United States Army enlisted rank insignia

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Pay grade	E-9			E-8		E-7	E-6	E-5	E-4		E-3	E-2	E-1
Insignia	Image:US Army E-9 SMA.svg	Image:USAr.insignia.e9comm.wag22.png	Image:US Army E-9 SGM.svg	Image:US Army E-8 1SG.svg	Image:US Army E-8 MSG.svg	Image:US Army E-7.svg	Image:US Army E-6.svg	Image:US Army E-5.svg	Image:US Army E-4.svg	Image:US Army E-4 SPC.svg	Image:US Army E-3.svg	Image:US Army E-2.svg	No Insignia
Title	Sergeant Major of the Army	Command Sergeant Major	Sergeant Major	First Sergeant	Master Sergeant	Sergeant First Class	Staff Sergeant	Sergeant	Corporal	Specialist	Private First Class	Private	Private
Abbreviation	SMA	CSM	SGM	1SG	MSG	SFC	SSG	SGT	CPL	SPC ²	PFC	PV2 ¹	PV1 ¹
¹ PVT is also used as an abbreviation for both Private ranks when pay grade need not be distinguished ² SP4 is sometimes encountered as an abbreviation for Specialist. This is a holdover from when there were additional specialist ranks at higher pay grades.
NATO Code	OR-9	OR-9	OR-9	OR-8	OR-8	OR-7	OR-6	OR-5	OR-4	OR-4	OR-3	OR-2	OR-1

This chart represents the U.S. Army enlisted rank insignia with seniority decreasing left-to-right inside a given pay grade. All ranks of Corporal or Sergeant and higher are considered non-commissioned officers (NCOs).

The rank of Specialist is a soldier of pay grade E-4 who has not yet attained non-commissioned officer status. It is common that a soldier may never be a Corporal and will move directly from Specialist to Sergeant, attaining NCO status immediately.

1 Command
2 Address
3 See also
4 References

[edit] Command

In each command of company sized units and smaller, there is assigned a senior enlisted who is the monitor and advocate of the Enlisted Personnel to the commanding officer. This position is known as the First Sergeant, though the person carrying that title does not have to be the rank of First Sergeant (it is the highest ranking enlisted person in the company). In a battalion or larger unit, the senior enlisted soldier is a Command Sergeant-Major. The rank of Sergeant-Major is usually carried by one person in a battalion or larger unit, known as the Operations Sergeant-Major.

In terms of command, the rank of a person determines what job and command he/she has within a unit. For most personnel in the Infantry, a Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle (M2A2) is commanded by a Staff Sergeant, the gun is manned by a Specialist or Sergeant and the driver is Specialist or below. For the Armor, the Abrams Main Battle Tank (M1A2) is commanded by a Staff Sergeant, the gunner is a Sergeant, the loader is a Specialist and the driver is a Specialist or below.

[edit] Address

Formal terms of address are "Sergeant Major" for all E-9 ranks, "First Sergeant" and "Master Sergeant", respectively, for E-8, and "Sergeant" for E-7, E-6, and E-5. Corporals are addressed by their rank, whereas Specialists and below are usually called by last name only, or by simply "Soldier". If rank is used, they are called "Specialist", "PFC", and "Private" (E-1 and E-2, both).

In some cases, informal titles are used. "Top" is commonly used by NCOs as an informal address to First Sergeants, or anyone serving as a Company 1st Sergeant. In Field Artillery, a Platoon Sergeant (usually an E-7) is referred to as "Smoke", and squad leaders (usually an E-6) are called "Chief" (some squad leaders discourage this, as "Chief" is also a common term of address for Warrant Officers). In some smaller units, with more tight-knit squads, soldiers might call their squad leader "Boss", or a similar respectful term. A habit that has all but died out, is a Platoon Sergeant in any unit other than Artillery, is affectionately called "Platoon Daddy", in casual conversation, or in jest (but, never in any official communication of any type). In all cases, if a situation becomes serious, the soldier should drop all affectionate nicknames, and use proper terms of address. Specialists are sometimes jokingly referred to as "Command Private Major", "Full-Bird Private", or "PV4". In training units (Basic Combat Training and AIT), trainees are called "Warrior", as they have not yet earned the title of "Soldier". Special titles, such as "Drill Sergeant" are specific to certain jobs, and should not be confused for actual rank. Despite what Hollywood would lead you to believe, the term "Sarge" is never used, as it is improper, and an insult to a soldier with the rank of Sergeant and above. Some units may allow soldiers to get away with it, but it is nonetheless disrespectful.

Examples: "Good morning, Master Sergeant.", "Top, the commander wants that report, ASAP.", "Roger Smoke.", "Sergeant, I think I broke my arm.", "Are you sure you're turning that screw the right way, Corporal?", "Hey, Soldier! Go report to Specialist Smith, and get on that police call, with the other Privates.", "Watch out, everyone. Sergeant Major is pissed."

Other services differ, such as the Marines, who address each other by full rank. (ie: "Yes, Staff Sergeant!" or "Quit walking on the grass, Lance Corporal!")

[edit] See also

[edit] References

Soldiers magazine January 2004 "Rank Insignia of the U.S. Armed Forces: enlisted" (lacks pictures but confirms the correctness of the given rank titles and abbreviations)
US Army Rank and Insignia
[1] Has pictures, but does not have an abbreviation for Private

v • d • e United States Uniformed Services rank and rate insignia
Army enlisted • Army officer • Navy enlisted • Navy officer • Navy midshipman • Coast Guard enlisted • Coast Guard officer • Air Force enlisted • Air Force officer • Marine Corps enlisted • Marine Corps officer • Warrant Officer