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The chart below shows the current enlisted rank insignia of the United States Army, with seniority, and pay grade, increasing from right to left. The enlisted ranks of corporal (E-4) and higher are considered non-commissioned officers (NCOs). The rank of specialist is also in pay grade E-4, but does not hold non-commissioned officer status; it is common that a soldier may never hold the rank of corporal, and instead be promoted from specialist to sergeant, attaining junior NCO status at that time.
US DoD pay grade |
Special | E-9 | E-8 | E-7 | E-6 | E-5 | E-4 | E-3 | E-2 | E-1 | ||||
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NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||
Uniform insignia | ![]() |
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No insignia |
Title | Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman | 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 | SEAC | SMA | CSM | SGM | 1SG[a] | MSG | SFC | SSG | SGT | CPL | SPC[b] | PFC | PV2[c] | PV1 |
In the beginning, U.S. Army enlisted rank was indicated by colored epaulets. The use of chevrons came into being in 1821, with the orientation changing over time from point-down to point-up and back again, to the point-down orientation seen in the American Civil War. Around the turn of the 20th century, point-up wear of chevrons returned and has remained so.