Service members in pay grades E-1 through E-3 are usually either in some
kind of training status or on their initial assignment. The training
includes the basic training phase where recruits are immersed in military
culture and values and are taught the core skills required by their service
component.
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Specials on Basic Training: Link:
Army/Marines Link:
AF/Navy
Basic training is followed by a specialized or advanced training phase
that provides recruits with a specific area of expertise or concentration.
In the Army and Marines, this area is called a military occupational
specialty; in the Navy it is known as a rate; and in the Air Force it is
simply called an Air Force specialty.
ARMY -- * For rank and precedence within the Army, specialist
ranks immediately below corporal. Among the services, however, rank and
precedence are determined by pay grade.
NAVY/COAST GUARD -- *A specialty mark in the center of a rating
badge indicates the wearer's particular rating. ** Gold stripes indicate 12
or more years of good conduct. *** 1. Master chief petty officer of the Navy
and fleet and force master chief petty officers. 2. Command master chief
petty officers wear silver stars. 3. Master chief petty officers wear silver
stars and silver specialty rating marks.
The
U.S. Coast Guard is a part of the Department of Transportation in
peacetime and the Navy in times of war. Coast Guard rank insignia are the
same as the Navy except for color and the seaman recruit rank, which has one
| |
Private |
Seaman Recruit
(SR) |
Private |
Airman Basic |
|
E2 |
Private E-2
(PV2)
|
Seaman Apprentice
(SA)
|
Private First Class
(PFC)
|
Airman
(Amn)
 |
|
E3 |
Private First Class
(PFC)
 |
Seaman (SN)
|
Lance Corporal
(LCpl)
 |
Airman First Class
(A1C)
|
|
E4 |
Corporal
(CPL)
 |
Specialist
(SPC)
 |
Petty Officer
Third Class(PO3) **
|
Corporal
(Cpl)
 |
Senior Airman
(SrA)
 |
| |
Leadership responsibility significantly increases in the mid-level enlisted
ranks. This responsibility is given formal recognition by use of the terms
noncommissioned officer and petty officer. An Army sergeant, an Air Force
staff sergeant, and a Marine corporal are considered NCO ranks. The Navy NCO
equivalent, petty officer, is achieved at the rank of petty officer third
class. |
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|
 |
 |
 |
|
E5 |
Sergeant
(SGT)
|
Petty Officer
Second Class
(PO2) **
|
Sergeant
(Sgt)
|
Staff Sergeant
(SSgt)
 |
|
E6 |
Staff Sergeant
(SSG)
|
Petty Officer
First Class
(PO1) **
|
Staff Sergeant
(SSgt)
|
Technical Sergeant
(TSgt)
|
|
E7 |
Sergeant First Class
(SFC)
|
Chief Petty Officer
(CPO) **
|
Gunnery Sergeant
(GySgt)
|
Master Sergeant
(MSgt)
 |
First Sergeant
 |
| |
At the E-8 level, the Army, Marines and Air Force have two positions at the
same pay grade. Whether one is, for example, a senior master sergeant or a
first sergeant in the Air Force depends on the person's job. The same is
true for the positions at the E-9 level. Marine Corps master gunnery
sergeants and sergeants major receive the same pay but have different
responsibilities. All told, E-8s and E-9s have 15 to 30 years on the job,
and are commanders' senior advisers for enlisted matters.
A third E-9 element is the senior enlisted person of each service. The
sergeant major of the Army, the sergeant major of the Marine Corps, the
master chief petty officer of the Navy and the chief master sergeant of the
Air Force are the spokespersons of the enlisted force at the highest levels
of their services. |
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|
|
|
|
E8 |
Master
Sergeant
(MSG)
|
First
Sergeant
(1SG)
 |
Senior Chief
Petty Officer
(SCPO) **
|
Master Sergeant
(MSgt)
|
First Sergeant
|
Senior
Master Sergeant
(SMSgt)
 |
First Sergeant
 |
|
E9 |
Sergeant Major
(SGM)
|
Command
Sergeant Major
(CSM)
|
Master Chief
Petty Officer
(MCPO)
**
***
 |
Fleet/Command
Master
Chief Petty
Officer
**
***
|
Sergeant Major
(SgtMaj)
|
Master Gunnery
Sergeant (MGySgt)
 |
Chief Master
Sergeant
(CMSgt)
 |
First Sergeant
 |
Command
Chief Master
Sergeant
(CCM)
|
|
E9 |
Sergeant Major
of the
Army
(SMA)
|
Master Chief
Petty Officer
of the
Navy
(MCPON)
and
Coast Guard
(MCPOCG)
**
*** |
Sergeant Major
of the
Marine Corps
(SgtMajMC)
|
Chief Master
Sergeant of the Air Force
(CMSAF)
|
 |
 |
