Although military rank is abbreviated differently among the service branches, AP Style standardizes all military titles. The standardization provides consistency and helps avoid confusion.

Rank is only capitalized and abbreviated when it precedes a person’s name and becomes part of that person’s title.

Gen. Hartzog gave a Greater Issues address.

The general walked up to the podium.

Air Force

Rank	Title Abbreviation
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.
chief warrant officer five (CW5)	Chief Warrant Officer 5
chief warrant officer four (CW4)	Chief Warrant Officer 4
chief warrant officer three (CW3)	Chief Warrant Officer 3
chief warrant officer two (CW2)	Chief Warrant Officer 2
warrant officer (W01)	Warrant Officer
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force	Chief Sgt. of the Air Force
Command Chief Master Sergeant	Command Chief Master Sgt.
Chief Master Sergeant	Chief Master Sgt.
Senior Master Sergeant	Senior Master Sgt.
First Sergeant	1st Sgt.
Master Sergeant	Master Sgt.
Technical Sergeant	Technical Sgt.
Staff Sergeant	Staff Sgt.
Senior Airman	Senior Airman
Airman	Airman
Airman Basic	Airman Basic

Army

Rank	Title Abbreviation
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.
chief warrant officer five (CW5)	Chief Warrant Officer 5
chief warrant officer four (CW4)	Chief Warrant Officer 4
chief warrant officer three (CW3)	Chief Warrant Officer 3
chief warrant officer two (CW2)	Chief Warrant Officer 2
warrant officer (W01)	Warrant Officer
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 and Coast Guard

Rank	Title Abbreviation
Admiral	Adm.
vice admiral	Vice Adm.
rear admiral upper half	Rear Adm.
rear admiral lower half	Rear Adm.
Captain	Capt.
commander	Cmdr.
lieutenant commander	Lt. Cmdr.
lieutenant	Lt.
lieutenant junior grade	Lt. j.g.
Ensign	Ensign
chief warrant officer	Chief Warrant Officer
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

Rank	Title Abbreviation
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.
chief warrant officer five (CW5)	Chief Warrant Officer 5
chief warrant officer four (CW4)	Chief Warrant Officer 4
chief warrant officer three (CW3)	Chief Warrant Officer 3
chief warrant officer two (CW2)	Chief Warrant Officer 2
warrant officer (W01)	Warrant Officer
Sergeant Major of the Marine Corp	Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corp
Sergeant Major	Sgt. Maj.
Master Gunnery Sergeant	Master Sgt. Maj.
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.