Marilyn; Maybe after James explains the Marine ranking, he mjght take a giant leap and tackle the Navy. Now there is mess of quicksand. I understand the confusion has a lot to do with Navy tradition down through the years.
My nephew Bruce was in the SeaBees, attached to the Seals around20 years ago, and I asked him to explain the ranking to me. He hadn't hit Chief yet and I was spinning, so I begged off. I think you have to have the insignias laid out in front of you, to make any sence of it. I'll be waiting with you on this one
CIAO
chuck
Chuck, I know what you mean about "quicksand" when you talk about the Navy. I think you have to approach the subject of Navy rank much like when you decide to study a foreign language: don't try translating the words into English before you can understand the meaning; just accept the new word/phrase for what it is and move on. Anyway, here's a link that you may find helpful. It helps me although, truth to tell, I haven't really sat down and commited it to my brain. Hopefully, I will get it learned before the new HBO series about The Pacific War comes out because besides the Marines, I think the Navy is going to figure prominently in the series and it would be helpful to know just how to place (mentally) a Navy pilot when he is referred to as Lt. Commander or Commander. 
http://www.easternct.edu/personal/faculty/...ocock/ranks.htm
Marilyn