At the pay grade of O-2, which rank does an officer achieve?

At the pay grade of O-2, an officer achieves the rank of First Lieutenant. This rank is generally used in both the Army and Marine Corps following the rank of Second Lieutenant, which is the entry-level officer rank at O-1.

In the context of officer ranks within the U.S. military, progression typically follows a defined path: officers start at O-1 as Second Lieutenants, advance to O-2 as First Lieutenants, and then move to O-3 as Captains. The rank of Major is associated with the O-4 pay grade, and the rank of Captain corresponds to O-3, meaning they are higher than O-2. Therefore, understanding the hierarchy of officer ranks is crucial for grasping military structure and career progression.