U.S. Army Ranks

The greatness of our Army has always been the ability of our Soldiers who serve in the ranks to rise to the challenge against the odds, in the face of danger, and win.

Julius W. Gates, Eighth Sergeant Major of the Army

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• enlisted ranks
• warrant officer ranks
• officer ranks
• Corps and Division Operations

Enlisted Ranks

Enlisted Soldiers are the backbone of the Army. They have specific specialties within an Army unit, perform specific job functions and have the knowledge that ensures the success of their unit's current mission within the Army.

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  Private

  • A trainee starting Basic Combat Training.

  • The most junior rank in the Army.

  • Abbreviated PV1.

  • Eligible for promotion to private E-2 (PV2) after six-months time in service.

  • Primary role is to carry out orders issued to them.

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  Private

  • Second most junior rank in the Army, and the first at which a Soldier wears rank insignia.

  • Abbreviated PV2.

  • Eligible for promotion to private first class after 4 months time in rank and 12 months time in service.

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  Private First Class

  • Start BCT with experience or prior military training.

  • Abbreviated PFC.

  • Carries out orders issued to them.

  • Eligible for promotion to specialist after six months time in rank and 24 months time in service.

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  Specialist

  • Can manage enlisted Soldiers of lower rank.

  • Those enlisting with a four year college degree can enter BCT as a specialist.

  • Abbreviated SPC.

  • Eligible for promotion to sergeant after 11 months time in rank and 47 months time in service.

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  Corporal

  • Base of the noncommissioned officer ranks and abbreviated CPL.

  • Serve as team leader of the smallest Army units.

  • Responsible for individual training, personal appearance and cleanliness of Soldiers.

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  Sergeant

  • Typically leads a team or section.

  • First line leaders who have the most direct impact on Soldiers.

  • Oversee Soldiers in their daily tasks.

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  Staff Sergeant

  • Leads a squad (8 to 16 Soldiers).

  • Enforces standards, develop and train Soldiers in MOS skills and unit missions.

  • Often has one or more sergeants under their leadership.

  • Responsible for developing, maintaining and utilizing the full range of the Soldier's potential.

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  Sergeant First Class

  • Key assistant and advisor to the platoon leader with the responsibility of training and caring for Soldiers.

  • Generally has 10 to 15 years of Army experience.

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  Master Sergeant

  • Principal NCO at the battalion level and often higher.

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  First Sergeant

  • Senior NCO in companies, batteries and troops.

  • Principal NCO and life-blood of the company: the provider, disciplinarian and wise counselor.

  • Instructs other sergeants, advises the commander and helps train all enlisted Soldiers.

  • Assists officers at the company level (60 to 200 Soldiers).

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  Sergeant Major

  • Subject matter expert in his/her technical field, primary advisor on policy development and analytical reviewer of regulatory guidance.

  • Experience and abilities are equal to that of the command sergeant major, but serves as the senior enlisted adviser to a primary staff officer at the battalion or higher.

  • Assists officers at the battalion level (300 to 1,000 Soldiers).

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  Command Sergeant Major

  • Senior NCO of the command at battalion or higher levels.

  • 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.

  • Training professional within the unit, overseeing and driving the entire training program.

  • Assists officers at the brigade level (1,500 to 3,200 Soldiers) and above.

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  Sergeant Major of the Army

  • Only one sergeant major of the Army.

  • The epitome of what it means to be a sergeant and oversees all NCOs.

  • Serves as the senior enlisted advisor and consultant to the chief of Staff of the Army (four-star general).

VIDEO: ENLISTED RANKS

Enlisted ranks in the U.S. Army. The video below explains what they are, and, most importantly, what level of responsibility is expected of each.

Warrant Officer Ranks

The adaptive technical expert, combat leader, trainer, and advisor. Through progressive levels of expertise in assignments, training, and education, the warrant officer administers, manages, maintains, operates and integrates systems and equipment across the full spectrum of operations.

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  Warrant Officer 1

  • Appointed by warrant from the secretary of the Army.

  • Technically and tactically focused officers who perform the primary duties of technical leader, trainer, operator, manager, maintainer, sustainer, and advisor.

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  Chief Warrant Officer 2

  • Become commissioned officers as provided by the president of the United States.

  • Intermediate level technical and tactical experts who perform increased duties and responsibilities at the detachment through battalion levels.

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  Chief Warrant Officer 3

  • Advanced-level experts who perform the primary duties that of a technical and tactical leader.

  • Provide direction, guidance, resources, assistance, and supervision necessary for subordinates to perform their duties.

  • Primarily support operations levels from team or detachment through brigade.

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  Chief Warrant Officer 4

  • Senior-level experts in their chosen field.

  • Primarily support battalion, brigade, division, corps, and echelons above corps operations.

  • Typically have special mentorship responsibilities for other warrant officers and provide essential advice to commanders on warrant officer issues.

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  Chief Warrant Officer 5

  • Master-level technical and tactical experts that support brigade, division, corps, echelons above corps, and major command operations.

  • Provide leader development, mentorship, advice, and counsel to warrant officers and branch officers.

VIDEO: WARRANT OFFICER RANKS

Warrant Officers are adaptive technical experts, combat leaders, trainers, and advisers. Warrant officers can and do command attachments. The video below explains what Warrant Officers do, and, most importantly, what level of responsibility is expected of them.

Officer Ranks

Commissioned officers are the managers, problem solvers, key influencers and planners who lead enlisted Soldiers in all situations. They plan missions, give orders and assign Soldiers tasks.

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  Second Lieutenant

  • Typically the entry-level rank for most commissioned officers.

  • Leads platoon-size elements with a platoon sergeant and two or more squads (16 to 44 Soldiers).

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  First Lieutenant

  • A seasoned lieutenant with 18 to 24 months of service.

