United States Marine Corps

===Rank structure===
{{main|United States Marine Corps rank insignia}}

As in the rest of the United States Armed Forces (excluding the Air Force and Space Force, which do not currently appoint warrant officers), Marine Corps [[military rank|ranks]] fall into one of three categories: [[officer (armed forces)|commissioned officer]], [[Warrant officer (United States)|warrant officer]], and enlisted, in decreasing order of authority. To standardize compensation, each rank is assigned a [[pay grade]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/insignias/ |title=DoD Defense Insignia |access-date=28 August 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060831150912/http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/insignias/ |archive-date=31 August 2006 |url-status=live}}</ref>

====Commissioned officers====
Commissioned officers are distinguished from other officers by their [[Commission (document)|commission]], which is the formal written authority, issued in the name of the President of the United States, that confers the rank and authority of a Marine officer. Commissioned officers carry the "special trust and confidence" of the President of the United States.<ref name="Estes"/> Marine Corps commissioned officers are promoted based on an "[[up or out]]" system in accordance with the [[Defense Officer Personnel Management Act]] of 1980.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Shane III|first=Leo|date=25 July 2018|title=Congress is giving the officer promotion system a massive overhaul|url=https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2018/07/25/how-officers-are-promoted-will-get-its-biggest-overhaul-in-decades-heres-what-that-means-for-the-military/|access-date=31 October 2021|website=Military Times|language=en}}</ref>
{{USMC Officer}}

====Warrant officers====
{{See also|Warrant officer (United States)}}
Warrant officers are primarily formerly enlisted experts in a specific specialized field and provide leadership generally only within that speciality.
{{USMC Warrant Officer}}

====Enlisted====
Enlisted marines in the pay grades E-1 to E-3 make up the bulk of the Corps's ranks. Although they do not technically hold leadership ranks, the Corps's ethos stresses leadership among all marines, and junior marines are often assigned responsibilities normally reserved for superiors. Those in the pay grades of E-4 and E-5 are non-commissioned officers (NCOs).<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Marine Corps Ranks|url=http://www.marines.mil/Marines/Ranks.aspx|access-date=|website=|archive-date=18 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171118172620/http://www.marines.mil/Marines/Ranks.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> They primarily supervise junior Marines and act as a vital link with the higher command structure, ensuring that orders are carried out correctly. Marines E-6 and higher are staff non-commissioned officers (SNCOs), charged with supervising NCOs and acting as enlisted advisers to the command.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bajza|first=Stephen|title=Enlisted Marine Corps Ranks|url=https://www.military.com/marine-corps/enlisted-ranks.html|access-date=8 July 2021|website=Military.com|archive-date=9 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709185615/https://www.military.com/marine-corps/enlisted-ranks.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The E-8 and E-9 levels have two and three ranks per pay grade, respectively, each with different responsibilities. The first sergeant and sergeant major ranks are command-oriented, serving as the senior enlisted marines in a unit, charged to assist the commanding officer in matters of discipline, administration, and the morale and welfare of the unit. Master sergeants and master gunnery sergeants provide technical leadership as occupational specialists in their specific MOS. The [[Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps]] is a billet conferred on the senior enlisted marine of the entire Marine Corps, personally selected by the commandant, and is given a special pay grade above E-9. It is possible for an enlisted marine to hold a position senior to Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps which was the case from 2011 to 2015 with the appointment of Sergeant Major [[Bryan B. Battaglia]] to the billet of [[Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman]], who is the most senior enlisted member of the United States military, serving in the Joint Chiefs of Staff.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Joint Chiefs of Staff > About > The Joint Staff > Senior Enlisted Advisor|url=https://www.jcs.mil/About/The-Joint-Staff/Senior-Enlisted-Advisor/|access-date=8 July 2021|website=www.jcs.mil|archive-date=12 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812023849/https://www.jcs.mil/About/The-Joint-Staff/Senior-Enlisted-Advisor/|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{USMC Enlisted}}