As you gain EXP by playing games, you will rank up. Your rank is an indicator of how long you have been playing Combat Arms. You can unlock certain equipment only by attaining a certain rank. Nearly all guns are unlocked by the time a player reaches the Staff Sergeant 3 rank. Trainees have access to very few guns.
Although your rank denotes your experience with the game, it doesn't necessarily denote your skill level. Only a certain number of people are allowed to hold the four highest ranks. Otherwise, you will only rank up and never rank down. When you rank up, you also gain some GP.
Once you get to the Staff Sergeant Rank, there will be multiple classes within a rank. While "classing up" is still considered "ranking up" (you will get a GP promotion, maybe unlock something, etc), your insignia does not change for "classing up".
The following table lists the ranks in ascending order, along with their respective insignias, abbreviations, EXP needed to attain the rank, and anything that is unlocked at that rank.
| Rank | Abbr. | EXP Needed | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Trainee | TRN | 0 |
|
Recruit | RCT | 550 |
|
Private | PVT | 1200 |
|
Pvt. 1st Class | PFC | 2500 |
|
Corporal | CPL | 5000 |
|
Sergeant | SGT | 8700 |
|
Staff Sgt. I | SSG1 | 15000 |
| Staff Sgt. II | SSG2 | 22000 | |
| Staff Sgt. III | SSG3 | 30500 | |
|
Sgt. 1st Class I | SFC1 | 40500 |
| Sgt. 1st Class II | SFC2 | 52000 | |
| Sgt. 1st Class III | SFC3 | 65000 | |
|
Master Sgt. I | MSG1 | 81000 |
| Master Sgt. II | MSG2 | 99000 | |
| Master Sgt. III | MSG3 | 119000 | |
| Master Sgt. IV | MSG4 | 141000 | |
|
Command Sgt. Major I | CSM1 | 166000 |
| Command Sgt. Major II | CSM2 | 194000 | |
| Command Sgt. Major III | CSM3 | 225000 | |
| Command Sgt. Major IV | CSM4 | 259000 | |
| Command Sgt. Major V | CSM5 | 296000 | |
|
2nd Lieutenant I | 2LT1 | 336000 |
| 2nd Lieutenant II | 2LT2 | 379000 | |
| 2nd Lieutenant III | 2LT3 | 425000 | |
| 2nd Lieutenant IV | 2LT4 | 474000 | |
| 2nd Lieutenant V | 2LT5 | 526000 | |
|
1st Lieutenant I | 1LT1 | 580000 |
| 1st Lieutenant II | 1LT2 | 638000 | |
| 1st Lieutenant III | 1LT3 | 699000 | |
| 1st Lieutenant IV | 1LT4 | 763000 | |
| 1st Lieutenant V | 1LT5 | 830000 | |
|
Captain I | CPT1 | 900000 |
| Captain II | CPT2 | 983000 | |
| Captain III | CPT3 | 1074000 | |
| Captain IV | CPT4 | 1173000 | |
| Captain V | CPT5 | 1280000 | |
|
Major I | MAJ1 | 1400000 |
| Major II | MAJ2 | 1533000 | |
| Major III | MAJ3 | 1679000 | |
| Major IV | MAJ4 | 1838000 | |
| Major V | MAJ5 | 2010000 | |
|
Lt. Colonel I | LTC1 | 2200000 |
| Lt. Colonel II | LTC2 | 2408000 | |
| Lt. Colonel III | LTC3 | 2634000 | |
| Lt. Colonel IV | LTC4 | 2878000 | |
| Lt. Colonel V | LTC5 | 3140000 | |
|
Colonel I | COL1 | 3420000 |
| Colonel II | COL2 | 3718000 | |
| Colonel III | COL3 | 4034000 | |
| Colonel IV | COL4 | 4308000 | |
| Colonel V | COL5 | 4720000 |
The four highest ranks in Combat Arms can only be held by a certain number of people. Even if you reach the required EXP, you will not rank up beyond BG unless you meet the qualifications. If you hold a rank higher than BG, you can be demoted back to BG by failing to maintain the qualification. There are no unlocks for these ranks.
| Ranks | Abbr. | EXP Needed | Qualification | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Brigadier General | BG | 5100000 | Reached BG EXP but not qualified for higher rank |
|
Major General | MG | 5500000 | Reached MG EXP and is in the top 100 people not qualified for LTG |
|
Lieutenant General | LTG | 6000000 | Reached LTG EXP and is in the top 10 people not qualified for GEN |
|
General | GEN | 6800000 | Reached GEN EXP and is in the top 3 people not qualified for GOA |
|
General of the Army | GOA | 8000000 | The person who has reached GOA EXP and has the highest EXP out of all Combat Arms players holds this rank |