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!
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
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
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
Advertisement
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.
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
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.
Advertisement
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
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.
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
Advertisement
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.
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
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.
Advertisement
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
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
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
Advertisement
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
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.
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.
Advertisement
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
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
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.
Advertisement
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
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.
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
Advertisement
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
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.
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
Advertisement
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
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
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
Advertisement
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
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.
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
Advertisement
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.
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
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
Advertisement
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
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
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
Advertisement
You Got:
/40
Wiki Commons