Q&A for How to Identify Military Rank (US Army)

International Security Assistance Force. It's a component of NATO, currently being led by General John F. Campbell of the United States Army.

There are literally hundreds of different shoulder sleeve insignia (commonly referred to as "patches"). Worn on the left sleeve of the utility uniforms, they represent the Division or Brigade the soldier is assigned to. The ones on the right sleeve represent the unit in which the soldier served in combat for a period of six months or longer. Patches are not worn on the Army blue uniform. A metal device of the same design as the full-color patch of the former wartime unit is worn on the right breast pocket instead.

Generals don't have rank stripes. The only stripes they would have are service stripes or overseas bars.

Three black dots is the insignia for a Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Cadet Captain. On the green uniform, the dots are silver; on the utility uniforms, they are black.

$2,046.00 is the lowest you can make with 2 years or less of service and without having any special pay.

It stands for Military Occupational Specialty. It is the job classification of a Soldier or Marine.

Just like a Sergeant First Class rank in the army, but the Marines version features a pair of crossed rifles. It consists of 3 chevrons, 2 rockers and crossed rifles.

Three stars indicate Lieutenant General (for US Army, USMC, USAF) or Vice Admiral (US Navy, USCG).

Warrant officers specialize in technical equipment, including flying aircraft. All pilots in the U.S.Army are warrant officers.

18 Zulu is the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) identifier for a Senior Special Forces Sergeant. Individuals with this MOS are the Senior Sergeant in their ODA, or Operational Detachment Alpha.

On ACUs, a single black star signifies they are a Brigadier General or an O-7.

That would be a Colonel. It is only black because it was subdued on a combat uniform, it is silver on any other army uniform.

His or her job could be anything, Staff Sergeant is a rank, not a role. Think level of responsibility. A staff sergeant could be a drill instructor, a mechanic, or a key advisor to a Lieutenant leading a Platoon.

The black cross (or other black religious insignia) on the camouflage uniform designates that individual as a Chaplain in the Army.

This a branch signifier and in the case of crossed rifles, it is infantry. Cross cannons is artillery, cross sabers is cavalry, cross arrows is green beret and special ops. These insignia pens are awarded upon successful completion of respective training. There are others such as wings for aviation or the flaming marker pot for ordinance.

Warrant officers specialize in technical equipment, including flying aircraft. All pilots in the U.S. Army are warrant officers.

Yes, only if the soldier has been deployed.

It can mean many things, but it is most likely a Knights Templar Cross patch. If not, it may also refer to the military's chaplain services.

Then he is not a Captain, as the single star is for (O-7), which is Brigadier General.

They are officers with responsibilities relating to their specific field of study. They are usually the chief advisers to senior officers and are referred to on a technical basis. They serve as managers and to effectively help the company or battalion and to operate as smoothly as possible, and ensure that any missions are carried out as best they can.

In the US Army, the color red is not associated with any branch or career field. Scarlet, however, is associated with two branches - Field Artillery and Air Defense Artillery. This applies to both commissioned and non-commissioned officer corps.

In the U.S. military, there is no rank designated as sergeant general. What is now known as a major General or two star general was once known as a sergeant major General, but that term has been out of use for decades.

Depending on the rank, someone that is an E-1 gets promoted in 6 months, E-2 is a year, etc.

A gold oak-leaf rank with two wide gold stripes and one narrow stripe between is the rank of Lieutenant Commander (O-4) in the U.S. Navy.

One star is the rank of Brigadier General (USA, USMC, USAF) or Rear Admiral (USN, USCG). There is no U.S. military rank with 5 stripes, they are overseas stripes and show that individual has 2.5 years overseas service time.

It's up to the unit commander whether or not both names are displayed on uniform.

Yes, it does.

Most likely. They have a little area on the front of their uniforms where a patch is placed. Ranks are also displayed on the shoulders.

It is sewed on, on the ACU/OCP Uniforms. They are sewed as well as using Velcro.

Three vertical silver bars indicate that the officer is a Captain or O-3. A captain is obviously of higher rank than a Lieutenant, which has one or two vertical bars.