What is the rank designation for Petty Officer Third Class?

Petty Officer Third Class is denoted by the rank abbreviation PO3. In the United States Coast Guard (USCG), the rank structure for petty officers includes three grades: Third Class, Second Class, and First Class. Each class is represented by a specific abbreviation that indicates the level of the petty officer.

Petty Officer Third Class is the entry-level rank among the petty officer ranks and is critical in providing leadership and technical expertise in various specialties. It is important to know this designation for communications within the service as well as in following proper hierarchical protocols. The other options represent different ranks within the petty officer structure: PO1 corresponds to Petty Officer First Class, PO2 refers to Petty Officer Second Class, and PO4 is not a valid designation within the petty officer ranks, enhancing the clarity around the correct rank designation of Petty Officer Third Class as PO3.