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We'll Show You the Insignia, You Tell Us the Rank

By: Robin Tyler

4 min

We'll Show You the Insignia, You Tell Us the Rank

Image: Wiki Commons

About This Quiz

There are many different armed forces in the United States where officer's ranks are distinguished by their insignias.

These include the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, to name just a few. Insignias have been used for more than 200 years to help identify officers and have proven especially effective in the heat of battle where communication can often be limited, most notably in early warfare.

Although many insignias used in the United States are similar across the various branches of the military, they ultimately serve an important purpose in terms of chain of command and, of course, identification. But there are some positions that are currently unfilled and have not been filled since 1946. These are supreme commander positions, only needed when the United States is officially at war. Let's hope you will be able to identify them.

Also, did you know that certain positions in the Navy, although they have the same name as that of their Army counterpart, are actually higher ranks? Well, if you didn't, you will find that out in our tough military insignia quiz.

In this quiz, we will give you an insignia and you must tell us which officer it belongs to.

Good luck!

private first class

Wiki Commons

Can you tell us which rank this insignia belongs to?

Private First Class

This is the next rank up from Private E2. This rank is given to any solider who starts Basic Combat Training with prior military experience.

Admiral

General of the Army

Seaman

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admiral insignia

Wiki Commons

One of the highest positions in the Navy, it takes many years of service to get here.

Private First Class

Admiral

This is the highest post in the United States Navy when the country is not at war. The first Admiral was appointed by the U.S. President in 1866.

General of the Army

Seaman

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The supreme leader of the U.S. Army during wartime, do you know this position from the insignia?

Wiki Commons

The supreme leader of the U.S. Army during wartime, do you know this position from the insignia?

Private First Class

Admiral

General of the Army

The supreme commander of the U.S. Army when the country is at war. This is only a war-time position held by the likes of General Douglas MacArthur.

Seaman

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This insignia is for a ________

Wiki Commons

This insignia is for a ________

Private First Class

Admiral

General of the Army

Seaman

Seaman is the third lowest rank an enlisted person will receive in both the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard.

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Who will wear the insignia shown in this image?

Wiki Commons

Who will wear the insignia shown in this image?

Captain

Captains in the U.S. Army lead large company-sized units of anything between 60 to 200 soldiers at a time.

Admiral

Seaman

Private First Class

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This is the lowest officer rank available in one of the United States' armed forces. Do you know what it is from the insignia?

Wiki Commons

This is the lowest officer rank available in one of the United States' armed forces. Do you know what it is from the insignia?

Seaman

Captain

General of the Army

U.S. Navy Warrant Officer 1

This is the lowest of the officer ranks in the United States Navy.

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midshipman insignia

Wiki Commons

Any ideas as to who would wear this insignia?

US Navy Warrant Officer 1

Midshipman

A Midshipman is a low-ranking officer in the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard.

Private First Class

Captain %0D%0DCaptain %0D Captain

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lieutenant general

Wiki Commons

What is this position in the U.S. army called?

Private First Class

U.S. Navy Warrant Officer 1

Admiral

Lieutenant General

A Lieutenant General commands corps of between 20,000 to 40,000 soldiers.

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Name this army position, please.

Wiki Commons

Name this army position, please.

Admiral

Chief Warrant Officer 4

A master level expert commissioned officer who performs a variety of roles at brigade, corps and division level as per their field of specialty. They also mentor Warrant Officers of a lower rank.

Lieutenant General

Captain

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specialist

Wiki Commons

This position is found in the U.S. Army. Can you tell what it is from the insignia?

Captain

Chief Warrant Officer 4

General of the Army

Specialist

Soldiers with a four-year college degree are given the rank of Specialist when undertaking Basic Combat Training. They are able to manage enlisted men of lower ranks, for example, privates. After 47 months in service and 11 months within the specialist rank, these soldiers can be promoted to Sergeant.

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Any idea as to the position of these insignia?

Wiki Commons

Any idea as to the position of these insignia?

Specialist

Private

Ensign

This rank, found both in the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard is the equivalent of a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. An Ensign will lead a group in a specialist position on a warship, such as a gunnery unit, for example.

Seaman

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This insignia portrays which rank?

Wiki Commons

This insignia portrays which rank?

Ensign

Lieutenant General

Private First Class

Vice Admiral

This commissioned officer carries a three star insiginia and ranks above a Rear Admiral and below an Admiral. A Vice Admiral is the same rank as a Lieutenant General in the army.

