United States Marine Corps enlisted rank insignia

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Enlisted Marines with paygrades of E-4 and E-5 are considered Noncommissioned Officers (NCOs) while those at E-6 and higher are considered Staff Noncommissioned Officers (SNCOs). The E-8 and E-9 levels each have two ranks per pay grade, each with different responsibilities. Gunnery Sergeants (E-7) indicate on their annual evaluations, called "fitness reports", or "fitreps" for short, their preferred promotional track: Master Sergeant or First Sergeant. The First Sergeant and Sergeant Major ranks are command-oriented, with Marines of these ranks serving as the senior enlisted Marines in a unit, charged to assist the commanding officer in matter of discipline, administration and the morale and welfare of the unit. Master Sergeants and Master Gunnery Sergeants provide technical leadership as occupational specialists in their specific MOS. First Sergeants typically serve as the senior enlisted Marine in a company, battery or other unit at similar echelon, while Sergeants Major serve the same role in battalions, squadrons or larger units. The Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps is a rank conferred on the senior enlisted Marine of the entire Marine Corps, personally selected by the Commandant of the Marine Corps.

The gold stripes on red flash are worn on the Dress Blue coat. Green stripes on red flash are worn on the Service "A" uniform coat. The stripes are worn on the upper sleeve of both coats. The khaki shirts use green stripes on khaki material, and again are worn on the upper sleeves. Combat uniform rank insignia are black metal pins and are worn on the collars. They follow the same pattern, but connect the chevrons and rockers with vertical bars, and all ranks except Private and Private First Class have the crossed rifles or other interior compartment device connected to the lowest chevron. Gold-colored metal insignia are sometimes worn, most commonly on cooks' uniforms and duty brassards (sleeve coverings).

Unlike other branches of the military, it is incorrect to refer to enlisted Marines above the rank of Sergeant as "Sergeant". For instance; even informally, a Marine Staff Sergeant will be called "Staff Sergeant Jones" rather than "Sergeant Jones". Similarly, Lance Corporal is never shortened to "Corporal" when addressing a Marine of this rank, nor is a Private First Class properly addressed as Private as he or she would be in the Army, instead "PFC" will be used. However, familiar terms such as "Gunny" (for Gunnery Sergeant), "Top" (for 1stSgt/Master Sergeant) and "Master Guns" (for Master Gunnery Sergeant) are often substituted. These nicknames are improper for formal situations and can be taken as disrespectful if the Marine using them is not familiar with the Marine being addressed. The term "Sarge" is universally disrespectful among Marines.

Staff Noncommissioned Officer (SNCO) Rank Structure of the United States Marine Corps
Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps (SgtMajMC)	Sergeant Major (SgtMaj)	Master Gunnery Sergeant (MGySgt)	First Sergeant (1stSgt)	Master Sergeant (MSgt)	Gunnery Sergeant (GySgt)	Staff Sergeant (SSgt)
E-9	E-9	E-9	E-8	E-8	E-7	E-6