https://crsreports.congress.gov
Updated November 23, 2022
Defense Primer: Military Enlisted Personnel
Grade and Rank
The armed forces are hierarchical organizations with clearly
defined levels of authority. These different levels are called
grades, while rank refers to the order of precedence among
those in different grades and within the same grade (e.g.,
someone who has been a Sergeant for three years outranks
someone who has been a Sergeant for two years). However,
it is common for the term rank to be used as a synonym for
grade. Pay grade is an administrative classification that
determines certain rates of pay, but it is sometimes used to
indicate grade as well. For example, a Staff Sergeant in the
Army may also be referred to as an E-6. See Figure 1. The
Service Secretaries manage the accession, promotion, and
assignments of enlisted members under broad statutory
authorities.
Numbers and Roles
Enlisted personnel make up about 82% of the armed forces,
with officers making up the remaining 18%. Enlisted
personnel rank below all officers. Table 1 lists the number
of active duty enlisted personnel in each pay grade.
Junior enlisted personnel (pay grades E-1 to E-4)
typically work in small units across the Department of
Defense. Individuals normally serve in these grades during
their first enlistment term (usually four years). More senior
enlisted personnel supervise them. Junior enlisted personnel
make up about 51% of the enlisted workforce.
Mid-level Noncommissioned Officers (NCOs) (pay
grades E-5 to E-7). NCOs have significantly more
responsibility than junior enlisted personnel. They lead
small units, typically ranging from a few to several dozen
personnel, and serve as technical experts in their
occupational specialties. NCOs at this level translate orders
from their superior officers into action. They make up about
45% of the enlisted workforce.
Senior Noncommissioned Officers (pay grades E-8 and E-
9) typically serve as senior enlisted advisors to commanders
or as staff NCOs. They also serve as a channel of support
for the enlisted force in general. By law, the authorized
daily average of enlisted personnel in pay grades E-8 and E-
9 may not be more than 2.5% and 1.25%, respectively, of
the number of enlisted members in a given Service on the
first day of the fiscal year. If the number of E-9s is below
the cap, the difference may be applied to increase the
number of E-8s. The statutory caps can be waived in certain
circumstances (10 U.S.C. §517).
Insignia
As shown in Figure 1, each enlisted grade in the armed
forces has distinctive insignia, typically worn on the sleeve,
shoulder, collar, and/or headgear (caps, berets, helmets,
etc.).
Table 1. Active Duty Military Enlisted by Pay Grade (as of September 30, 2022)
