Military Officer Advancement

Are you interested in a military career? How do officers advance through the ranks?

Officers can progress through 10 pay grades. As an officer in the pay grade of O-1, you would advance by the action of your local commander. Commanders ensure that all necessary qualifications are being completed and that officers have spent the required time in grade.

Officers are continually evaluated by senior officers. Individual performance is compared with the performance of all other officers in similar pay grades. A selection board thoroughly examines career performance to select only the best qualified officers for promotion.

Factors for promotion include:

• Career-long performance of job duties, leadership, and management
• Pursuit of, and success in, positions of increasing responsibility
• Successful completion of required qualifications and professional military education
• Appearance and behavior

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1. Officers: Rank and Pay Grade by Service

    

   Pay Grade	Service
   	Air Force	Army	Coast Guard	Marine Corps	Navy
   O-10	General	General	Admiral	General	Admiral
   O-9	Lieutenant General	Lieutenant General	Vice Admiral	Lieutenant General	Vice Admiral
   O-8	Major General	Major General (Upper Hand)	Rear Admiral	Major General (Upper Hand)	Read Admiral
   O-7	Brigadier General	Brigadier General (Lower Hand)	Rear Admiral	Brigadier General (Lower Hand)	Rear Admiral
   O-6	Colonel	Colonel	Captain	Colonel	Captain
   O-5	Lieutenant Colonel	Lieutenant Colonel	Commander	Lieutenant Colonel	Commander
   O-4	Major	Major	Lieutenant Commander	Lieutenant Colonel	Lieutenant Commander
   O-3	Captain	Captain	Lieutenant	Captain	Lieutenant
   O-2	First Lieutenant	First Lieutenant	Lieutenant Junior Grade	First Lieutenant	Lieutenant Junior Grade
   O-1	Second Lieutenant	Second Lieutenant	Ensign	Second Lieutenant	Ensign

Source: Today's Military online guide of the U.S. Department of Defense.