GI Joe Ranks (Updated)

**Blackjack** · 11-05-2004

It has been a while since a few of us, in a joint effort, put together this list of Joe's ranks. It was complete at the time, but there have been a few new recruits since then, so here is an update:

Hawk (O-8) Commanding Officer (CO)-Army-Major General (2-Star)
Keel-Haul (O-9)-Navy-Vice Admiral
Gen. Flagg II (O-7)-Army-Brigadier General (1-Star)
Col. Courage (O-6)-Army-Colonel
Payload (O-6)-Air Force-Colonel
Skystiker (O-5)-Air Force-Lieutenant Colonel
Sure Fire (O-5)-Army-Lieutenant Colonel
Ace (O-4)-Air Force-Major
Bullet-Proof (O-4)-Army-Major
Ghostrider (O-4)-Air Force-Major
Major Storm (O-4)-Army-Major
Capt. Grid-Iron (O-3)-Army-Captain
Claymore (O-3)-Army-Captain
Countdown (O-3)-Air Force-Captain
Doc (O-3)-Army-Captain
Gears (O-3)-Air Force-Captain
Maverick (O-3)-Air Force-Captain
Psyche-Out (O-3)-Army-Captain
Rapid-Fire (O-3)-Army-Captain
Windmill (O-3)-Army-Captain
Updraft (O-3)-Army-Captain
Cutter (O-2)-Coast Guard-Lieutenant Junior Grade
Dogfight (O-2)-Air Force-First Lieutenant
Lt. Falcon (O-2)-Army-First Lieutenant
Slip-Stream (O-2)-Air Force-First Lieutenant
Sub-Zero (O-2)-Army-First Lieutenant
Supertrooper (O-2)-Army-First Lieutenant
Steeler (O-1)-Army-Second Lieutenant
Thunderwing (O-1)-Army-Second Lieutenant
Torpedo (W-4)-Navy-Chief Warrant Officer
Wetdown (W-4)-Navy-Chief Warrant Offcer *2
Wild Bill (W-4)-Army-Chief Warrant Officer
Flint (W-2)-Army-Chief Warrant Officer
Lift Ticket (W-2)-Army-Chief Warrant Officer
Major Altitude (W-2)-Army-Chief Warrant Officer *3
Altitude (E-9)-Army-Sergeant Major of the Army
Duke (E-9)-Army-Sergeant Major
Mercer (Cecil, Richard S.) (E-9)-Army-Sergeant Major
Rock N Roll (E-9)-Army-Sergeant Major
Airwave (E-8)-Army-Master Sergeant
Big Brawler (E-8)-Army-First Sergeant
Blizzard (E-8)-Army-First Sergeant
Dojo (E-8)-Army-Master Sergeant
Double Blast (E-8)-Army-Master Sergeant
Drop Zone (E-8)-Army-Master Sergeant
Mace (E-8)-Marines-First Sergeant
Sgt Savage (E-8)-Army-First Sergeant
Shipwreck (E-8/SCPO)-Navy-Senior Chief Petty Officer
Skydive (E-8)-Army-Master Sergeant
Snake-Eyes (E-8)-Army-Master Sergeant
Stalker (E-8)-Army-Master Sergeant
Storm Shadow (E-8)-Army-Master Sergeant
Airbourne (Six, Robert M.)(E-7)-Army-Sergeant First Class
Armadillo (E-7)-Army-Sergeant First Class
Beachhead (E-7)-Army-Sergeant First Class
