I am amazed at the emigrants that came to the US only to turn around and enlist in the military. When my great grandparents emigrated they left the old world behind to become Americans. Why is it that today, some people emigrate and then don't want to change. Our family has been able to keep our Italian roots and be American also. The people who come and then can't or won't learn English to function are a mystery to me.

I just read instructions and it says not to index rank. oops I guess these are just for your enlightenment.

I hope these lists will help any of you out there doing Military Census records. Titles change over the years so they may not be a complete list from the 1800-1900's but are a good starting point. Have Fun!!!

MARINE RANKS
ABBREVIATION	TITLE
1STLT	FIRST LIEUTENANT
1STSGT	FIRST SERGEANT
2NDLT	SECOND LIEUTENANT
BGEN	BRIGADIER GENERAL
CAPT	CAPTAIN
COL	COLONEL
CPL	CORPORAL
CW2	CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 2
CW3	CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 3
CW4	CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 4
CW5	CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 5
GEN	GENERAL
GYSGT	GUNNERY SERGEANT
LCPL	LANCE CORPORAL
LTCOL	LIEUTENANT COLONEL
LTGEN	LIEUTENANT GENERAL
MAJ	MAJOR
MAJGEN	MAJOR GENERAL
MGYSGT	MASTER GUNERY SERGEANT
MSGT	MASTER SERGEANT
PFC	PRIVATE FIRST CLASS
PVT	PRIVATE
SGT	SERGEANT
SGTMAJ	SERGEANT MAJOR
SGTMAJMARCOR	SERGEANT MAJOR OF THE MARINE CORPS
SSGT	STAFF SERGEANT
W01	WARRANT OFFICER 1

AIR FORCE RANKS
ABBREVIATION	TITLE
1ST LT	FIRST LIEUTENANT
2D LT	SECOND LIEUTENANT
A1C	AIRMAN FIRST CLASS
AB	AIRMAN BASIC
AMN	AIRMAN
BRIG GEN	BRIGADIER GENERAL
CAPT	CAPTAIN
CCM	COMMAN CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT
CMAF	CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT OF THE AIR FORCE
CMSGT	CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT
COL	COLONEL
GEN	GENERAL AIR FORCE CHIEF OF STAFF
GOAF	GENERAL OF THE AIR FORCE
LT COL	LIEUTENANT COLONEL
LT GEN	LIEUTENANT GENERAL
MAJ	MAJOR
MAJ GEN	MAJOR GENERAL
MSGT	MASTER SERGEANT
SMSGT	SENIOR MASTER SERGEANT
SMSGT	SENIOR MASTER SERGEANT
SRA	SENIOR AIRMAN OR SERGEANT
SSGT	STAFF SERGEANT
TSGT	TECHNICAL SERGEANT

ARMY RANKS
ABBREV.	TITLE
PVT	PRIVATE
PV2	PRIVATE 2
PFC	PRIVATE FIRST CLASS
SPC	SPECIALIST
CPL	CORPORAL
SGT	SERGEANT
SSG	STAFF SERGEANT
SFC	SERGEANT FIRST CLASS
MSG	MASTER SERGEANT
1SG	FIRST SERGEANT
SGM	SERGEANT MAJOR
CSM	COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR
SMA	SERGEANT MAJOR OF THE ARMY
W01	WARRANT OFFICER
CW2	CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 2
CW3	CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 3
CW4	CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 4
CWS	CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 5
2LT	SECOND LIEUTENANT
1LT	FIRST LIEUTENANT
CPT	CAPTAIN
MAJ	MAJOR
LTC	LIEUTENANT COLONEL
COL	COLONEL
BG	BRIGADIER GENERAL
MG	MAJOR GENERAL
LTG	LIEUTENANT GENERAL
GEN	GENERAL
GA	GENERAL OF ARMY

Possible Navel Rank Abbreviations

Navel Ranks for Indexing
Abbreviation	Title
ADM	ADMIRAL CHIEF OF NAVEL OPERATIONS
CAPT	CAPTAIN
CDR	COMMANDER
CPO	CHIEF PETTY OFFICER
CW02	CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 2
CW03	CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 3
CW04	CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 4
CW05	CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 5
ENS	ENSIGN
FADM	FLEET ADMIRAL
FLTCM	FLEET MASTER CHIEF PETTY OFFICER
FORCM	FORCE MASTER CHIEF PETTY OFFICER
LCDR	LIEUTENANT COMMANDER
LT	LIEUTENANT
LTJG	LIEUTENANT, JR. GRADE
MCPO	MASTER CHIEF PETTY OFFICER
MCPOC	COMMAND MASTER CHIEF PETTY OFFICER
MCPON	MASTER CHIEF PETTY OFFICER/NAVY
MPCOCG	MASTER CHIEF PETTY OFFICER/COAST GUARD
PO1	PETTY OFFICER 1ST CLASS
PO2	PETTY OFFICER 2ND CLASS
PO3	PETTY OFFICER 3RD CLASS
RADM	REAR ADMIRAL (HIGHER)
RDML	REAR ADMIRAL(LOWER)
SA	SEAMAN APPRENTICE
SCPO	SENIOR CHIEF PETTY OFFICER
SN	SEAMAN
SR	SEAMAN RECRUIT
VADM	VICE ADMIRAL
W01	WARRANT OFFICER
Other Possible Titles
Chief Boatswain	Chief Gunner
Chief Machinist	Chief Master of Arms
Boatswains Mate 1c	Gunners Mate 2c
QuarterMaster 3c	Master of Arms
Blacksmiths Ship Fitter	Boatswains Mate
Coxswains	Sailmakers Mates
Turret Captains	Gunners Mates
Store Keepers	Yeoman
Electricians	Commissary Stewards
Bugler	Musician
Seaman Gunner	Carpenter
Gun Captain	Gun Pointer
Gun Pointer 1c	Marksman
Radio	Torpedo Man
Ex-Apprentice	Ships Baker
Machinist	Carpenters Mates

Military Ranks

I have been indexing military records from 1910 census. I have done a couple of ship records and one ground unit. I am clueless about rank and abbreviations. I am putting a list of ranks so that transcription will be easier. Check back in a couple days.