We'll Show You the Insignia, You Tell Us the Rank

MILITARY

By: Robin Tyler

6 Min Quiz

Image: Wiki Commons by United States Army

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!

One of the highest positions in the Navy, it takes many years of service to get here.

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.

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What is this position in the U.S. army called?

A Lieutenant General commands corps of between 20,000 to 40,000 soldiers.

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A _________ in the United States Army will wear this insignia.

A team leader in small army units, a Corporal is the base rank for non commissioned officers.

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Please name the position associated with this insignia.

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.

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Who will wear the insignia shown in this image?

Captains in the U.S. Army lead large company-sized units of anything between 60 to 200 soldiers at a time.

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This insignia is for a ________

Seaman is the third lowest rank an enlisted person will receive in both the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard.

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Which officer insignia is shown in this image?

A Major controls a U.S. Army brigade and is responsible for personnel, logistics and operations.

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This Army officer leads up to 16 soldiers. Do you know the position from the insignia featured in the image?

Leads a squad of up to 16 soldiers and has one or two sergeants under their command.

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Any idea as to the officer class associated with naval insignia?

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.

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Who would wear the insignia shown here?

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.

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Name this army position, please.

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.

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This is the insignia for a position in the United States Army. What is it?

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.

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An army officer of which rank would have this insignia on their uniform?

First Lieutenants typically have 18 to 24 months of service and often lead platoons operating specialized weapons.

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This rank is worn by a ____________

An advanced level expert commissioned officer who performs a variety of roles through brigade level as per their field of specialty.

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This insignia belongs to the _________ officer rank.

This is the entry level rank for commissioned officers. Leads between 16 to 44 people.

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A lack of insignia indicates which rank in the United States Navy?

After the Seaman recruit rank (which carries no insignia), this is the lowest rank in the U.S. Navy.

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Any idea as to the position of these insignia?

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.

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This U.S. Army officer can lead up to 1,000 soldiers. Name the officer rank, please.

A Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army leads battalions of between 300 to 1,000 men.

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This high-ranking officer commands up to 16,000 soldiers. Who is it?

A Major General commands divisions of between 10,000 to 16,000 soldiers.

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Any idea as to who would wear this insignia?

An intermediate level expert commissioned officer who performs a variety of roles through battalion level as per their field of specialty.

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This officer acts as an adviser to a platoon leader. Name them, please

A military veteran with 15 years experience, a Sergeant First Class is usually an adviser to a platoon leader.

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This insignia portrays which rank?

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.

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A ___________ would wear this insignia.

This is the lowest of the officer ranks in the United States Marines.

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Can you tell us which rank this insignia belongs to?

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.

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Can you tell us which officer would use this insignia on their uniform?

A Colonel in the U.S. Army leads brigades of between 1,500 to 3,2000 men.

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This position is found in the U.S. Army. Can you tell what it is from the insignia?

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.

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This is the lowest officer rank available in one of the United States' armed forces. Do you know what it is from the insignia?

This is the lowest of the officer ranks in the United States Navy.

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The highest position in the United States Army when not at war, can you name it?

The most senior level commissioned officer, a General usually has more than 30 years of Army experience.

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This insignia would belong to a _________

A team/section leader who commands a group of soldiers, oversees their daily tasks and leads them in combat.

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An officer position under a General, who would wear this insignia?

A Brigadier General serves as a deputy commander for Army divisions under the control of a General. Helps to oversee staff and mission planning.

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This position in the Navy is the equivalent of a U.S. Army Captain. Do you know what it is?

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.

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Identify this rank from the insignia in the image.

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.

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Identify this Army insignia, please.

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.

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This insignia is for a _____________ in the United States Navy.

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.

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A wartime position only, this rank controls the entire U.S. Navy. Can you identify it?

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.

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A rank carried by Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon. What is it?

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.

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Often in command of vessels, what rank is shown by this insignia?

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.

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Please name the officer rank related to the insignia in the image.

This position is given to the commander of the entire U.S. Air Force and only during wartime.

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Any ideas as to who would wear this insignia?

A Midshipman is a low-ranking officer in the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard.

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The supreme leader of the U.S. Army during wartime, do you know this position from the insignia?

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.

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