Cadet Officer Qualification Exam (COQE) Practice Exam 2026 - Free COQE Practice Questions and Study Guide

The plain E-9 designation is the generic label without any emblem. In many services, the E-9 rank uses a symbol on the insignia to denote a specific title or role (a star, an eagle, a shield, etc.). Those symbols distinguish particular senior enlisted positions, while the plain version has no emblem and just represents the basic E-9 pay grade. So, when asked for the plain designation, the label with no emblem is the one that fits.