User:Gadget850/US Military Style Guide

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Contents

[edit] Ranks

Ranks should use the Associated Press Stylebook useage for military titles:

[edit] US Army

Officer AP Style Enlisted AP Style
General of the Army Gen. of the Army Sergeant Major of the Army Sgt. Maj. of the Army
General Gen. Command Sergeant Major Command Sgt. Maj.
Lieutenant General Lt. Gen. Sergeant Major Sgt. Maj.
Major General Maj. Gen. First Sergeant 1st Sgt.
Brigadier General Brig. Gen. Master Sergeant Master Sgt.
Colonel Col. Sergeant First Class Sgt. 1st Class
Lieutenant Colonel Lt. Col. Staff Sergeant Staff Sgt.
Major Maj. Sergeant Sgt.
Captain Capt. Corporal Cpl.
First Lieutenant 1st. Lt. Specialist Spc.
Second Lieutenant 2nd Lt. Private First Class Pfc.
Chief Warrant Officer 5 Chief Warrant Officer Private Pvt.
Chief Warrant Officer 4 Chief Warrant Officer Private Pvt.
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Chief Warrant Officer
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Chief Warrant Officer
Warrant Officer 1 Warrant Officer

[edit] US Air Force

Officer AP Style Enlisted AP Style
General of the Air Force Gen. of the Air Force Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force
General Gen. Command Chief Master Sergeant Command Chief Master Sgt.
Lieutenant General Lt. Gen. Chief Master Sergeant Chief Master Sgt.
Major General Maj. Gen. Senior Master Sergeant Senior Master Sgt.
Brigadier General Brig. Gen. Master Sergeant Master Sgt.
Colonel Col. Master Sergeant Master Sgt.
Lieutenant Colonel Lt. Col. Technical Sergeant Tech. Sgt.
Major Maj. Staff Sergeant Staff Sgt.
Captain Capt. Senior Airman Senior Airman
First Lieutenant 1st. Lt. Airman First Class Airman 1st Class
Second Lieutenant 2nd Lt. Airman Airman
Airman Basic Airman

[edit] US Navy and US Coast Guard

Officer AP Style Enlisted AP Style
Admiral of the Navy Adm. of the Navy Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
Fleet Admiral Fleet Adm. Fleet Master Chief Petty Officer Fleet Master Chief Petty Officer
Admiral Adm. Force Master Chief Petty Officer Force Master Chief Petty Officer
Vice Admiral Vice Adm. Command Master Chief Petty Officer Command Master Chief Petty Officer
Rear Admiral (Upper Half) Rear Adm. Master Chief Petty Officer Master Chief Petty Officer
Rear Admiral (Lower Half) Rear Adm. Senior Chief Petty Officer Senior Chief Petty Officer
Captain Capt. Chief Petty Officer Chief Petty Officer
Commander Cmdr. Petty Officer First Class Petty Officer 1st class
Lieutenant Commander Lt. Cmdr. Petty Officer Second Class Petty Officer 2nd class
Lieutenant Lt. Petty Officer Third Class Petty Officer 3rd class
Lieutenant, Junior Grade Lt. j. g. Seaman¹ Seaman
Ensign Ensign Seaman¹ Apprentice Seaman Apprentice
Chief Warrant Officer 5 Chief Warrant Officer Seaman¹ Recruit Seaman Recruit
Chief Warrant Officer 4 Chief Warrant Officer
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Chief Warrant Officer
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Chief Warrant Officer
  • ¹Also Hospitalman, Fireman, Airman or Constructionman

[edit] US Marine Corps

Officer AP Style Enlisted AP Style
General Gen. Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps
Lieutenant General Lt. Gen. Sergeant Major Sgt. Maj.
Major General Maj. Gen. Master Gunnery Sergeant Master Gunnery Sgt.
Brigadier General Brig. Gen. First Sergeant 1st Sgt.
Colonel Col. Master Sergeant Gunnery Sgt.
Lieutenant Colonel Lt. Col. Gunnery Sergeant Gunnery Sgt.
Major Maj. Staff Sergeant Staff Sgt.
Captain Capt. Sergeant Sgt.
First Lieutenant 1st. Lt. Corporal Cpl.
Second Lieutenant 2nd Lt. Lance Corporal Lance Cpl.
Chief Warrant Officer 5 Chief Warrant Officer Private First Class Pfc.
Chief Warrant Officer 4 Chief Warrant Officer Private Pvt.
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Chief Warrant Officer
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Chief Warrant Officer
Warrant Officer 1 Warrant Officer

[edit] Rank useage

Capitals
Capitalize ranks only when used as a formal title before the name:
  • Capt. Scarlet arrived today.
Subsequent use
Do not use the rank on further instances of the name.
  • Capt. Scarlet arrived today. Scarlet will be returning next week.
Full spell
Spell out the rank when it is substituted for a name.
  • The captain will inspect the unit tomorrow.
Plurals
Add s to the principal element in the title:
  • Capts. Scarlet and Green
  • Sgts. Major Blue and Yellow (sergeant is the principle element)
Retired
Do not use Ret., instead use the full word before the rank. Do not use retired if deceased. Use former if the member did not actually retire.
  • We saw retired Capt. Scarlet.

[edit] Service names and members

Service names
Capitalize US military service names in long or short form:
  • The US Army has many soldiers.
  • The Army has a lot of tanks.
Member names
Capitalize US military service members:
  • Soldier
  • Sailor
  • Airman
  • Marine

[edit] Military units

  • Spell out the unit designation in full on the first use. Use Arabic numbers and capitalize key words:
    • 1st Infantry Division
    • C Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment
    • B Company, 4th Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment
    • C Battery, 1st Battalion, 9th Artillery Regiment
    • Operational Detachment Alpha 563, 3rd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group
  • On subsequent use, where another unit is not mentioned, the division or the battalion may be used.
  • Proper use of

[edit] Terms

West Point
The proper name is U.S. Military Academy; West Point is acceptable as a second reference.