Cold Front (E-7)-Army-Sergeant First Class
Crossfire (E-7)-Army-Sergeant First Class
Deep Six (E-7/CPO)-Navy-Chief Petty Officer
Dodger (E-7)-Army-Sergeant First Class
Gung-Ho (E-7)-Marines-Gunnery Sergeant
Hot Seat (E-7)-Army-Sergeant First Class
Lady Jaye (E-7)-Army-Sergeant First Class
Leatherneck (E-7)-Marines-Gunnery Sergeant
Long Range (E-7)-Army-Sergeant First Class
Salvo (E-7)-Army-Sergeant First Class
Sgt. Slaughter (E-7)-Marines-Gunnery Sergeant
Shockwave (E-7)-Army-Sergeant First Class
Sidetrack (E-7)-Army-Sergeant First Class
Snow Job (E-7)-Army-Sergeant First Class
Static Line (E-7)-Army-Sergeant First Class
T'Jbang (E-7)-Army-Sergeant First Class
Tracker (E-7)-Navy-Chief Petty Officer
Blowtorch (E-6)-Army-Staff Sergeant
Dart (E-6)-Army-Staff Sergeant
Dial Tone (E-6)-Army-Staff Sergeant
Effects (E-6)-Army-Staff Sergeant
Grunt (E-6)-Army-Staff Sergeant
Hollow Point (E-6)-Marines-Staff Sergeant
Iceberg (E-6)-Army-Staff Sergeant
Mirage (E-6)-Marines-Staff Sergeant
Mutt (E-6)-Army-Staff Sergeant
Pathfinder (E-6)-Army-Staff Sergeant
Rampage (E-6)-Army-Staff Sergeant
Repeater (E-6)-Army-Staff Sergeant
Roadblock (E-6)-Army-Staff Sergeant
Scarlett (E-6)-Army-Staff Sergeant*5
Side Track (E-6)-Army-Staff Sergeant
Snow Storm (E-6)-Army-Staff Sergeant
Spirit (E-6)-Army-Staff Sergeant
Starduster (E-6)-Army-Staff Sergeant
Topside (E-6)-Navy-Petty Officer First Class
Wet Suit (E-6)-Navy-Petty Officer First Class
White Out (E-6)-Army-Staff Sergeant
Wind Chill (E-6)-Army-Staff Sergeant
Zap (E-6)-Army-Staff Sergeant
Airbourne (Talltree, Franklin F.) (E-5)-Army-Sergeant
Alpine (E-5)-Army-Sergeant
Avalanche (E-5)-Army-Sergeant
Backblast (E-5)-Army-Sergeant
Barricade (E-5)-Army-Sergeant
Bazooka (E-5)-Army-Sergeant
Blaster (E-5)-Army-Sergeant
Blocker (E-5)-Army-Sergeant
Breaker (E-5)-Army-Sergeant
Budo (E-5)-Army-Sergeant
Bushido (E-5)-Army-Sergeant
Chuckles (E-5)-Army-Sergeant
Cross Country (E-5)-Army-Sergeant
D-Day (E-5)-Army-Sergeant
Depth Charge (E-5)-Navy-Petty Officer Second Class
Dusty (E-5)-Army-Sergeant
Dynamite (E-5)-Army-Sergeant
Freefall (E-5)-Army-Sergeant
Fridge (E-5)-Honorary Rank of Sergeant *1
Grand Slam (E-5)-Army-Sergeant
Hacker (E-5)-Army-Sergeant
Hardtop (E-5)-Air Force-Staff Sergeant
Heavy Duty (E-5)-Army-Sergeant
Ice Cream Soldier (E-5)-Army-Sergeant
Knockdown (E-5)-Army-Sergeant
Jinx (E-5)-Army-Sergeant
Kamakura (E-5)-Ninja Apprentice-Sergeant Equivelent
