People U.S Higher Rank Lower Air Learning Work

The U.S. "military" (the organizations and people who fight for a country) has many "ranks" (the level or amount of power a person has in an organization). People who "serve" (work for) their country well are rewarded with a higher rank. People with a higher rank have greater responsibility and receive greater respect from people with a lower rank. For example, people with a lower rank are supposed to "salute" (hold one's hand to one's forehead and then quickly move it away) people with a higher rank and call them "sir." People with a higher rank also "earn" (make money) more than people with a lower rank.

The ranks are slightly different in each "branch" (part) of the "Armed Services" (the U.S. military; the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard). In the Army, a "Private" is a very common low rank, followed by "Private 2" and then "Private First Class." A private can be promoted to a "Specialist" and then a "Corporal." Then there are "Sergeants" and many "variations" (slight changes) on that rank, such as "Master Sergeant" and "Sergeant Major." "Lieutenants," "Captains," and "Majors" are all high-ranking individuals, followed by "Colonels" and "Generals." The highest-ranking individual in the U.S. Army is the "General of the Army."

The U.S. Air Force has similar ranks. New "recruits" (people who have just begun to serve in the military) serve as low-ranking "Airmen." Then they can become "Sergeants" and "Lieutenants," followed by "Captains," "Majors," and "Colonels." "Generals" are the highest-ranking officers, and the "General of the Air Force" has the highest ranking "of all" (higher than anyone else).