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This is the insignia for a position in the United States Army. What is it?

Wiki Commons

This is the insignia for a position in the United States Army. What is it?

Vice Admiral

Warrant Officer 1

This is the lowest of the officer ranks in the United States Army. They fill a number of roles, including as advisors, trainers, combat leaders and as experts in technical fields. They are appointed by the Secretary of the Army.

Private First Class

Specialist

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A _________ in the United States Army will wear this insignia.

Wiki Commons

A _________ in the United States Army will wear this insignia.

Warrant Officer 1

Vice Admiral

Corporal

A team leader in small army units, a Corporal is the base rank for non commissioned officers.

General of the Army

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chief petty officer insignia

Wiki Commons

Any idea as to the officer class associated with naval insignia?

Seaman

Captain

Chief Petty Officer

A rank for non-commissioned officers, the Chief Petty Officer rank was first used in the U.S. Navy in 1893 and followed later in the Coast Guard service. Over and above criteria like years of service, to attain the rank of Chief Petty Officer, a peer review is also undertaken.

Corporal

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Please name the position associated with this insignia.

Wiki Commons

Please name the position associated with this insignia.

Chief Petty Officer

Private E2

This is the lowest rank in the United States Army and is assigned to all soldiers when they enter the force. A soldier may be promoted to Private First Class after wearing this rank for a period of four months and with a year’s service behind them.

Specialist

Chief Warrant Officer 4

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A lack of insignia indicates which rank in the United States Navy?

Wiki Commons

A lack of insignia indicates which rank in the United States Navy?

Private E2

Lieutenant General

Admiral

Seaman Apprentice

After the Seaman recruit rank (which carries no insignia), this is the lowest rank in the U.S. Navy.

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A rank carried by Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon. What is it?

Wiki Commons

A rank carried by Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon. What is it?

Midshipman

Seaman Apprentice

Vice Admiral

Lieutenant Junior Grade

A Lieutenant Junior Grade is the first ranking above Ensign but below full Lieutenant. It is used by both the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard. This was the rank achieved by astronaut Neil Armstrong.

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Often in command of vessels, what rank is shown by this insignia?

Wiki Commons

Often in command of vessels, what rank is shown by this insignia?

Vice Admiral

Lieutenant Junior Grade

Navy Captain

For commissioned officers, this is the most senior rank one can attain before Admiral positions. Captains in the Navy are often in control of vessels.

Private E2

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This insignia is for a _____________ in the United States Navy.

Wiki Commons

This insignia is for a _____________ in the United States Navy.

Rear Admiral (Lower Half)

The Rear Admiral (Lower Half) is a rank above captain but below Admiral in the United States Navy and Coast Guard. It is the equivalent of an Army Brigadier General.

Navy Captain

Seaman

USN Warrant Officer 1

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Any idea as to who would wear this insignia?

Wiki Commons

Any idea as to who would wear this insignia?

Private E2

Navy Captain

Rear Admiral (Lower Half)

Chief Warrant Officer 2

An intermediate level expert commissioned officer who performs a variety of roles through battalion level as per their field of specialty.

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Which officer insignia is shown in this image?

Wiki Commons

Which officer insignia is shown in this image?

Chief Warrant Officer 2

Major

A Major controls a U.S. Army brigade and is responsible for personnel, logistics and operations.

Captain

General

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This insignia belongs to the _________ officer rank.

Wiki Commons

This insignia belongs to the _________ officer rank.

Seaman

Navy Captain

Major

Second Lieutenant

This is the entry level rank for commissioned officers. Leads between 16 to 44 people.

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Identify this Army insignia, please.

Wiki Commons

Identify this Army insignia, please.

Second Lieutenant

Private First Class

Chief Warrant Officer 5

A senior level expert commissioned officer who performs a variety of roles at brigade, corps and division level as per their field of specialty. They also mentor Warrant Officers of a lower rank.

Vice Admiral

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This Army officer leads up to 16 soldiers. Do you know the position from the insignia featured in the image?

Wiki Commons

This Army officer leads up to 16 soldiers. Do you know the position from the insignia featured in the image?

Chief Warrant Officer 5

Staff Sergeant

Leads a squad of up to 16 soldiers and has one or two sergeants under their command.

Specialist

Navy Captain

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Who would wear the insignia shown here?

Wiki Commons

Who would wear the insignia shown here?

