US Army Rank Information

Regardless of rank, soldiers are required to possess basic military knowledge and exhibit military bearing.

U.S. Army rank separates soldiers according to their ability to lead other troops, their skill level and the amount of responsibility they are given. Soldiers can earn rank based on time in service, time in grade and the leadership abilities they gain during day-to-day military operations. Rank and pay are commensurate. In the U.S. Army, there are 12 different ranks which divide soldiers.

Junior Enlisted Soldiers (E1-E4)

Junior enlisted soldiers fill the ranks of private, private second class, private first class and specialist. A private is the most entry-level position in the U.S. Army, and a private receives E1-level pay. A private second class is considered an E2 on the military pay scale, and a private first class is given E3 pay. A specialist is considered an E4. An E4 may instead be given the rank of corporal, which includes increased responsibility; a corporal is also considered a very junior noncommissioned officer.

Junior Noncommissioned Officers (E5-E6)

Soldiers who have earned the rank of sergeant and above are considered noncommissioned officers and are entrusted with giving lawful orders to all soldiers who under-rank them. Staff sergeant immediately follows the rank of sergeant. Sergeants (E5s) and staff sergeants (E6s) are considered junior noncommissioned officers and must appear before a review board to earn their rank.

Senior Noncommissioned Officers

The ranks of sergeant first class, master sergeant, first sergeant, sergeant major and command sergeant major are considered senior noncommissioned officers. Sergeants first class occupy the pay grade of E7, master sergeants and first sergeants are considered E8s, and sergeants major and command sergeants major receive E9 pay. Each rank brings greater responsibility than the last; for example, first sergeants are in charge of managing entire companies of enlisted soldiers, and command sergeants major preside over entire battalions, brigades or divisions.

First Sergeants

Although first sergeants and master sergeants receive the same amount of pay (grade E8), first sergeants have greater levels of responsibility. A first sergeant is responsible for the health, well-being and training of every soldier in a company, which is usually between 100 and 200 soldiers.

Sergeants Major

Like first sergeants and master sergeants, sergeants major and command sergeants major occupy the same pay grade (grade E9). However, their responsibilities are vastly different; sergeants major ordinarily occupy staff positions and are either waiting to receive a command sergeant major position or have already served in one. Command sergeants major have the same responsibilities as first sergeants, only on a much larger scale--they are in charge of entire battalions of soldiers (up to 500 soldiers), brigades (2,000 soldiers) or divisions (thousands of soldiers).

Quick Reference List

Enlisted personnel fall into the following pay grades and ranks:

Grade E1; Official rank: Private (PVT)
Grade E2; Official rank: Private Second Class (PV2)
Grade E3; Official rank: Private First Class (PFC)
Grade E4; Official rank: Specialist (SPC)
Grade E4; Official alternate rank: Corporal (CPL)
Grade E5; Official rank: Sergeant (SGT)
Grade E6; Official rank: Staff Sergeant (SSG)
Grade E7; Official rank: Sergeant First Class (SFC)
Grade E8; Official rank: Master Sergeant (MSG)
Grade E8; Official alternate rank: First Sergeant (1SG)
Grade E9; Official rank: Sergeant Major (SGM)
Grade E9; Official alternate rank: Command Sergeant Major (CSM)

References

• U.S. Army: Enlisted Promotions and Reductions
• U.S. Army: U.S. Army Ranks
• Grunt's Military: Army Rank Insignia

Resources

• The U.S. Army Info Site: Army Ranks and Pay Grade