Their responsibilities include training soldiers, organizing and advising on missions and serving as technical experts and trusted counsel.

Warrant Officers are tactical and technical experts. Only one soldier is appointed to this special rank. The Sergeant Major of the Army acts as the chief advisor to the chief of staff of the Army. They lead and mentor the soldiers in their command and carry out policies and make recommendations regarding their organization’s support and well-being. The Command Sergeant Major serves as the enlisted advisor to the commanding officer of a battalion-level unit or higher. They may act as the chief administrative assistant at Army headquarters or be an important staff member at the battalion level or higher. The role of Sergeant Major is largely administrative. They serve as the ultimate expert on enlisted matters at the company level. They also conduct formations and advise the unit commanders. MSGs are planners and used as a resource to provide insight into properly conducting unit operations and missions.įirst Sergeants play a critical role in the oversight of mentoring, training and discipline of the soldiers in their units. They acts as the principal experts in their fields in higher-level units, such as battalions or brigades.

The Master Sergeant does not have as much leadership responsibility as the First Sergeant, who is also an E-8. The SFC acts as the platoon leader’s key assistant and advisor and is sometimes referred to as the platoon sergeant. Senior Non-Commissioned Officers Sergeant First Class (SFC/E-7)Ī soldier typically has 15 to 18 years of military service before being promoted to Sergeant First Class. Their main duties involve leading and mentoring their soldiers’ development. They generally have more equipment and property to maintain than the SGT/E-5. While Staff Sergeants and Sergeants have similar responsibilities, SSGs command larger groups of soldiers (usually squads of about 5 to 10 soldiers), as well as one or more Sergeants. They instill discipline, lead by example and ensure tasks are completed properly and according to orders. The sergeant’s job is to mentor and train these lower ranking service members on their duties and responsibilities within the unit. Sergeants oversee the day-to-day tasks of their immediate subordinates (normally privates to specialists). While corporals share the same pay grade (E-4) as specialists, they are classified as junior non-commissioned officers due to their leadership responsibilities. Non-Commissioned Officers Corporal (CPL/E-4) They may have enlisted soldiers in their command, but their main role is technical rather than management. Specialists are considered junior enlisted personnel as they have fewer responsibilities. There are two E-4 ranks, Specialists and Corporals. PFCs continue to develop their skills and carry out orders while completing training or unit missions. Soldiers are usually promoted to Private First Class within a year of enlistment. These soldiers continue developing their skills while applying them to their new roles.

Most soldiers are promoted to Private Second Class automatically after six months of time in service (TIS). They participate in basic combat training, or boot camp, to learn the basic skills and the culture of the Army. Newly enlisted service members begin their Army careers as Privates. Junior Enlisted Personnel Private (PVT/E-1) They learn specific skills and job functions and apply that knowledge to their unit’s mission to ensure its success.Įnlisted personnel are further divided into junior enlisted, non-commissioned officers and senior NCOs. The Army relies heavily on its enlisted soldiers. Army ranks and insignias are divided into three categories: enlisted personnel (E-1 through E-9), warrant officers (W-1 through CW-5) and commissioned officers (O-1 through O-10).Ī service member’s rank and insignia indicate their pay grade, as well as the level of responsibility they should hold. Founded in 1775, the Army is the oldest branch in the U.S.

Army enlisted ranks