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ENLISTED RANK
STRUCTURE INFORMATION
The rank of
corporal was established in 1775 with the birth
of the Army and the NCO Corps. Along with the
rank of sergeant, the corporal is the only rank
which has never disappeared from the NCO Corps.
The rank of corporal has always been placed at
the base of the NCO ranks. For the most part,
corporals have served as the smallest unit
leaders in the Army: principally, leaders of
teams. During the Vietnam conflict, the Army
adopted the NCO Candidate Course. Going through
this course, the Soldier would by-pass the
corporal rank and be promoted to sergeant or
staff sergeant. This policy, combined with the
increased use of specialists, lessened the
overall number of corporals authorized in the
Army. Like the grade of sergeant, corporals are
responsible for individual training, personal
appearance and cleanliness of their Soldiers. As
the command sergeant major is known as the
epitome of success in the NCO Corps, the
corporal is the beginning of the NCO Corps. As
the NCO Corps is known as the backbone of the
Army, the corporal is the backbone of the NCO
Corps.
The sergeant operates in an
environment where the sparks fly. The sergeant
can be accurately described as being where the
axe meets the stone. Although not the lowest
level of rank where command is exercised, this
level is the first at which enlisted Soldiers
are referred to as sergeant, and of all the
grades of the NCO, this one, very possibly, has
the greatest impact on the lower ranking
Soldiers. Privates, who are the basic manpower
strength and grade of the Army, generally have
sergeants as their first NCO leader. It is the
grade sergeant that the privates will look to
for example. Like the next grade, the staff
sergeant, the sergeant is responsible for the
individual training, personal appearance and the
cleanliness of their Soldiers. The sergeant is
also responsible for insuring that: Each member
of their unit is trained to competency in their
MOS as prescribed in the appropriate Soldiers
manual; All government property issued to
members of their unit is properly maintained and
accounted for at all times and discrepancies are
promptly reported; While on duty status, they be
ready at all times to report to the location and
activity of all members of their unit; Their
unit is trained to function in its primary
mission role. The authority of the sergeant is
equal to that of any other grade or rank of the
NCO. Often, however, a lack of delegation of
authority by superiors improperly limits the
sergeant’s ability to act. Professionally
competent leaders inherently command respect for
their authority and the sergeant must be
unquestionably competent in order to carry out
the mission correctly, accomplish each task and
care for assigned Soldiers. The rank of sergeant
is not a position for learning how to become a
leader, no apprenticeship here. While certainly
the new sergeant will be developing new skills,
strengthening old ones and generally getting
better, he is a sergeant!!! and is therefore, no
less a professional than those grades of rank to
follow.
The staff sergeant grade of rank
closely parallels that of the sergeant in duties
and responsibilities. In fact, the basic duties
and responsibility of all the NCO ranks never
change, but there are differences, significant
differences, between this step in the NCO
structure and the preceding one. Understanding
these differences is vital. The staff sergeant
is a more experienced leader of Soldiers. The
staff sergeant has considerably more time in the
Army than the sergeant. It is proper to expect
that the staff sergeant can bring the benefits
of that experience to bear in any situation and
under all circumstances. The major difference
between the staff sergeant and the sergeant is
not, as often mistakenly believed, authority,
but rather sphere of influence. The staff
sergeant is in daily contact with large numbers
of Soldiers and generally has more equipment and
other property to maintain. The staff sergeant
will often have one or more sergeants who work
under his direct leadership. The staff sergeant
is responsible for their continued successful
development as well as that of other Soldiers in
the section, squad or team. More often than not,
the lack of understanding of the function of
this important NCO position by leaders is the
cause of disruption and failure in small unit
training. If NCO are “The Backbone” of the Army,
then staff sergeants are the elements of which
backbones are made. The complexities of the job
of the staff sergeant increases as the
responsibilities broaden. The staff sergeant’s
professional competence is measured by how well
the staff sergeant develops, maintains and uses
the full range of human potential of his
Soldiers. The staff sergeant’s success, more
than any other grade of the NCO rank, leads the
path to the Army’s success, and the footprints
you will see behind those of our greatest
military leaders are probably those of a staff
sergeant, where he stood confident, proud and
eager to assist.
The position title of
sergeant first class [or platoon sergeant] is
considered key in the command structure of the
Army. The platoon sergeant generally has several
staff sergeants who work under his direct
leadership. The platoon sergeant is the key
assistant and advisor to the platoon leader. In
the absence of the platoon leader, the platoon
sergeant commands the platoon. During the
Vietnam era, the platoon sergeant was
affectionately referred to as the “Plat-Daddy”,
and although the term has since faded, the role
remains that of the “Father of the Platoon.” The
sergeant first class may serve in a position
subordinate to the platoon sergeant or may serve
as the NCOIC of the section with all the
attendant responsibilities and duties of the
platoon sergeant. Whether platoon sergeant or
sergeant first class, this is the first level at
which the term senior NCO properly applies. The
platoon sergeant or sergeant first class
generally has 15 to 18 years or more of military
experience and is rightfully expected to bring
that experience to bear in quick, accurate
decisions that are in the best interest of the
mission and the Soldier. The platoon sergeant is
expected to embody all the traits of a leader.
Watching a successful platoon sergeant operate
on a daily basis is an unforgettable experience.
