Within modern armed forces, the use of ranks is almost universal. As rank increases, pay-grade follows, but so does the amount of responsibility. Rank is not only used to designate leadership, but to establish pay-grade as well. As time went on and military operations became larger and more complex, military ranks increased and the ranking systems themselves became more complex. Ranking systems have been known for most of military history to be advantageous for military operations, in particular with regards to logistics, command, and coordination. Uniforms denote the bearer's rank by particular insignia affixed to the uniforms on a number of countries. The military chain of command constructs an important component for organized collective action. It incorporates the principles of exercising power and authority into the military chain of command-the succession of commanders superior to subordinates through which command is exercised.

The military rank system defines dominance, authority, and responsibility in a military hierarchy. Military ranks are a system of hierarchical relationships, within armed forces, police, intelligence agencies or other institutions organized along military lines.

( Learn how and when to remove this template message)Ī poster showing the rank insignia of the officers of several armed forces at the time of the Second World War. Further details may exist on the talk page. Please expand the article to include this information. This article is missing information about modern non-Eurocentric rank structures.

Civil war navy enlisted ranks