Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on the System of Ranks of Enlisted Personnel in Active Service in the Chinese People's Liberation Army

(Adopted at the 33rd Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Thirteenth National People's Congress on February 28, 2022)

For the purpose of furthering the reform of national defense and the military, enhancing the command and management of the armed forces, advancing the modernization of national defense and the military, a decision is hereby made in accordance with the Constitution as follows regarding the system of ranks of enlisted personnel in active service in the Chinese People’s Liberation Army:

1. The rank of an enlisted person is a title and symbol indicating the identity and place of the enlisted person in the military hierarchy, and is a status and honor granted by the Party and the state.

Enlisted ranks are classified into the ranks of non-commissioned officers and those of conscripts.

2. For non-commissioned officers, there are seven ranks in three categories:

(1) Senior non-commissioned officers: Master Sergeant First Class (Army, Air Force)/Chief Petty Officer First Class (Navy); Master Sergeant Second Class (Army, Air Force)/Chief Petty Officer Second Class (Navy); Master Sergeant Third Class (Army, Air Force)/Chief Petty Officer Third Class (Navy).

(2) Intermediate non-commissioned officers: Sergeant First Class (Army, Air Force)/Petty Officer First Class (Navy); Sergeant Second Class (Army, Air Force)/Petty Officer Second Class (Navy).

(3) Junior non-commissioned officers: Sergeant (Army, Air Force)/Junior Petty Officer First Class (Navy); Corporal (Army, Air Force)/Junior Petty Officer Second Class (Navy).

Of the ranks of non-commissioned officers, Master Sergeant First Class (Army, Air Force)/Chief Petty Officer First Class (Navy) is the highest rank while Corporal (Army, Air Force)/Junior Petty Officer Second Class (Navy) is the lowest one.

3. The ranks of conscripts are classified into Private First Class (Army)/Airman First Class (Air Force)/Seaman First Class (Navy) and Private Second Class (Army)/Airman Second Class (Air Force)/Seaman Second Class (Navy) in the order of seniority.

4. The rank of an enlisted person is identified by the service and the service name shall be put before the rank.

5. An enlisted person with a higher rank shall be the superior of an enlisted person with a lower rank. Where an enlisted person with a higher rank is subordinated, in terms of post, to an enlisted person with a lower rank, the enlisted person holding the higher position shall be the superior.

6. An enlisted person shall be conferred a rank and be promoted on the basis of his or her position, political integrity, ability, and contributions.

7. The Central Military Commission shall provide for the patterns of enlisted insignia and the ways of wearing them.

An enlisted person must wear the insignia corresponding to his or her rank.

8. The Central Military Commission shall provide for the years of service of enlisted personnel for different ranks, and the management systems for the conferment, promotion, demotion and stripping of their ranks, and for their training, appraisal and posting, among others.

9. This Decision is applicable to the system of ranks for non-commissioned officers and conscripts in active service in the Chinese People’s Armed Police Force.

10. This Decision shall come into force on March 31, 2022.