Unveiling the Intricate Hierarchy of SAMCRO: Untangling the Secrets Behind Sons of Anarchy's 15 Ranks

Summary

Sons of Anarchy ranks include President, VP, and Sergeant-at-Arms, among others, each denoted by patches on their vests.

The initial nine individuals formed SAMCRO, headed by founders John Teller and Piney Winston. Ultimately, only Lenny remained alive. The Mayans M.C., a more extensive organization, mirrors SAMCRO's hierarchy with positions such as President, Vice President, Secretary, and Sergeant at Arms.

Sons of Anarchy introduced viewers to the motorcycle club of the same name, which consists of various Sons of Anarchy ranks. Created by Kurt Sutter, the show follows Jackson "Jax" Teller, who is the Vice President of the Sons of Anarchy motorcycle club in the fictional town of Charming, California. The story begins when Jax discovers a manifesto written by his late father, John, who was one of the club's founding members. This manifesto causes Jax to question the club's direction, history, relationships, family, and even himself.

Initially, Clay Morrow served as the President of the club, with Jax as his Vice President. However, Jax eventually takes over as President, and Filip "Chibs" Telford assumes the position of Vice President. While President and Vice President are the prominent Sons of Anarchy ranks within SAMCRO (Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club Redwood Original), there are several other ranks that help maintain order within the club. These ranks are denoted by patches worn on the members' vests, although some of them were not fully explored in the series. The following are the 15 SAMCRO ranks and the individuals who wore these patches in Sons of Anarchy.

First 9

The First 9 were a group of original members of the Sons of Anarchy club, consisting of founders John Teller and Piermont “Piney” Winston, along with other war veterans who joined after their return from Vietnam. The remaining members of the First 9 included Lenny “The Pimp” Janowitz, Keith McGee, Wally Grazer, Thomas “Uncle Tom” Whitney, Chico Villanueva, Otto “Lil” Killer Moran, and Clay Morrow. Lenny was the only surviving member of the First 9 by the end of Sons of Anarchy, as he was serving a life sentence for killing three ATF agents.

President

The primary rank within the Sons of Anarchy is the President, who serves as the leader of the club. In the case of SAMCRO, the President holds authority not only over the charter, but also the other charters within the United States, occupying the highest position in the Sons of Anarchy hierarchy. John Teller held this role until his demise in 1993, at which point Clay Morrow assumed leadership.

Clay's expulsion from the club occurred during the fifth season when his secretive actions, specifically his involvement in John Teller's death, were uncovered. Jax, having acquired this knowledge, assumed the role of President following Clay's removal. Later, in the sixth season, Jax's impending imprisonment led him to appoint Bobby as interim President. Ultimately, following Jax's demise in the series finale, Chibs assumed the position of SAMCRO President.

Vice-President

Sergeant At Arms

Seated to the President's left at the table is the Vice-President, the second-in-command of a charter and therefore responsible for decision-making in the President's absence. Piney held the esteemed position of the first VP in the Sons of Anarchy ranks until he stepped down due to health issues. Years later, Jax assumed the role of VP and eventually became President. Following Jax's rise to power, Bobby briefly served as VP before resigning, leading to Chibs taking on the role. As the Sons of Anarchy series concluded, Jax, before executing his suicide plan, passed on his Presidency to Chibs, who then appointed Alex "Tig" Trager as his VP.

The Sergeant-at-Arms rank in Sons of Anarchy holds a significant position, seated to the right of the President. This role serves as the President's trusted ally and acts as a formidable defense against any threats targeting the President. Lenny held the initial position of Sgt-at-Arms, succeeding him was Tig Trager at the start of Sons of Anarchy. However, Tig stepped down from his role after discovering Clay's abusive actions towards Gemma. Subsequently, Chibs assumed the position while Bobby served as the Vice President. Presently, SAMCRO's Sgt-at-Arms is none other than Happy Lowman (David Labrava), widely regarded as the most dangerous member within the club. It is a fitting role befitting Happy's capabilities under Chibs' leadership.

