wˌaɪl dˈɪfɹənt ɹˈæŋks mˈeɪ biː jˈuːzd ɐmˌʌŋ ðɪ ˈeɪt jˈuːnɪfˌɔːɹmd sˈɜːvɪsᵻz, pˈeɪ ɡɹˈeɪdz ɑːɹ jˈuːnɪfˌɔːɹm ænd ɪkwˈɪvələnt bᵻtwˌiːn ðə sˈɜːvɪsᵻz ænd kæn biː jˈuːzd tə kwˈɪkli dɪtˈɜːmɪn sˌiːnɪˈɔːɹᵻɾi ɐmˌʌŋ ɐ ɡɹˈuːp ʌv mˈɛmbɚz fɹʌm dˈɪfɹənt sˈɜːvɪsᵻz.
While different ranks may be used among the eight uniformed services, pay grades are uniform and equivalent between the services and can be used to quickly determine seniority among a group of members from different services.