There, he is training the platoon or section in
their collective tasks; here, he is checking
maintenance. There, he is planning, executing;
perpetual motion; a blur; the personification of
a military leader and "hot stuff." When you are
talking about the first sergeant you are talking
about the life-blood of the Army. There can be
no substitute of this position nor any question
of its importance. When first sergeants are
exceptional, their units are exceptional,
regardless of any other single personality
involved. Perhaps their rank insignia should be
the keystone rather than the traditional one
depicted here. It is the first sergeant at whom
almost all unit operations merge. The first
sergeant holds formations, instructs platoon
sergeants, advises the Commander, and assists in
training of all enlisted members. The first
sergeant may swagger and appear, at times,
somewhat of an exhibitionist, but he is not
egotistical. The first sergeant is proud of the
unit and, understandably, wants others to be
aware of his unit’s success. For the first time,
the title of address for this grade is not
sergeant, but first sergeant. There is a unique
relationship of confidence and respect that
exits between the first sergeant and the
Commander not found at another level within the
Army. In the German Army, the first sergeant is
referred to as the “Father of the Company." He
is the provider, the disciplinarian, the wise
counselor, the tough and unbending foe, the
confidant, the sounding board, everything that
we need in a leader during our personal success
or failure.
The master sergeant serves
as the principal NCO in staff elements at
battalion and often higher levels. Although not
charged with the enormous leadership
responsibilities of the first sergeant, the
master sergeant is expected to dispatch
leadership and other duties with the same
professionalism and to achieve the same results
as the first sergeant.
Enlisted Soldiers
who attain the distinction of being selected by
the Department of the Army for participation in
the command sergeants major program are the
epitome of success in their chosen field, in
this profession of arms. There is no higher
grade of rank, except Sergeant Major of the
Army, for enlisted Soldiers and there is no
greater honor. The command sergeant major
carries out policies and standards of the
performance, training, appearance, and conduct
of enlisted personnel. The command sergeant
major advises and initiates recommendations to
the commander and staff in matters pertaining to
the local NCO support channel. Perhaps slightly
wiser and more experienced than the first
sergeant, the command sergeant major is expected
to function completely without supervision. Like
the old sage of times past, the command sergeant
major’s counsel is expected to be calm, settled
and unequivocally accurate, but with an energy
and enthusiasm that never wanes, even in the
worst of times. Assignable to any billet in the
Army, the command sergeant major is all those
things, and more, of each of the preceding
grades of rank. The sergeant major is generally
the key enlisted member of staff elements at
levels higher than battalion. The sergeant
major’s experience and ability are equal to that
of the command sergeant major, but the sphere of
influence regarding leadership is generally
limited to those directly under his charge.
RANK STRUCTURE: AT A GLANCE
PRIVATE (PVT/PV2)
(Addressed as
"Private")
Lowest rank: a trainee who’s
starting Basic Combat Training (BCT). Primary
role is to carry out orders issued to them to
the best of his/her ability. (PVT does not have
an insignia) |
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS
(PFC)
(Addressed as "Private")
PV2s are
promoted to this level after one year—or earlier
by request of supervisor. Individual can begin
BCT at this level with experience or prior
military training. Carries out orders issued to
them to the best of his/her ability.
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SPECIALIST (SPC)
(Addressed as
"Specialist")
Can manage other enlisted
Soldiers of lower rank. Has served a minimum of
two years and attended a specific training class
to earn this promotion. People enlisting with a
four year college degree can enter BCT as a
Specialist. |
CORPORAL (CPL)
(Addressed as
"Corporal")
The base of the Non-Commissioned
Officer (NCO) ranks, CPLs serve as team leader
of the smallest Army units. Like SGTs, they are
responsible for individual training, personal
appearance and cleanliness of Soldiers.
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SERGEANT (SGT)
(Addressed as
"Sergeant")
Typically commands a squad (9 to
10 Soldiers). Considered to have the greatest
impact on Soldiers because SGTs oversee them in
their daily tasks. In short, SGTs set an example
and the standard for Privates to look up to, and
live up to. |
STAFF SERGEANT (SSG)
(Addressed
as "Sergeant")
Also commands a squad (9 to
10 Soldiers). Often has one or more SGTs under
their leadership. Responsible for developing,
maintaining and utilizing the full range of his
Soldiers' potential. |
SERGEANT FIRST CLASS
(SFC)
(Addressed as "Sergeant")
Key
assistant and advisor to the platoon leader.
Generally has 15 to 18 years of Army experience
and puts it to use by making quick, accurate
decisions in the best interests of the Soldiers
and the country. |
MASTER SERGEANT (MSG)
(Addressed
as "Master Sergeant")
Principal NCO at the
battalion level, and often higher. Not charged
with all the leadership responsibilities of a
1SG, but expected to dispatch leadership and
other duties with the same professionalism.
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FIRST SERGEANT (1SG)
(Addressed
as "First Sergeant")
Principal NCO and
life-blood of the company: the provider,
disciplinarian and wise counselor. Instructs
other SGTs, advises the Commander and helps
train all enlisted Soldiers. Assists Officers at
the company level (62 to 190 Soldiers).
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SERGEANT MAJOR (SGM)
(Addressed
as "Sergeant Major")
SGMs experience and
abilities are equal to that of the CSM, but the
sphere of influence regarding leadership is
generally limited to those directly under his
charge. Assists Officers at the battalion level
(300 to 1,000 Soldiers). |
COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR (CSM)
(Addressed as " Command Sergeant
Major")
Functioning without supervision, a
CSM’s counsel is expected to be calm, settled
and accurate—with unflagging enthusiasm.
Supplies recommendations to the commander and
staff, and carries out policies and standards on
the performance, training, appearance and
conduct of enlisted personnel. Assists Officers
at the brigade level (3,000 to 5,000 Soldiers).
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SERGEANT MAJOR OF THE ARMY
There’s only one Sergeant Major of the Army.
This rank is the epitome of what it means to be
a Sergeant and oversees all Non-Commissioned
Officers. Serves as the senior enlisted advisor
and consultant to the Chief of Staff of the Army
(a four-star General).
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