Lifeline (Steen, Edwin C.) (E-5)-Army-Sergeant
Lifeline (Scott, Greg) (E-5)-Army-Sergeant
Mainframe (E-5)-Marines-Sergeant*6
Mercer(Stratton,Felix P.)(E-5)-Slaughter's Renegade Honorary Rank Sergeant*1
Nunchuck (E-5)-Army-Sergeant
Outback (E-5)-Army-Sergeant
Recoil (E-5)-Army-Sergeant
Red Dog (E-5)-Sgt. Slaughter's Renegade-Honorary Rank of Sergeant*1
Short Fuze (E-5)-Army-Sergeant*7
Sideswipe (E-5A)-Army-Sergeant*4
Sneak Peek (E-5)-Army-Sergeant
Steam Roller (E-5)-Army-Sergeant
Stretcher (E-5)-Army-Sergeant
Switch Gears (E-5)-Army-Sergeant
Taurus (E-5)-Sgt. Slaughter's Renegade-Honorary Rank of Sergeant*1
Thunder (E-5)-Army-Sergeant
Tunnelrat (E-5)-Army-Sergeant
Wide Scope (E-5)-Army-Sergeant
Tollbooth (SP-5)-Army-Specialist
Airtight (E-4)-Army-Corporal
Banzai (E-4)-Army-Corporal
Barbeque (E-4)-Army-Corporal
Barrel Roll (E-4)-Army-Corporal
Blast Off (E-4)-Marines-Corporal
Bombstrike (E-4)-Air Force-Senior Airman
Charbroil (E-4)-Army-Corporal
Clean Sweep (E-4)-Army-Corporal
Cloudburst (E-4)-Army-Corporal
Clutch (E-4)-Army-Corporal
Cover Girl (E-4)(SP)-Army-Specialist
Crankcase (E-4)-Army-Corporal
Crazylegs (E-4)-Army-Corporal
Crosshair (E-4)-Army-Corporal
Downtown (E-4)-Army-Corporal
Faces (E-4)-Army-Corporal
Fast Draw (E-4)-Army-Corporal
Flash (E-4)-Army-Corporal
Footloose (E-4)-Army-Corporal
Frostbite (E-4)-Army-Corporal
Hardball (E-4)-Army-Corporal
Hard Drive (E-4)-Army-Corporal
Heavy Metal (E-4)-Army-Corporal
Hit & Run (E-4)-Army-Corporal
Hi-Tech (E-4)-Army-Corporal
Law (E-4)-Army-Corporal
Lightfoot (E-4)-Army-Corporal
Longarm (E-4)-Army-Corporal
Muskrat (E-4)-Army-Corporal
Ozone (E-4)-Army-Corporal
Quick Kick (E-4)-Army-Corporal
Rampart (E-4)-Navy-Petty Officer Third Class
Recondo (E-4)-Army-Corporal
Red Spot (E-4)-Army-Corporal
Ripcord (E-4)-Army-Corporal
Rollbar (E-4)-Army-Corporal
Rumbler (E-4)-Army-Corporal
Sci-Fi (E-4)-Army-Corporal
Scoop (E-4)-Army-Corporal
Skidmark (E-4)-Army-Corporal
Spaceshot (E-4)Air Force-Senior Airman
Spearhead (E-4)-Army-Corporal
T'Gin-Zu (E-4)-Army-Corporal
Talbot, Link (E-4)-Navy-Petty Officer Third Class
Tiger Claw (E-4)-Ninja Apprentice-Corporal Equivelent
Tripwire (E-4)(SP)-Army-Specialist
Wreckage (E-4)-Army-Corporal
Wild Card (E-4)-Army-Corporal
Dee Jay (SP-4)-Army-Specialist
Ambush (E-3)-Army-Private First Class
ROBO-Joe(E-3)-Army-Private First Class
Backstop-*6

