Doctors in the military hold a rank that corresponds to their level of experience and expertise. The specific ranks for doctors vary between the different branches of the U.S. military, but generally reflect the same basic progression. Newly commissioned doctors start at the lowest officer rank and have the potential to progress up to the highest medical ranks over the course of a long career.
Medical Corps Ranks in the Army
Doctors in the U.S. Army are part of the Army Medical Corps. The Army uses the same commissioned officer rank structure as the other branches, so doctors start as second lieutenants (O-1) after completing medical school and a residency program. They can then progress through the typical officer ranks:
| Army Rank | Pay Grade |
|---|---|
| Second Lieutenant | O-1 |
| First Lieutenant | O-2 |
| Captain | O-3 |
| Major | O-4 |
| Lieutenant Colonel | O-5 |
| Colonel | O-6 |
The Medical Corps has additional ranks that are specific to doctors and other health professionals:
| Army Medical Corps Rank | Pay Grade |
|---|---|
| Lieutenant Colonel | O-5 |
| Colonel | O-6 |
| Brigadier General | O-7 |
| Major General | O-8 |
| Lieutenant General | O-9 |
| General | O-10 |
After serving as a Colonel for some time, Army doctors may be eligible for promotion to Brigadier General and ascend through the general officer ranks. The Army Surgeon General holds the rank of Lieutenant General (O-9).
Medical Corps Ranks in the Navy
Doctors serving in the U.S. Navy are part of the Medical Corps. The Navy Medical Corps uses Naval officer ranks, which are very similar to Army and Air Force ranks:
| Navy Rank | Pay Grade |
|---|---|
| Ensign | O-1 |
| Lieutenant Junior Grade | O-2 |
| Lieutenant | O-3 |
| Lieutenant Commander | O-4 |
| Commander | O-5 |
| Captain | O-6 |
Special Medical Corps ranks include:
| Navy Medical Corps Rank | Pay Grade |
|---|---|
| Captain | O-6 |
| Rear Admiral Lower Half | O-7 |
| Rear Admiral Upper Half | O-8 |
| Vice Admiral | O-9 |
| Admiral | O-10 |
After serving as a Captain, doctors may be promoted to the flag officer ranks such as Rear Admiral. The Navy Surgeon General holds the rank of Vice Admiral (O-9).
Medical Corps Ranks in the Air Force
Air Force doctors are part of the Medical Corps as well. The Air Force rank structure is also similar to the other branches:
| Air Force Rank | Pay Grade |
|---|---|
| Second Lieutenant | O-1 |
| First Lieutenant | O-2 |
| Captain | O-3 |
| Major | O-4 |
| Lieutenant Colonel | O-5 |
| Colonel | O-6 |
The Medical Corps uses these ranks:
| Air Force Medical Corps Rank | Pay Grade |
|---|---|
| Colonel | O-6 |
| Brigadier General | O-7 |
| Major General | O-8 |
| Lieutenant General | O-9 |
| General | O-10 |
The progression after Colonel is similar to the Army, with eligible doctors being promoted to Brigadier General and potentially serving as Surgeon General at the rank of Lieutenant General (O-9).
Ranks in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps
Doctors may also serve as commissioned officers in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. This is a uniformed service focused on public health and disease prevention programs. The Corps uses its own rank structure:
| Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Rank | Pay Grade |
|---|---|
| Assistant Surgeon General | O-7 |
| Surgeon General | O-8 |
| Assistant Surgeon General (Rear Admiral) | O-9 |
| Surgeon General (Vice Admiral) | O-10 |
Doctors start at the O-3 rank as Commissioned Officers. Promotion potential extends up to serving as the Surgeon General at the O-10 level.
Special Case: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
One unique situation is military doctors teaching at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS). This is the U.S. military’s medical school. USUHS faculty have ranks distinct from the standard Medical Corps ranks:
| USUHS Faculty Rank | Pay Grade |
|---|---|
| Assistant Professor | O-3 |
| Associate Professor | O-4 |
| Professor | O-5 |
| Senior Rank Professor | O-6 |
The USUHS faculty ranking system more closely parallels academic institutions. But these ranks still correspond with military pay grades.
Conclusion
In summary, doctors in the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force have ranks within the Medical Corps of each service branch. The standard officer ranking system applies, but Medical Corps officers may progress to special senior ranks like Brigadier General or Rear Admiral. Army and Air Force Medical Corps officers can attain 3 or 4-star General ranks, while the Navy has 2 to 4-star Admiral ranks within the Medical Corps. The Public Health Service Commissioned Corps also has its own ranking progression for doctors up to Vice Admiral.
While the specific titles vary across branches, all military doctors start at O-1 to O-3 ranks after completing training. They then progress through field grade officer ranks and have the potential to earn senior Medical Corps general or flag officer ranks. The highest position a military doctor can achieve is serving as Surgeon General, a 3 or 4-star post filled by a Lieutenant General or Vice Admiral.