Broadcast Style Guide - by Larry Gillick, Assistant Professor, Digital & Broadcast Media, Shenandoah University

This Web page isn't "official" military guidance, but is based on a decade of military experience as an Army "Super Q" - a public affairs specialist trained in both print and broadcast media. Now, I teach journalism and digital media in a civilian university.

Army Navy Air Force Marines Coast Guard Names

Enlisted
- Private 1, PVT
- Private 2, PV2
- Private First Class, PFC
- Specialist, SPC
- Corporal, CPL
- Sergeant, SGT
- Staff Sergeant, SSG
- Sergeant First Class, SFC
- Master Sergeant, MSG
- First Sergeant, 1SG
- Sergeant Major, SGM
- Command Sergeant Major, CSM
- Typical spoken form:
  RANK LastName (e.g. SGT Smith "Sergeant Smith")
  RANK FirstName LastName (e.g. "Sergeant Bob Smith")
  Never referred to as “Sir” or “Ma'am”
Warrant
- Warrant Officer 1, WO1
- Chief Warrant Officer 2, CW2
- Chief Warrant Officer 3, CW3
- Chief Warrant Officer 4, CW4
- Chief Warrant Officer 5, CW5
- Typical spoken form:
  Mr./Miss LastName (e.g. WO1 Smith "Mister Smith")
  Chief LastName (e.g. "Chief Smith") for CW ranks only
Officer
- Second Lieutenant, 2LT
- First Lieutenant, 1LT
- Captain, CPT
- Major, MAJ
- Lieutenant Colonel, LTC
- Colonel, COL
- Brigadier General, BG
- Major General, MG
- Lieutenant General, LTG
- General, GEN
- Typical spoken form:
  RANK LastName (e.g. COL Smith "Colonel Smith")
  RANK FirstName LastName (e.g. "Colonel Sarah Smith")
  Typically referred to as “Sir” or “Ma'am” - never Mr./Miss/Mrs.
Retired
- RANK (RET) Name
Doctor
- RANK Name, MD/DDS/DMD
Chaplain
- CH (RANK) Name
Units
- #/#st NAME TYPE
- 1/501st AR BDE
Job Titles
- Unit Commander, CDR
- Commanding General, CG

Marines Army Navy Air Force Coast Guard Names Top

Enlisted

Warrant

Officer

Retired

Rank (Ret) Name

Doctor

Rank Name, MD/DDS/DMD

Chaplain

Ch (Rank) Name

Units

Job Titles

Air Force Army Navy Marines Coast Guard Names Top