Advancement of Officers

Officers can progress through 10 officer pay grades during their careers. The grid below contains information on the relationship between pay grade and rank. Officers in the pay grade of O-1 advance by the action of their local commander. Commanders ensure that all necessary qualifications are being completed and that officers have spent the required time in grade.

Officers of the U.S. Armed Forces: Rank and Pay Grade
Pay Grade	Service
	Air Force	Army	Coast Guard	Marine Corps	Navy
O-10	General	General	Admiral	General	Admiral
O-9	Lieutenant General	Lieutenant General	Vice Admiral	Lieutenant General	Vice Admiral
O-8	Major General	Major General	Rear Admiral (Upper Hand)	Major General	Rear Admiral (Upper Hand)
O-7	Brigadier General	Brigadier General	Rear Admiral (Lower Hand)	Brigadier General	Rear Admiral (Lower Hand)
O-6	Colonel	Colonel	Captain	Colonel	Captain
O-5	Lieutenant Colonel	Lieutenant Colonel	Commander	Lieutenant Colonel	Commander
O-4	Major	Major	Lieutenant Commander	Major	Lieutenant Commander
O-3	Captain	Captain	Lieutenant	Captain	Lieutenant
O-2	First Lieutenant	First Lieutenant	Lieutenant Junior Grade	First Lieutenant	Lieutenant Junior Grade
O-1	Second Lieutenant	Second Lieutenant	Ensign	Second Lieutenant	Ensign

Officers are continually evaluated by officers with more seniority. Individual performance is compared with the performance if all other officers in similar pay grades. A selection board thoroughly examines every aspect of each officer's career performance to select only the best qualified officers for promotion.

Selection boards are made up of experienced senior officers. Each selection board evaluates performance form the time each officer entered the service to the time the board meets. The members of the selection board evaluate each officer's record for promotion. Factors that qualify officer for promotion include:

Career-long performance of job duties, leadership, and management
Pursuit of, and success in, positions of increasing responsibility
Successful completion of required qualifications and professional military education
Appearance and behavior.

By selecting the best-qualified officers for promotions, the services ensure they have the best possible leadership. Excellent performance reports are essential to career advancement. Although a series of excellent performance reports does not guarantee an individual's promotion, a less-than-excellent record severely limits chances for advancement. Since the number of officer positions is limited by Congress, the competition at senior levels is intense.

Source: Military Careers online guide, The U.S. Department of Defense, Washington D.C.
Page last updated in August 2008.