Joe Colton (O-10)-Army-General of the Army (5-Star)
General Flagg I (O-7)-Army-Brigadier General (1-Star)
Chameleon (Deep Undercover)-*6
Kwinn, Jesse (Tracker)-*6

Junkyard (K-9)
Timber (Wolf)
Freedom (Eagle)
Polly (Parrot)
Order (K-9)
Max (Bobcat)
Sandstorm (Coyote)
Lamont (K-9)

S.A.S.

Action Man (classified)-S.A.S.
Big Ben (E-6)-S.A.S.-Staff Sergeant
Skymate (E-4)-Austrailian S.A.S.-Corporal

Oktober Guard

Brekhov-(Polkovnik)-Colonel equivalent
Red Star- (Kapitan)-Captain equivalent
Gorky- (Leytenant)- Lieuntenant equivalent
Volga/Dianna-(Leytenant) -Lieutenant equivalent
Big Bear- (Serzhant) -Sergeant equivalent
Horrorshow-*6
Shrage-*6
Stormavik-*6

*1-Sgt. Slaughter's Renegades have never been part of any military recognized by the United Nations, and therefore their ranks are honorary equivalents to the specified grade. This also applies to the Fridge.

*2-Though Major Altitude uses the title "Major" in his code name, he is not an actual Major (O-4) in rank, he is a Chief Warrant Officer (WO-2)

*3-Sideswipe's filecard lists his rank as E-5A, but I have no idea what the A means.

*4-Scarlet has trained with Marine Corp fields, but she, like all founding Joes, is Army.

*5-Mainframe started his military career in the Army, but later re-enlisted as a Marine.

*6-No Rank Given

Originally Posted by Rotty

I've never seen this thread before today, but since it's back, I might as well post the updated edition of the rank chart I originally posted to The Pit mailing list circa 1996. This is the third edition: the second included the fat promotions Thomas Wheeler gave the Joes in '97 and '98, almost all of which have been retconned on all subsequent file cards for those characters. I now assume that only the '97 or '98 file cards of characters who have not been rereleased since then are canon.

UNITED STATES ARMY
Joseph Colton ----- O-10

General Hawk ------ O-8

General Flagg Sr. - O-7 (as of 1982)
General Flagg Jr. - O-7 (as of 1992)

Colonel Courage --- O-6

Sure Fire --------- O-5

Bullet-Proof ------ O-4
Major Storm ------- O-4

Capt. Claymore ---- O-3
Capt. Grid-Iron --- O-3
Doc --------------- O-3
Gears ------------- O-3
Psyche-Out -------- O-3
Rapid-Fire -------- O-3
Updraft ----------- O-3

Falcon ------------ O-2
Sub-Zero ---------- O-2
Super Trooper ----- O-2

Steeler ----------- O-1
Thunderwing ------- O-1

Wild Bill --------- WO-4

Flint ------------- WO-2
Lift Ticket ------- WO-2
Major Altitude ---- WO-2

Altitude ---------- E-9 (Sargeant Major of the Army)
Mercer ------------ E-9

Airwave ----------- E-8
Big Brawler ------- E-8
Blizzard ---------- E-8
Dojo -------------- E-8
Drop Zone --------- E-8
Duke -------------- E-8
Mace -------------- E-8
Skydive ----------- E-8
Storm Shadow ------ E-8*

Airborne II ------- E-7
Armadillo --------- E-7
Beachhead --------- E-7
Cold Front -------- E-7
Crossfire --------- E-7
Dodger ------------ E-7
Hot Seat ---------- E-7
Long Range -------- E-7
Salvo ------------- E-7
Shockwave --------- E-7
Snake Eyes -------- E-7
Snow Job ---------- E-7
Stalker ----------- E-7
Static Line ------- E-7
T'Jbang ----------- E-7
Zap --------------- E-7

Blowtorch --------- E-6
Dart -------------- E-6
Dial-Tone --------- E-6
Iceberg ----------- E-6
Lady Jaye --------- E-6
Lifeline II ------- E-6**
Low-Light --------- E-6
Mutt -------------- E-6
Pathfinder -------- E-6
Rampage ----------- E-6
Repeater ---------- E-6
Roadblock --------- E-6
Rock & Roll ------- E-6
Side Track -------- E-6
Snow Storm -------- E-6
Whiteout ---------- E-6
Windchill --------- E-6