  • Leads more specialized weapons platoons and indirect fire computation centers.

  • Often selected to be the executive officer of a company-sized unit.

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  Captain

  • Commands and controls company-sized units (60-200 Soldiers), together with a principal NCO assistant.

  • Instructs skills at service schools, U.S. Army combat training centers and is often a staff officer at the battalion level (300-1,000 Soldiers).

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  Major

  • Serves as the primary staff officer for brigade and task force command regarding personnel, logistical and operational missions.

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  Lieutenant Colonel

  • Typically commands battalion-sized units (300 to 1,000 Soldiers), with a command sergeant major as the principal NCO assistant.

  • May also be selected for brigade and task force Executive Officer.

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  Colonel

  • Typically commands brigade-sized units (1,500 to 3,200 Soldiers), with a command sergeant major as the principal NCO assistant.

  • Typically the chief of divisional-level staff agencies.

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  Brigadier General

  • Serves as deputy commander to the commanding general for Army divisions. Assists in overseeing the staff's planning and coordination of a mission.

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  Major General

  • Typically commands division-sized units (10,000 to 16,000 Soldiers).

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  Lieutenant General

  • Typically commands corps-sized units (20,000 to 40,000 Soldiers).

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  General

  • The senior level of commissioned officer typically has over 30 years of experience and service.

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  General of the Army

  • This is only used in time of war where the commanding officer must be equal or of higher rank than those commanding armies from other nations. The last officers to hold this rank served during and immediately following WWII.

  • Five officers who have held the 1944 version of general of the Army are: Gen. George C. Marshall, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Gen. Henry H. Arnold and Gen. Omar N. Bradley.

VIDEO: OFFICER RANKS

Officers are the senior leaders of the U.S. Army. Commissioned officers are the managers, problem solvers, key influencers and planners who lead enlisted soldiers in all situations; they plan missions, give orders and assign soldiers tasks. There are 12 officer ranks in the U.S. Army. The video below describes the ranks and, most importantly, what level of responsibility is expected of each.

0 Soldiers

Corps and Division Operations

The U.S. Army is the largest branch of service with a greater variety of units than the other services, each with a different organization and purpose. Therefore, the Army provides the combatant commander with an interlocking array of higher headquarters trained and equipped to apply landpower from the theater level, through the operational level, and down to the tactical employment of various brigades, groups, and battalions. Together the theater Army, corps, and division give the combatant commander several options necessary for the employment of landpower in an interdependent joint force.

Sergeant Team 4 Soldiers

Team

The smallest element in the Army organizational structure.

• Usually comprised of four Soldiers.

• Typically led by a sergeant.

READ Staff Sergeant Squad 2 - 3 teams 8 - 16 Soldiers

Squad

The second smallest element in the Army organizational structure. Its size is dependent on its function.

• 2 - 3 teams

• Typically led by a staff sergeant.

READ lieutenant Platoon 2 - 4 Squads 16 - 44 Soldiers

Platoon

A basic combat unit capable of maneuvering in the conduct of combat operations.

• 2 - 4 Squads

• Led by a lieutenant, assisted by a platoon sergeant that is a sergeant first class.

READ Captain Company 3 - 5 Platoons 60 - 200 Soldiers

Company

A cohesive tactical sized unit that can perform a battlefield function on its own. It is capable of receiving and controlling additional combat, combat support or combat service support elements to enhance its mission capability.

• 3 - 5 Platoons

• Normally commanded by a captain, a first sergeant is the commander’s principal assistant.

• Ground or air cavalry units (armor and aviation units specifically trained for reconnaissance missions) refer to these elements as troops. Field artillery and air defense artillery units refer to these elements as batteries.

READ lieutenant Colonel Battalion 3 - 5 Companies 300 - 1,000 Soldiers

Battalion

A unit that is both tactically and administratively self-sufficient.

• 3 - 5 Companies

• In warfighting, battalions are capable of independent operations of limited duration and scope.

• Commanded by a lieutenant colonel with a command sergeant major as the primary NCO assistant.

• A battalion task-force is a battalion-size unit with additional companies attached in direct support to enhance mission capability.

• An armored or air cavalry unit of equivalent size is referred to as a squadron.

READ Colonel Brigade 3 or more Battalions 1,500 - 3,200 soldiers

Brigade

A significantly large unit that can be employed on independent or semi-independent operations.

• 3 or more Battalions

• Normally commanded by a colonel although in some cases a brigadier general may assume command. The command sergeant major is the principal noncommissioned officer assistant.

• Brigades are comprised of multiple battalions that generally include the brigades primary combat arm, as well as sustainment and supporting functions.

• Armored Cavalry units of this size are referred to as regiments.

• Special Forces units of this size are referred to as groups and Ranger units are regiments.

READ Major General Division 3 Brigades 10,000 - 16,000 Soldiers

Division

Performs major tactical operations and conduct sustained battles and engagements.

• 3 Brigades

• Categorized by one of five types: cavalry, armored, infantry, airborne and artillery.

• Commanded by a major general assisted by two principal brigadier generals who perform duties as assistant division commanders - one for maneuver and one for support. The command sergeant major is the principal NCO assistant.

• Divisions are comprised of two to three maneuver brigades, a sustainment brigade, and a combat aviation brigade.

READ lieutenant General Corps 2 - 5 Divisions 20,000 - 40,000 soldiers

Corps

The deployable level of command required to synchronize and sustain combat operations and provides the framework for multinational operations.

• 2 - 5 Divisions

• Provides command, control and logistical support.

• Commanded by a lieutenant general, assisted by a command sergeant major and an extensive Corps staff.

• Three Corps in the active Army - three with headquarters in the Continental United States (I, III, and XVIII Corps).

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