Military Officer Advancement
Are you interested in a military career? How do officers advance through the ranks?
Officers can progress through 10 officer pay grades during their careers. 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.
As an officer, you are continually evaluated by senior officers. Your individual performance is compared with the performance of all other officers in similar pay grades. A selection board thoroughly examines every aspect of each officer's career performance to select only the best qualified officers for promotion.
Factors that qualify officers 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.
-
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, The U.S. Department of Defense, Washington D.C.
