Capitalize a military rank when used as a formal title before an individual's name.
See the lists that follow to determine whether the title should be spelled out or abbreviated in regular text.
On first reference, use the appropriate title before the full name of a member of the military.
In subsequent references, do not continue ising the title before the full name of a member of the military.
In subsequent references, do not continue using the title before a name. Use only the last name. Spell out and lowercase a title when it is substituted for a name: Gen. John J. Pershing arrived today. An aide said the general would review the troops.
In some cases, it may be necessary to explain the significance of a title: Army Sgt. maj John jones described the attack. Jones, who holds the Army's highest rank for enlistees, said it was unprovoked.
In addition to the ranks listed on the next page, each service has rations suck as machinist, radarman, torpedoman, etc., that are job descriptions. Do not use any of these designations as a title on first reference. If one is used before a name in a subsequent reference, do not capitalize or abbreviate it.
ABBREVIATIONS: The abbreviations, with the highest ranks listed first:
MILITARY TITLES
(Rank followed by usage before a name)
general - Gen.
lieutenant general - Lt. Gen.
major general - Maj. Gen.
brigadier general - Brig. Gen.
colonel - Col.
lieutenant colonel - Lt. Col.
major - Maj.
Captain - Capt.
first lieutenant - 1st Lt.
second lieutenant - 2nd lt.
Warrant Officers
chief warrant officer - Chief Warrant Officer
warrant officer - Warrant Officer
Enlisted Personnel
sergeant major of the Army - Sgt. maj. of the Army
command sergeant major - Command Sgt. Maj.
sergeant major - Sgt. Maj.
first sergeant - 1st Sgt.
master sergeant - Master Sgt.
sergeant first class - Sgt. 1st Class
staff sergeant - Staff Sgt.
sergeant - Sgt.
corporal - Cpl.
specialist - Spc.
private first class - Pfc.
private - Pvt.
NAVY, COAST GUARD
Commissioned Officers
admiral - Adm.
vice admiral - Vice Adm.
rear admiral upper half - Rear Adm.
rear admiral lower half - Rear Adm.
captain - Capt.
commander - Cmrd.
lieutenant commander - Lt. Cmdr.
lieutenant - Lt.
lieutenant junior grade - Lt. j.g.
ensign - Ensign
Warrant Officers
chief warrant officer - Chief Warrant Officer
Enlisted Personnel
master chief petty officer of the Navy - Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
master chief petty officer - Master Chief Petty Officer
senior chief petty officer - Senior Chief Petty Officer
chief petty officer - Chief Petty Officer
petty officer first class - Petty Officer 1st Class
petty officer second class - Petty Officer 2nd Class
petty officer third class - Petty Officer 3rd Class
seaman - Seaman
seaman apprentice - Seaman Apprentice
seaman recruit - Seaman Recruit
MARINE CORPS
Ranks and abbreviations for commissioned officers are the same as those in the Army. Warrant officer ratings follow the same system used in the Navy. There are no specialist ratings.
Others
sergeant major of the Marine Corps - Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps
sergeant major - Sg. Maj.
master gunnery sergeant - Master Gunnery Sgt.
first sergeant - 1st Sgt.
master sergeant - Master Sgt.
gunnery sergeant - Gunnery Sgt.
staff sergeant - Staff Sgt.
sergeant - Sgt.
corporal - Cpl.
lance corporal - Lance Cpl.
private first class - Pfc.
private - Pvt.
AIR FORCE
Ranks and abbreviations for commissioned officers are the same as those in the Army.
Enlisted Designations
chief master sergeant of the Air Force - Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force
chief master sergeant - Chief Master Sgt.
senior master sergeant - Senior Master Sgt.
master sergeant - Master Sgt.
technical sergeant - Tech Sgt.
staff sergeant - Staff Sgt.
senior airman - Senior Airman
airman first class - Airman 1st Class
airman - Airman
airman basic - Airman
PLURALS: Add s to the principle element in the title: majs. John Jones and Robert Smith; Maj. Gens. John Jones and Robert Smith; Spcs. John Jones and Robert Smith.
RETIRED OFFICERS: A military rank may be used in first reference before the name of an officer who has retired if it is relevant to a story. Do not, however, use the military abbreviation Ret.
Instead, use retired just as former would be used before the title of a civilian: They invited retired Army Gen. John Smith.
FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE OFFICERS: Use the abbreviations listed here when a military-style title is used before the name of a firefighter or police officer outside a direct quotation. Add police or fire before the title if needed for clarity: police Sgt. William Smith, fire Capt. David Jones.
Spell out titles such as detective that are not used in the armed forces.