Airborne I -------- E-5
Alpine ------------ E-5
Avalanche --------- E-5
Backblast --------- E-5
Barricade --------- E-5
Bazooka ----------- E-5
Blaster ----------- E-5
Blocker ----------- E-5
Breaker ----------- E-5
Budo -------------- E-5
Bullhorn ---------- E-5
Bushido ----------- E-5
Chuckles ---------- E-5
Cross Country ----- E-5
Dusty ------------- E-5***
Free Fall --------- E-5
Fridge, the ------- Honorary E-5
Frostbite --------- E-5
Grand Slam -------- E-5
Grunt ------------- E-5
Heavy Duty -------- E-5
Ice Cream Soldier - E-5
Jinx -------------- E-5
Kamakura ---------- E-5
Knockdown --------- E-5
Lifeline I -------- E-5
Nunchuk ----------- E-5
Outback ----------- E-5
Recoil ------------ E-5
Red Dog ----------- E-5
Scarlett ---------- E-5
Short-Fuze -------- E-5
Sideswipe --------- E-5
Sneak Peek -------- E-5
Starduster -------- E-5
Steam Roller ------ E-5
Stretcher --------- E-5
Switch Gears ------ E-5
Taurus ------------ E-5
Thunder ----------- E-5
Tollbooth --------- SP-5
Tunnel Rat -------- E-5
Wide Scope -------- E-5

Agent Faces ------- E-4
Airtight ---------- E-4
Banzai ------------ E-4
Barbeque ---------- E-4
Barrel Roll ------- E-4
Charbroil --------- E-4
Clean Sweep ------- E-4
Cloudburst -------- E-4
Clutch ------------ E-4
Cover Girl -------- E-4
Crankcase --------- E-4
Crazylegs --------- E-4
Crosshair --------- E-4
Dee-Jay ----------- SP-4
Downtown ---------- E-4
Fast Draw --------- E-4
Flash ------------- E-4
Footloose --------- E-4
Hard Drive -------- E-4
Hardball ---------- E-4
Heavy Metal ------- E-4
Hi-Tech ----------- E-4
Hit & Run --------- E-4
Law --------------- E-4
Lightfoot --------- E-4
Long Arm ---------- E-4
Muskrat ----------- E-4
Ozone ------------- E-4
Quick Kick -------- E-4
Recondo ----------- E-4
Red Spot ---------- E-4
Rip Cord ---------- E-4
Rollbar ----------- E-4
Rumbler ----------- E-4
Sci-Fi ------------ E-4
Scoop ------------- E-4
Skidmark ---------- E-4
Spearhead --------- E-4
Spirit ------------ E-4
T'gin-Zu ---------- E-4
Tiger Claw -------- E-4
Tripwire ---------- E-4
Wildcard ---------- E-4
Wreckage ---------- E-4

Ambush ------------ E-3
Robo-Joe ---------- E-3

Sgt. Hacker ------- unspecified, E-5 to E-9
Back Stop --------- not given

*Defected to Cobra under brainwashing. It is unknown how he attained the rank of Master Sergeant after attacking US troops during his initial stint as a Cobra terrorist.
**Second version apparently demoted to E-5, but appearance and rank seem to have been confused with Lifeline I.
***Promoted to E-5 in 1991, all subsequent file cards say E-4. This is ignored on the assumption that disciplinary action resulting in demotion would entail his removal from GI Joe.

UNITED STATES NAVY
Keel-Haul --------- O-9

Wet Down ---------- WO-5

Torpedo ----------- WO-4

Deep Six ---------- E-7
Shipwreck --------- E-7
Tracker ----------- E-7

Topside ----------- E-6
Wet-Suit ---------- E-6

Depth Charge ------ E-5

Link -------------- E-4
Rampart ----------- E-4

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
Gung-Ho ----------- E-9****

