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Updated 15Apr

Info for Boots
(Knowledge)
General Orders

First Things to do when you hit the Fleet

Commandant's Reading List

Random
Posting pics on Sgt Grit's

10 Rules for Dating a Marine's Daughter
New 092206

Things a Drill Instructor will Never Say
New 102306

Esprit de Corps
New 102306

Sergeant's Prayer

Rules for Working with Ordies

Care Package Needs

What is a Veteran?

54 Reasons to Love the Corps

USMC Rules for Gunfighting

The Final Inspection

Topicus - the Origin

Peace for Our Time

The Corps

Note that although I listed the ranks with their paygrade (Sergeant - E5, etc), Marines do not refer to each other by paygrade, such as "E5" - instead we refer to the rank earned. The title Sergeant of Marines and all other ranks are earned, not given. Additionally, Staff Non-Commissioned Officers (Staff NCOs) are referred to using their full rank, and not "Sarge" or "Sergeant" which is prevalent in some other services. A Staff Sergeant has a different set of responsibilities than a Sergeant, and should be addressed as Staff Sergeant in order to reflect the fact that the Marine has been promoted and entrusted with the responsibilities of the higher rank.

Officers
2d Lieutenant - O1
Second Lieutenant
1st Lieutenant - O2
First Lieutenant
Captain - O3
Captain
Major - O4
Major
Lieutenant Colonel - O5
Lieutenant Colonel
Colonel - O6
Colonel
Brigadier General - O7
Brigadier General
Major General - O8
Major General
Lieutenant General - O9
Lieutenant General
General - O10
General
 
Warrant Officers

Warrant Officer - W1
Warrant Officer

Chief Warrant Officer 2 - W2
Chief Warrant Oficer 2
Chief Warrant Officer 3 - W3
Chief Warrant Officer 3
Chief Warrant Officer 4 - W4
Chief Warrant Officer 4
Chief Warrant Officer 5 - W5
Chief Warrant Officer 5
  
 
Enlisted
Private - E1 No insignia of Rank

Private
(Pvt)

Private First Class - E2 One Chevron only

Private First Class
(PFC)

Lance Corporal - E3 One Chevron, Crossed Rifles in Center

Lance Corporal
(LCpl)

Corporal - E4 Two Chevrons, Crossed Rifles in Center

Corporal
(Cpl)

Sergeant - E5 Three Chevrons, Crossed Rifles in Center

Sergeant
(Sgt)
Staff Sergeant - E6 Three Chevrons, One Rocker, Crossed Rifles in Center

Staff Sergeant
(SSgt)
Gunnery Sergeant - E7 Three Chevrons, Two Rockers, Crossed Rifles in Center

Gunnery Sergeant
(GySgt)

First Sergeant - E8 Three Chevrons, Three Rockers, Diamond in Center

First Sergeant
(1stSgt)

Sergeant Major - E9 Three Chevrons, Four Rockers, Star in Center

Sergeant Major
(SgtMaj)

Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps - E9 Three Chevrons, Four Rockers, Eagle Globe and Anchor with one star on each side. Senior Enlisted Marine

Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
(SgtMajMC)

Master Sergeant - E8 Three Chevrons, Three Rockers, Crossed Rifles in Center
Master Sergeant
(MSgt)
Master Gunnery Sergeant - E9 Three Chevrons, Four Rockers, Bursting Bomb in Center
Master Gunnery Sergeant
(MGySgt)

From time to time, Marines realize that they have lost their graduation pictures from Boot Camp. While not all platoons are available, the best place to check is with the following:
MCRD San Diego
MCRD Parris Island

MCCS Recruit Photo
P.O. Box 5100
Marine Corps Recruit Depot
Parris Island, South Carolina
29905-5001
Platoon Photos: To purchase Platoon Grad photos, please visit the Marine Corps Community Service website:
http://www.usmchistory.com/platoon_photos.htm		 Platoon Photos: Platoon photos dating back to 1939 are available through Recruit Photo by calling (843)228-1555.
Graduation Videos/DVD's: To receive a video of graduation, please call (619)725-6294 and place the order over the phone. You will need to have a credit card ready to purchase by phone. The customer service representative assisting you can help you with price, shipping charges, etc. Graduation Videos/DVD's: Graduation videos dating back to Nov. 5, 1999, and DVDs dating back to May 23, 2003, can be ordered by calling 800-889-6734.
Individual Photos: To obtain individual photos, the yearbook office can be reached @ (619)296-3840. Individual Photos: Individual photos of Marines are also available but only go back for four years. To find out how to get photos, call Recruit Photo at (843)228-1555.
Graduation Books: The yearbook office keeps records for two years. For more information they can be contacted by calling (619)296-3840. For books older than two years, you can contact the MCRD Historical Society (619)524-4426. Graduation Books: Recruit training series books are not available.
References: MCRD Parris Island FAQ and MCRD San Diego FAQ

If you are unable to find your book or photos through the MCRD, eBay often has Recruit Books and other Marine paraphernalia on their site. Buyer beware however....

Shown below is another one of those charts that really means nothing, but from time to time I've been asked questions about how long it takes to make certain ranks. The table below lists the minimums for Time in Grade (how long the Marine has been at the current rank) and Time in Service (calculated based on the amount of time on contract, not including pre-Boot Camp DEP). These are Federally-mandated times, and are used for regular promotion, and if I can find the original site I believe the Time in Service minimum is enforced even for meritorious promotions except in the case of non-rate (PFC, LCpl).
Rank Time in Grade
(minimum)		 Time in Service
(minimum)
SgtMaj/MGySgt 3 years 10 years
1stSgt 4 years 8 years
MSgt 4 years 8 years
GySgt 3 years 6 years
SSgt 27 months 4 years
Sgt 12 months 24 months
Cpl 8 months 12 months
LCpl 8 months 9 months
PFC 6 months 6 months

Pics of Marines in Iraq are sorted by unit where I could determine that info, others were sent to me by the Marine or their family, asking that it be included and shared with the world.

e-mail Jim
created: Mar 26, 2003
Updated Sep 22, 2006