Marine Ranks

The system of military rank in place for the Marines is fairly straightforward, where each rank is clearly delineated.

Officers and recruits present at Marine Headquarters are considered "Super-elites". All ranks present from "lieutenant" above are usually trained here, exceptions being those in command of other Marine bases which includes Axe-Hand Morgan and Nezumi.

This page will list the Marine ranks and the soldiers who hold the titles.

Rank Insignia
The Marines do not have a system of rank insignia per se. There is significant variation in the kind of uniform worn by officers, with many opting to wear a variety of dress showcasing their own eccentric style. Marines are also allowed to wield whatever weapon they are most comfortable with, no matter how unusual it is. They are even free to fight bare-handed. However, as a general rule set down by the author, uniform guidelines are as follows:
 * Upon first entering the Marines, new recruits are given the standard uniform, consisting of a white short-sleeved shirt emblazoned with the Marine emblem, a simplified seagull with "MARINE" underneath it, on the back; a blue neckerchief; dark blue trousers; and a baseball cap with "MARINE" across the front. All officers at the rank of seaman (一等兵) and below wear this. The quasi-rank of "Zatsuyō" (雑用) adds the kanji 雑 Zatsu ("various" or "odds and ends") to the sleeves, and to the Marine emblem on the back.
 * Once an officer has reached the rank of petty officer (伍長), he or she can choose from a number of different uniforms, including his or her personal clothes. Only those who really want to appear "sailor-like" will stay with a more traditional uniform.
 * Sailors at the rank of ensign (少尉) and above are allowed to wear the coat with "Justice" (正義) on the back. This coat tends to be worn like a cape, draped over the shoulders with the arms not in the sleeves. It should be noted that the sleeves of these coats are often much longer than the wearers' arms.
 * For the rank of lieutenant commander (少佐) and above, a suit worn underneath the "Justice" coat is the preferred attire.

There are, of course, exceptions: Jango and Fullbody wear their own clothes with the "MARINE" hat, despite holding the rank of "seaman recruit" (三等兵). This may have something to do with the exceptional circumstances by which both of these men were brought into their present situation, or it may simply be lenience on the part of their captain, Hina.

Fleet Admiral
Fleet Admiral (元帥) is the highest Marine rank, and is the commander of the entire organization. It is just above admiral but below the World Government Commander-in-Chief and the Gorosei. The fleet admiral and the three admirals are the only ones within the Marines capable of legally initiating a Buster Call, as well as granting World Government agents or lower ranking Marines the right to do so.

Admiral
Admiral (大将) is the second highest rank in the Marines. There are only three Marines who hold this title at a time, and they are crowned as the World Government's "Greatest Military Powers" (最高戦力), as each of them possess deadly combat abilities. They are the only Marines, along with the fleet admiral, able to issue a Buster Call on any island they deem a threat.

Vice Admiral
Vice Admiral (中将) is the third highest rank in the Marine. These officers can have varying duties and amounts of authority. For example, one vice admiral, John Giant, is seen to have some special authority, as he was the first in the entire Marine Headquarters to receive the report of the Buster Call and could also evidently command other vice admirals to dispatch. At least eleven of them (John Giant, Momonga, Komir, Onigumo, Doberman, Strawberry, Tsuru, Lacroix, Ronse, Yamakaji and Dalmatian) are known to be stationed at the Marine Headquarters. There are always at least five vice admirals sent with a Buster Call fleet.

The general attire of a vice admiral is that of a Marine coat with epaulets and a suit and tie worn below. The only vice admiral to wear an attire different from others is, again, John Giant, who wears a gold and red uniform with a strain of medals on his chest. While most vice admirals wear standard blue epaulets, Garp wears black and red, while Tsuru wears gold.

Vice admirals are well known for their strength, and it would seem that most of them are swordsmen and several have been shown using Rokushiki. Many Giants who are shown to be Marines are vice admirals, a testament of their immense strength. Another attribute that is common among vice admirals is that they all know Haki, though almost none have been shown using it in obvious ways yet.

Rear Admiral
"Rear Admiral" (少将) is the fourth highest rank in the Marine, and is the first (and the lowest) admiral rank.

Commodore
"Commodore" (准将) is the fifth highest rank in the Marine.

Captain
Captain (大佐) is the sixth highest rank in the Marine. One of the duties that could have a Marine captain is to be the commander of one of the several Marine branches established on the islands around the world. In addition, a captain is often seen navigating the seas in order to capture pirates and keep order, in these cases, the captain is the leader of the ship, as long as they were no higher-ranking Marines on board. A Marine captain is considered a strong Marine officer whose experience and battle performance are forces to be reckon with. Most of the several Marine captains seen on the series, are powerful fighters with Devil Fruit powers, high combat skills or tactics.

Commander
"Commander" (中佐) is the seventh highest rank in the Marine.

Lieutenant Commander
"Lieutenant Commander" (少佐) is the eighth highest rank in the Marine.

Lieutenant
Lieutenant (大尉) is the ninth highest rank in the Marine. There are no known characters who hold this title.

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Lieutenant Junior Grade (中尉) is the tenth highest rank in the Marine.

Ensign
Ensign (少尉) is the eleventh highest rank in the Marine, and the lowest and last rank within commissioned officers. This is the lowest rank given permission to wear the kanji "Justice" (正義) on the backs of their clothing.

Warrant Officer
"Warrant Officer" (准尉) is the twelfth highest rank in the Marine, and the highest amongst the Infantry and Sailor Division. There are no known characters who hold this title.

Master Chief Petty Officer
"Master Chief Petty Officer" (曹長) is the thirteenth highest rank in the Marine.

Chief Petty Officer
Chief Petty Officer (軍曹) is the fourteenth highest rank in the Marine.

Petty Officer
"Petty Officer" (伍長) is the fifteenth highest rank in the Marine. There are no known characters who hold this title.

Once a Marine rises to this rank, he or she is allowed to wear many different uniforms or even civil clothes. However, many petty officers prefer to appear "sailor-like" and continue wearing the traditional uniform.

Seaman First Class
"Seaman First Class" (一等兵) is the sixteenth highest rank in the Marine.

Seaman Apprentice
"Seaman Apprentice" (二等兵) is the seventeenth highest rank in the Marine. There are no known characters who hold this title.

Seaman Recruit
"Seaman Recruit" (三等兵) or "Recruit" (新兵) is the eighteenth highest rank in the Marine.

Chore Boy
Chore Boy (雑用) is the nineteenth highest, or more specifically, the lowest rank, in the Marine. Chore boys have no official uniform besides a white Marine shirt without decoration and blue Marine trousers.