Navy SEAL ranks: How do they differ from regular Navy?

Navy SEAL ranks and the ranks in the SEAL teams do not differ from those in other military units around the world. The regular ranks used in the US Navy are also applied in the US Navy SEAL ranks.

Navy SEAL ranks

The Navy SEALs ranks are the same as the other Navy units, but they have different names. In the US Navy, ranks are comprised of three groups: Enlisted (E-1 through E-9), Warrant Officer (CWO-1 through CWO-5), and Commissioned Officers (CO-1 through CO-5), and Admiral ranks (CO-6 through CO-10; FADM.)

Most Navy SEALs (about 2,000) are enlisted men who hold the rank of E-4 to E-9 (Petty Officer 3rd Class to Master Chief Petty Officer). They are led by roughly 500 SEAL Officers who rank O-1 to O-10 (Ensign to Admiral Chief of Naval Operations).

A few SEAL Warrant Officers (perhaps 30 or so) rank as officers above the senior-most Enlisted but lower than a Commissioned Officer.

A Warrant Officer is a highly specialized expert and trainer in his or her career field. A Warrant Officer is a highly specialized expert and trainer in his or her career field. Commissioned Officers are the managers, problem solvers, key influencers and planners who lead Enlisted Soldiers in all situations.

Difference between services

Equivalency between services is by pay grade. United States Navy commissioned officer ranks to have two distinct sets of rank insignia: On dress uniform, a series of stripes similar to Commonwealth naval ranks are worn; on service khaki, working uniforms (Navy Working Uniform [NWU], and coveralls), and special uniform situations (combat utilities, flight suits, and USMC uniforms when worn by Navy officers assigned or attached to USMC units), the rank insignia are identical to the equivalent rank in the US Marine Corps.

Like every military organization, there is a command structure requiring different ranks. The same is true of Army Special Forces, US Army Rangers, Delta Force, MARSOC, etc. There are no military organizations where everyone is of the same rank. Navy SEAL ranks are related to the assigned roles in the SEAL teams and organization.

If you instead meant “Do Navy SEALs have unique ranks?” then no answer. The Navy SEALs are part of the Navy and use regular Navy ranks.

Enlisted

E-4		Petty Officer Third Class	PO3	Noncommissioned Officer
E-5		Petty Officer Second Class	PO2	Noncommissioned Officer
E-6		Petty Officer First Class	PO1	Noncommissioned Officer
E-7		Chief Petty Officer	CPO	Senior Noncommissioned Officer
E-8		Senior Chief Petty Officer	SCPO	Senior Noncommissioned Officer
E-9		Master Chief Petty Officer	MCPO	Senior Noncommissioned Officer

Commissioned Warrant Officers

W-2		Chief warrant officer two	CWO-2
W-3		Chief warrant officer three	CWO-3
W-4		Chief warrant officer four	CWO-4
W-5		Chief warrant officer five	CWO-5

Officers

O-1		Ensign	ENS	Junior Officer
O-2		Lieutenant Junior Grade	LTJG	Junior Officer
O-3		Lieutenant	LT	Junior Officer
O-4		Lieutenant Commander	LCDR	Junior Officer
O-5		Commander	CDR	Senior Officer
O-6		Captain	CAPT	Senior Officer
O-7		Rear Admiral Lower Half	RDML	Flag Officer
O-8		Rear Admiral	RADM	Flag Officer
O-9		Vice Admiral	VADM	Flag Officer
O-10		Admiral	ADM	Flag Officer

If officers demonstrate superior performance and prove themselves capable of performing at the next higher pay grade, they are given an increase in pay grade. The official term for this process is a promotion.

The letter and number represent the rank title and paygrade of the Navy SEAL. It’s essential to note that Navy SEAL ranks are different from the pay grade and signify the job duties and leadership responsibilities. Every SEAL can advance their careers by continuing education and through command and specialty opportunities.