Staff Sergeant

Major

General of the Army

Rear Admiral (Upper Half)

The Rear Admiral (Upper Half) is a rank above Read Admiral (Lower Half) but below Vice Admiral. It is the equivalent of an Army Major General.

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The highest position in the United States Army when not at war, can you name it?

Wiki Commons

The highest position in the United States Army when not at war, can you name it?

General - Army Chief of Staff

The most senior level commissioned officer, a General usually has more than 30 years of Army experience.

Colonel

Brigadier General

Major General

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This insignia would belong to a _________

Wiki Commons

This insignia would belong to a _________

Private First Class

General - Army Chief of Staff

Sergeant

A team/section leader who commands a group of soldiers, oversees their daily tasks and leads them in combat.

Chief Petty Officer

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An army officer of which rank would have this insignia on their uniform?

Wiki Commons

An army officer of which rank would have this insignia on their uniform?

First Lieutenant

First Lieutenants typically have 18 to 24 months of service and often lead platoons operating specialized weapons.

Corporal

Major

Sergeant

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Can you tell us which officer would use this insignia on their uniform?

Wiki Commons

Can you tell us which officer would use this insignia on their uniform?

Colonel

A Colonel in the U.S. Army leads brigades of between 1,500 to 3,2000 men.

Major

First Lieutenant

Admiral

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This position in the Navy is the equivalent of a U.S. Army Captain. Do you know what it is?

Wiki Commons

This position in the Navy is the equivalent of a U.S. Army Captain. Do you know what it is?

Ensign

Seaman

U.S. Navy Lieutenant

The most senior position in junior officer ranks, a Lieutenant in the Navy is actually a higher rank than the Army position of the same name. In fact, a Navy Lieutenant is the equivalent rank of a Captain in the U.S. Army.

Vice Admiral

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This rank is worn by a ____________

Wiki Commons

This rank is worn by a ____________

U.S. Navy Lieutenant

Staff Sergeant

Corporal

Chief Warrant Officer 3

An advanced level expert commissioned officer who performs a variety of roles through brigade level as per their field of specialty.

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This U.S. Army officer can lead up to 1,000 soldiers. Name the officer rank, please.

Wiki Commons

This U.S. Army officer can lead up to 1,000 soldiers. Name the officer rank, please.

Chief Warrant Officer 3

Lieutenant Colonel

A Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army leads battalions of between 300 to 1,000 men.

Captain

General

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An officer position under a General, who would wear this insignia?

Wiki Commons

An officer position under a General, who would wear this insignia?

Private E2

Captain

Lieutenant Colonel

Brigadier General

A Brigadier General serves as a deputy commander for Army divisions under the control of a General. Helps to oversee staff and mission planning.

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This high-ranking officer commands up to 16,000 soldiers. Who is it?

Wiki Commons

This high-ranking officer commands up to 16,000 soldiers. Who is it?

Major

Major General

A Major General commands divisions of between 10,000 to 16,000 soldiers.

Colonel

Admiral

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A wartime position only, this rank controls the entire U.S. Navy. Can you identify it?

Wiki Commons

A wartime position only, this rank controls the entire U.S. Navy. Can you identify it?

Fleet Admiral

This position is given to the commander of the entire U.S. Navy and only during wartime. The last time it was filled was in 1946.

General of the Navy

Navy Captain

Lieutenant Colonel

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A ___________ would wear this insignia.

Wiki Commons

A ___________ would wear this insignia.

Warrant Officer 1 (Marine Corps)

This is the lowest of the officer ranks in the United States Marines.

Ensign

Staff Sergeant

Colonel

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Identify this rank from the insignia in the image.

Wiki Commons

Identify this rank from the insignia in the image.

Lieutenant Commander

This is the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard equivalent of an Army major. The Lieutenant Commander ranks higher than a Lieutenant but lower than a Commander.

Seaman

Warrant Officer 1 (Marine Corps)

Vice Admiral

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sergeant first class insignia

Wiki Commons

This officer acts as an adviser to a platoon leader. Name them, please

Private First Class

Navy Captain

Sergeant First Class

A military veteran with 15 years experience, a Sergeant First Class is usually an adviser to a platoon leader.

Army Captain

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general of the airforce insignia

Wiki Commons

Please name the officer rank related to the insignia in the image.

Sergeant First Class

Lieutenant General

Major General

General of the Air Force

This position is given to the commander of the entire U.S. Air Force and only during wartime.

Wiki Commons

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