Secretary, Treasurer, & Road Captain

Next in the hierarchy of SAMCRO and the Sons of Anarchy are three positions that, while not highly developed in the series, were held by some well-known characters. The first position is that of Secretary, who serves as the official record keeper. At the beginning of the series, Bobby held this role. Bobby also took on the position of Treasurer, responsible for managing the club's financial records. Another position is the Road Captain, who oversees all club runs. This rank was held by Allesandro Montez.

Enforcer, Tail Gunner, & Ass Kicker

In the Sons of Anarchy series, there are additional ranks that have a less prominent role. These include Enforcer, Tail Gunner, and Ass Kicker. Enforcers, identifiable by the patch they wear, act as bodyguards for the President. One notable enforcer in the show is Happy Lowman, who is often assigned the task of carrying out gang-related murders. Tail Gunners, on the other hand, have the responsibility of ensuring safety during club runs by riding at the rear. Unfortunately, this role is not explored in depth within the series. As for Ass Kickers, the name itself implies their purpose, although no significant characters in the show hold this rank.

Prospect

In terms of Sons of Anarchy ranks, a prospect is an aspiring candidate for club membership who has not yet earned the coveted member patch. However, prospects are granted the privilege of riding alongside the club and are assigned various tasks that range from providing protection during perilous missions to maintaining the cleanliness of the club's headquarters. Among the SAMCRO prospects, one particularly remarkable and unforgettable individual was Kip "Half-Sack" Epps (portrayed by Johnny Lewis), who tragically lost his life while defending Tara (played by Maggie Siff) and baby Abel. Other notable prospects featured throughout Sons of Anarchy include Shepard (who chose to leave the club), Eric Miles (who was both murdered and framed by Juice), Filthy Phil Russell, V-Lin (fatally taken by the True IRA), and Ratboy.

Live To Ride, Unholy Ones, Nomads

The role of Live to Ride within the Harley-Davidson slogan "Live to Ride, Ride to Live" remains unknown within the club and Sons of Anarchy ranks. Only a few notable characters held the title. The Unholy Ones are a faction of individuals who are willing to fight to the death for the club. Among the SOA characters, Clay and Happy were the sole bearers of the "Unholy Ones" patch. Additionally, Nomads are members who do not belong to a specific charter, giving them the freedom to roam as they please. Prior to becoming a full-fledged SAMCRO member, Happy served as a Nomad. There was also a charter named "NOMADS," led by Quinn, who later joined SAMCRO.

Men Of Mayhem

Men of Mayhem is a prestigious rank within the Sons of Anarchy organization and is distinguished by the coveted "Men of Mayhem" patch. This patch is awarded to SAMCRO members who have carried out acts of killing in the name of the group, resulting in a majority of members proudly displaying the patch on their vests. In the fourth season of Sons of Anarchy, Juice Ortiz (played by Theo Rossi) was honored with the "Men of Mayhem" patch following the demise of Eric. It is important to note that this rank should not be confused with the term "Mister Mayhem," which is utilized by the club to signify the act of taking someone's life. However, the term "Men of Mayhem" directly references the hierarchy of Sons of Anarchy and the esteemed individuals who hold this position.

How The Mayans M.C. Ranks Compare To SAMCRO

The Sons of Anarchy motorcycle gang is known for their ranks, and a similar system can be found within the Mayans motorcycle gang, who are featured in both Sons of Anarchy and the spin-off series Mayans M.C. Just like the Sons of Anarchy, the Mayans have a larger organization with various individual clubs, one of which is the Santo Padre chapter, which plays a central role in Mayans M.C. Initially, the President of the Santo Padre chapter is Obispo "Bishop" Losa, but later on, Ezekiel "E.Z." Reyes takes over as President, with Bishop becoming the Vice President in the fifth season of Mayans M.C.

The Mayans club includes the positions of Secretary, Sergeant at Arms, and Road Captain, which are filled by Angel Reyes, Hank "Tranq" Loza, and Neron "Creeper" Vargas respectively. Additionally, they employ a prospect system, with Nestor Oceteva becoming a prospect during the series. It is unclear if the Mayans utilize all of SAMCRO’s ranks, but the key and influential positions are present in the spin-off.