Which rank is represented by three stripes, bursting bomb, four rockers?

• A. Gunnery Sergeant
• B. First Sergeant
• C. Master Sergeant
• D. Master Gunnery Sergeant

Answer: (D)

In Marine Corps enlisted insignia, rank is read from the combination of chevrons (the stripes), rockers (the curved bars), and the central symbol. The three chevrons on top with four rockers underneath place you in the senior enlisted levels at the E-8/E-9 tier. The central device then identifies the exact rank. A bursting bomb in the center is unique to Master Gunnery Sergeant, marking the E-9 pay grade. So the described insignia—three stripes, a bursting bomb, four rockers—corresponds to Master Gunnery Sergeant. For comparison, other senior ranks use different center symbols (such as a diamond for First Sergeant or a star for Sergeant Major), which is why the bursting bomb center clearly points to Master Gunnery Sergeant.