USMC WW2 Enlisted Ranks

USMC Enlisted Rank Insignia of World War II

The specialty devices that had been used on earlier Marine Corps chevrons had been eliminated in the Uniform Regulations of 19371, but the USMC in World War II still had a fairly complex system of ranks and insignia. There were three main color schemes for enlisted chevrons, for dress blue, winter service and overcoat (forestry green) and summer service (khaki). Examples of each are shown below, but only winter service insignia are shown in the table of ranks.

In 1943, First Sergeant was moved up from the second grade to the first, "Mess" was re-titled "Commissary," the Commissary grades were re-aligned, and the Steward Branch was introduced.2

 

 

USMC dress blue insignia USMC dress blue insignia USMC dress blue insignia USMC dress blue insignia USMC dress blue insignia USMC dress blue insignia USMC dress blue insignia USMC dress blue insignia USMC dress blue insignia
USMC khaki insignia USMC blue insignia USMC khaki insignia USMC khaki insignia USMC khaki insignia USMC khaki insignia USMC khaki insignia USMC khaki insignia USMC khaki insignia

1941

  Line, Ordnance Quartermaster Paymaster Aviation, Engineering, Communications, Special Staff Mess Music
Grade 1 USMC enisted rank
Sergeant Major, Master Gunnery Sergeant
USMC enlisted rank
Quartermaster Sergeant
USMC enlisted rank
Paymaster Sergeant
USMC enlisted rank
Master Technical Sergeant
USMC enlisted rank
Master Technical Sergeant
USMC enlisted rank
Master Technical Sergeant
Grade 2 USMC enlisted rank
First Sergeant, Gunnery Sergeant
USMC enlisted rank
Technical Sergeant, Supply Sergeant
USMC enlisted rank
Technical Sergeant
USMC enlisted rank
Technical Sergeant
USMC enlisted rank
Technical Sergeant
USMC enlisted rank
Drum Major, Technical Sergeant
Grade 3 USMC enlisted rank
Platoon Sergeant
USMC enlisted rank
Staff Sergeant
USMC enlisted rank
Staff Sergeant
USMC enlisted rank
Staff Sergeant
USMC enlisted rank
Staff Sergeant
USMC enlisted rank
Staff Sergeant
Grade 4 USMC enlisted rank
Sergeant
USMC enlisted rank
Sergeant
USMC enlisted rank
Sergeant
USMC enlisted rank
Sergeant
USMC enlisted rank
Mess Sergeant, Chief Cook
USMC enlisted rank
Field Music Sergeant
Grade 5 USMC enlisted rank
Corporal
USMC enlisted rank
Corporal
USMC enlisted rank
Corporal
USMC enlisted rank
Corporal
USMC enlisted rank
Mess Corporal, Field Cook
USMC enlisted rank
Field Music Corporal
Grade 6 USMC enlisted rank
Private 1st Class
USMC enlisted rank
Private 1st Class
USMC enlisted rank
Private 1st Class
USMC enlisted rank
Private 1st Class
USMC enlisted rank
Assistant Cook
USMC enlisted rank
Field Music 1st Class
Grade 7 (no insignia)

Private

(no insignia)

Private

(no insignia)

Private

(no insignia)

Private

(no insignia)

Private

(no insignia)

Field Music

February 1943

  Line, Ordnance Quartermaster Paymaster Aviation, Engineering, Communications, Special Staff Commissary Music Steward
Grade 1
USMC enisted rank USMC enlisted rank
Sergeant Major, First Sergeant (before Feb. 1944), Master Gunnery Sergeant First Sergeant (after Feb. 1944)[3]
USMC enlisted rank
Quartermaster Sergeant
USMC enlisted rank
Paymaster Sergeant
USMC enlisted rank
Master Technical Sergeant
USMC enlisted rank
Master Technical Sergeant
USMC enlisted rank
Master Technical Sergeant
USMC enlisted rank
Master Steward, Master Cook
Grade 2 USMC enlisted rank
Gunnery Sergeant
USMC enlisted rank
Technical Sergeant, Supply Sergeant
USMC enlisted rank
Technical Sergeant
USMC enlisted rank
Technical Sergeant
USMC enlisted rank
Technical Sergeant
USMC enlisted rank
Drum Major, Technical Sergeant
USMC enlisted rank
Steward 1st Class, Cook 1st Class
Grade 3 USMC enlisted rank
Platoon Sergeant
USMC enlisted rank
Staff Sergeant
USMC enlisted rank
Staff Sergeant
USMC enlisted rank
Staff Sergeant
USMC enlisted rank
Staff Sergeant, Chief Cook
USMC enlisted rank
Staff Sergeant
USMC enlisted rank
Steward 2nd Class, Cook 2nd Class
Grade 4 USMC enlisted rank
Sergeant
USMC enlisted rank
Sergeant
USMC enlisted rank
Sergeant
USMC enlisted rank
Sergeant
USMC enlisted rank
Field Cook
USMC enlisted rank
Field Music Sergeant
USMC enlisted rank
Steward 3rd Class, Cook 3rd Class
Grade 5 USMC enlisted rank
Corporal
USMC enlisted rank
Corporal
USMC enlisted rank
Corporal
USMC enlisted rank
Corporal
USMC enlisted rank
Assistant Cook
USMC enlisted rank
Field Music Corporal
USMC enlisted rank
Steward's Assistant 1st Class
Grade 6 USMC enlisted rank
Private 1st Class
USMC enlisted rank
Private 1st Class
USMC enlisted rank
Private 1st Class
USMC enlisted rank
Private 1st Class
USMC enlisted rank
Private 1st Class
USMC enlisted rank
Field Music 1st Class
USMC enlisted rank
Steward's Assistant 2nd Class
Grade 7 (no insignia)

Private

(no insignia)

Private

(no insignia)

Private

(no insignia)

Private

(no insignia)

Private

(no insignia)

Field Music

(no insignia)

Steward's Assistant 3rd Class


Notes:


All text and images © Justin T. Broderick, 2013 unless otherwise indicated.