AMA Manual of Style - Stacy L. Christiansen, Cheryl Iverson 2020
US Military Services and Titles
Abbreviations
An abbreviation of a military service follows a name; an abbreviation of a military title (also called grade or rank) precedes a name (eg, Col Cornelia McNamara, USAF, MC, not Col Cornelia McNamara, MD). These abbreviations should not be used in bylines.
13.2.1 US Military Services.
US Army
MC, USA |
Medical Corps, US Army |
ANC, USA |
Army Nurse Corps, US Army |
SP, USA |
Specialist Corps, US Army |
MSC, USA |
Medical Service Corps, US Army |
DC, USA |
Dental Corps, US Army |
VC, USA |
Veterinary Corps, US Army |
Note: All the preceding designations also apply to the Army National Guard (ARNG) and US Army Reserve (USAR).
US Air Force
USAF, MC |
Medical Corps, US Air Force |
USAF, NC |
Nurse Corps, US Air Force |
USAF, MSC |
Medical Service Corps, US Air Force |
USAF, DC |
Dental Corps, US Air Force |
USAF, BSC |
Bio-Sciences Corps, US Air Force |
Note: All the preceding designations also apply to the Air National Guard (ANG) and US Air Force Reserve (USAFR). The US Air Force has no veterinary corps; veterinarians are in the Bio-Sciences Corps.
US Navy
MC, USN |
Medical Corps, US Navy |
MSC, USN |
Medical Service Corps, US Navy |
NC, USN |
Nurse Corps, US Navy |
DC, USN |
Dental Corps, US Navy |
Note: All the preceding designations also apply to the US Naval Reserve (USNR).
13.2.2 US Military Officer Titles (Grades and Ranks).
US Army
General |
GEN |
Lieutenant General |
LTG |
Major General |
MG |
Brigadier General |
BG |
Colonel |
COL |
Lieutenant Colonel |
LTC |
Major |
MAJ |
Captain |
CPT |
First Lieutenant |
1LT |
Second Lieutenant |
2LT |
Chief Warrant Officer |
CWO |
Warrant Officer |
WO |
US Navy and US Coast Guard
Admiral |
ADM |
Vice Admiral |
VADM |
Rear Admiral |
RADM |
Captain |
CAPT |
Commander |
CDR |
Lieutenant Commander |
LCDR |
Lieutenant |
LT |
Lieutenant (Junior Grade) |
LTJG |
Ensign |
ENS |
Chief Warrant Officer |
CWO |
Note: All medical professionals in the US Coast Guard (except physician assistants) are commissioned officers in the US Public Health Service (PHS). US Coast Guard chief warrant officers in medicine are designated CWO(Med). This also applies to the US Coast Guard Reserve.
US Air Force and US Marine Corps
General |
Gen |
Lieutenant General |
Lt Gen |
Major General |
Maj Gen |
Brigadier General |
Brig Gen |
Colonel |
Col |
Lieutenant Colonel |
Lt Col |
Major |
Maj |
Captain |
Capt |
First Lieutenant |
1st Lt |
Second Lieutenant |
2nd Lt |
Note: The US Marine Corps does not have its own medical organization. The medical care of the US Marine Corps is provided by the US Navy.