, 195468 Stat. 157 Chief Warrant Officer 2: May 29, 1954 - Chief Warrant Officer 3: May 29, 1954 - Chief Warrant Officer 4: May 29, 1954 - Chief Warrant Officer 5: December 5, 1991105 Stat. 1491 - Colonel: July 18, 1775Continental Congress 1775, 2:188 - June 2, 1784, March 8, 18022 Stat. 132 - Color Sergeant: February 2, 190131 Stat. 748 Rank created in 1901, but had been a position with special insignia since 1883 - July 1, 1920General Order 36, June 19, 1920 Command Sergeant Major: July 12, 1967Fisher, Ernest, Guardians of the Republic, New York: Ballentine, 1994, p. 316 - Commissary General of Issues: June 10, 1777Continental Congress 1777, 8:434 - July 10, 1781Continental Congress 1781, 20:734 Commissary General of Purchases: June 10, 1777 - July 10, 1781, March 28, 18122 Stat. 697 - April 22, 1842 5 Stat. 513 Commissary Sergeant: March 3, 187317 Stat. 485 - March 2, 189930 Stat. 977 added Commissary Sergeants to regiments, Those at posts were now Post Commissary Sergeants Company Commissary Sergeant: July 17, 1862 - July 28, 186614 Stat, 332 rank not included in law Company Quartermaster Sergeant: July 29, 186112 Stat. 280 - May 15, 1872,16 Stat 315 rank not included in law. The 1874 Army Register’s table of organization states that Company Quartermaster Sergeants were eliminated by not being included in an act of March 15, 1872, but the law is dated in May. April 26, 189830 Stat. 366 - June 3, 191639 Stat. 166, Company Quartermaster Sergeants became Company Supply Sergeants Company Supply Sergeant: June 3, 1916 - July 1, 1920General Order 36, June 19, 1920, Company Supply Sergeants became Sergeants Cook: July 7, 189830 Stat. 721 - July 1, 1920General Order 36, June 19, 1920, Cooks became Specialists Fourth Class Cornet: June 15, 1776Heitman, Francis B, Historical Register of the Continental Army. Washington, Lowdermplk & CO., 1893, Page 246. Earliest appointment of a Cornet in book. - June 2, 1784, March 3, 1792 - March 3, 1799,1 Stat. 750, Cornets converted to Second Lieutenants. April 12, 1808 2 Stat 482, Dragoon troops to contain both Second Lieutenants and Cornets.- March 3, 18153 Stat. 224, Cornets abolished along with the Dragoon Regiments. Corporal: June 14, 1775 - June 2, 1784, June 3, 1784Continental Congress 1784, 28:48 - Corporal Bugler: July 9, 1918 - July 1, 1920General Order 36, June 19, 1920, Corporal Buglers became Corporals

D Deck hand, Mine Planter Service: July 9, 1918 - July 1, 1920General Order 36, June 19, 1920, Deck Hands became Specialists Fifth Class Deputy Commissary: March 28, 1812 - March 2, 18213 Stat. 298 Deputy Commissary General of Issues: June 10, 1777Continental Congress 1777 8:434 - June 28, 1780Continental Congress 1780 20:734 Deputy Commissary General of Purchases: June 10, 1777 - July 10, 1780 Deputy Director General of Hospitals: April 7, 1777Continental Congress 1777 7:232- September 30, 1780Continental Congress 1780 18:878 rank not included in law Deputy Paymaster General: June 7, 1776Continental Congress 1776 7:232 rank mentioned - January 17, 1781Heitman, Francis B, Historical Register of the Continental Army. Washington, Lowdermplk & CO., 1893, Page 328. John Pierce promoted to Paymaster General. Deputy Surgeon General: July 27, 189227 Stat. 276, Assistant Medical Purveyors and Surgeons equivalent to Lieutenant Colonels became Deputy Surgeons General- April 23, 190835 Stat. 67, Assistant Surgeons General became Lieutenant Colonels Director General and Chief Physician: July 27, 1775Continental Congress 1775 2:209 - June 2, 1784 District Paymaster: May 16, 18122 Stat. 735 - April 24, 18163 Stat. 297, duties given to line officers Driver of Artillery: May 16, 1812 - March 30, 18143 Stat. 113, rank not included in law Drum Major: July 16, 1776Continental Congress 1776 5:563 - June 2, 1784, July 29, 1861 - July 28, 1866,14 Stat. 332, rank not included in law March 2, 189930 Stat. 977 - June 3, 191639 Stat 166, duties given to the First Sergeant of each Headquarters Company. Drummer: June 14, 1775- June 2, 1784, April 12, 1785Continental Congress 1785 28:248 - October 3, 1787Continental Congress 1787 33:603, Drummers became Musicians

E