Leatherneck ------- E-7
Sgt. Slaughter ---- E-7

Hollow Point ------ E-6
Mirage ------------ E-6

Mainframe --------- E-5

Blast-Off --------- E-4

****Promoted to E-9 in 1992, apparently demoted to E-7 in 2002. As with Dusty, this is ignored.

UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
Payload ----------- O-6

Skystriker -------- O-5

Ghostrider -------- O-4
Ace --------------- O-4

Countdown --------- O-3
Maverick ---------- O-3
Windmill ---------- O-3

Dogfight ---------- O-2
Slipstream -------- O-2

Hardtop ----------- E-5

Space Shot -------- E-4

UNITED STATES COAST GUARD
Cutter ------------ O-2

BRITISH ARMY
Big Ben ----------- Staff Sergeant

AUSTRALIAN ARMY
Skymate ----------- Corporal

UNKNOWN SERVICE
Action Man

Interesting notes:
1) General "Hawk" Abernathy outranks Flagg the Younger. What role then does Flagg serve vis-a-vis GI Joe?
2) There are three enlisted men in GI Joe who outrank Duke: Airwave, Gung-Ho, and Mercer. Even if we accept the '97 file card for Duke, these three still have more time in grade than him, and thus would not be his subordinates. What the heck?
3) Airwave's rank makes no bloody sense whatsoever. Not only is Sergeant Major of the Army a desk job, but Airwave apparently outranks his own squad leader, "Sky Patrol Leader" Skydive.
4) The United States Marine Corps is the only branch of the US military not to have an officer represented in GI Joe.

I have tacked Rotty's list to this one, since his differs from mine in many ways, as well as reflecting more recent ranks on some characters, whereas mine only reflects the highest ranks on any of their file cards.

**Arashikage_Tengu** · 11-05-2004

Joe Colton (Joseph Colton, Codename: G.I. Joe) is a four star general (O-10). He started out as a 1st Lt. (O-2), though.

**Blackjack** · 11-05-2004

Crap! Thanks, I forgot to update that.

**yojoeshow** · 11-05-2004

So Wild Bill is higher on the chain of command than Duke?

**shadeycat** · 11-06-2004

Wild Bill would be a higher ranked officer than Duke if gi joe functioned under standered military guigrlines... which it does not. GI Joe has always had leeway to choose thier own leadership despite official military rank. Also GI Joe has ben able to get around mandatory retirement rules for its soldiers. Thats how you have Stalker who must be about 50 by now running around with the tiger force.

Lest we forget that GI Joe also gets to shoot lazers and battle Venom enhanced supervillians as well.

**Blackjack** · 11-07-2004

Duke is a Field Commander. Wild Bill is a pilot. All the pilots of planes and helicopters are Officers. But since their action rarly happens on the ground, the fact he outranks Duke really doen't matter. However, if Duke is on a helicopter that Bill is piloting, Bill is in charge.

**Graz73** · 11-08-2004

That's quite a chart.

I'm sure you've seen this guys site:

Joe Rank Chart

ALthough I don't agree with all of his ideas, I like the idea of charting out all of these ranks.

He used to have a chart showing promotions and demotions, but that isn't on there any more.

I'd like to see a chart like this that followed comic & file card continuity, showing when characters were off off the team (in death) or in the 90s or which year they rejoined the team.

**Evil Ryu** · 11-08-2004

I just go by the DD battle file comic that was released no to long ago. The ranking system is alot more accurate than most. It also helped that a SFC(E-7) helped put the ranking system together.

**Blackjack** · 11-09-2004

Originally Posted by Graz73

That's quite a chart.

I'm sure you've seen this guys site:

Joe Rank Chart

ALthough I don't agree with all of his ideas, I like the idea of charting out all of these ranks.

He used to have a chart showing promotions and demotions, but that isn't on there any more.

I'd like to see a chart like this that followed comic & file card continuity, showing when characters were off off the team (in death) or in the 90s or which year they rejoined the team.

I've ignored the demotions, figuring they were just minor oversites on the part of Hasbro, Most notable Hawk going from Brigadier General (1 Star) to Major General (2 Star) then back down to Brigadier General for several figures, then up again.

Also, Flint's first File Card lists him as a Warrant Officer, but his rank as an E-6 (Staff Sergeant), and so on.

For this reason, I only listed them under their highest rank avchieved, seeing as how the GI Joe team is supposed to be the best of the best, anything that might cause someone to be demoted would also likely get them kicked off the team.

I do wish that I could chart out which branch of military each character comes from, so I could specify which rank each character is. E-5 can mean Sergeant in Army and Marines, Petty Officer Second Class in Navy, and Staff Sergeant in the Airforce.