How many csm in the army

There are 13 enlisted Army ranks: private, private second class, private first class, specialist, corporal, sergeant, staff sergeant, sergeant first class, master sergeant, first sergeant, sergeant major, command sergeant major and sergeant major of the Army.

The term as a military rank seems to come from the 16th century when individuals had the privilege of enlisting or making private contracts to serve as private soldiers in military units. Before then, many soldiers were forced conscripted into service by royalty or feudal lords. Some sources claim that the use of "private" as an official "rank" dates back to the 18th century, when the French Army, under Napoleon, established the permanent rank of Soldat.

Related : Want to join the military? Junior Enlisted in the Army -- privates and specialists -- are promoted automatically based on their time in service and time in pay grade.

Privates E-1 are promoted to private 2nd class after completing six months of service, and PV2s normally are promoted to PFC when they have 12 months' time in service and four months' time in grade. In general, soldiers earn the rank of specialist E-4 after having served a minimum of two years and attending a specific training class. Private, the lowest Army rank, normally is held only by new recruits while at Basic Combat Training BCT , but the rank occasionally is assigned to soldiers after a disciplinary action has been taken.

The Army private E-1 wears no uniform insignia. The private's job is to apply the new skills and knowledge learned during basic training and to continue to learn how to follow orders given by higher-ranked supervisors. Private first classes PFC are the basic workforce strength and rank of the U. PFC is the point in which junior enlisted soldiers begin the transition from apprentice to journeyman by developing technical and leadership skills. Specialist SPC is considered one of the junior enlisted ranks in the U.

Ranked above private first class E-3 and holding the same pay grade as the corporal, the specialist is not considered an NCO. The specialist's job is focused on technical expertise, and they normally have less personnel leadership responsibilities than corporals. They often are promoted to the E-4 pay grade due to enlisting. Those enlisting with a four-year college degree or who have certain specialized civilian skills or training can enter BCT as a dpecialist. Along with the rank of sergeant, the corporal is the only rank that never has disappeared from the NCO Corps.

The rank of corporal always has been placed at the base of the NCO ranks. For the most part, corporals have served as the smallest unit leaders in the Army: principally, leaders of teams.

Like the grade of sergeant, corporals are responsible for individual training, personal appearance and cleanliness of their soldiers. Moving up the Army ranks: Normally, unit commanders may advance PFCs to corporal once they have met the following qualifications:.

Sergeants SGT operate in an environment where the sparks fly -- where the axe meets the stone. Although not the lowest level of rank where command is exercised, this level is the first at which enlisted soldiers are referred to as sergeant, and of all the grades of the NCO, this one, very possibly, has the greatest impact on the lower ranking-soldiers.

Privates, who are the basic manpower strength and grade of the Army, generally have sergeants as their first NCO leader. It is the grade sergeant that the privates will look to for example.

Like the next grade, the staff sergeant, the sergeant is responsible for the individual training, personal appearance and the cleanliness of their soldiers.

The authority of the sergeant is equal to that of any other grade or rank of the NCO. Professionally competent leaders inherently command respect for their authority, and the sergeant must be unquestionably competent in order to carry out the mission correctly, accomplish each task and care for assigned soldiers.

The rank of sergeant is not a position for learning how to become a leader; no apprenticeship here. While certainly the new sergeant will be developing new skills, strengthening old ones and generally getting better, he is a sergeant and is therefore no less a professional than those grades of rank to follow. Moving up the Army ranks: Unlike the promotion processes for privates, specialists and corporals, promotions to sergeant SGT and staff sergeant SSG is based on an Army-wide competition.

The competition is based on a point system that grants points for firing range scores, performance evaluations, physical fitness, education level, awards and promotion board ranking. The staff sergeant rank closely parallels that of the sergeant in duties and responsibilities. In fact, the basic duties and responsibility of all the NCO ranks never change, but there are significant differences between this step in the NCO structure and the preceding one.

The major difference between the staff sergeant and the sergeant is not, as often mistakenly believed, authority but rather sphere of influence. The staff sergeant is in daily contact with large numbers of soldiers and generally has more equipment and other property to maintain.

The SSG often has one or more sergeants who work under their direct leadership. The SSG is responsible for the continued successful development of sergeants as well as the soldiers in their section, squad or team. Moving up the Army ranks: SSG candidates must meet the following basic eligibility criteria to compete:. Although the Army does not make the official distinction in the rank structure, enlisted ranks of sergeant first class and above E-7 to E-9 generally are referred to as Senior NCOs, and they carry increasing levels of responsibility and demand greater levels of respect and deference.

Although there are only three pay grades, the SNCO ranks actually cover six separate ranks or designations -- sergeant first class platoon sergeant , master sergeant, first sergeant, sergeant major, command sergeant major and sergeant major of the Army.

Unlike the promotion processes for private through staff sergeant, unit commanders have little to do with the promotion process to the SNCO ranks.

The platoon sergeant or sergeant first class generally has 15 to 18 years or more of military experience and is expected to bring that experience to bear in quick, accurate decisions that are in the best interest of the mission and the soldier. Platoon sergeant is a duty position, not a rank. The platoon sergeant is the primary assistant and adviser to the platoon leader, with the responsibility of training and caring for soldiers.

The platoon sergeant takes charge of the platoon in the absence of the platoon leader. Platoon sergeants teach collective and individual tasks to soldiers in their squads, crews or equivalent small units. The position title of platoon sergeant is considered key in the command structure of the Army. The platoon sergeant generally has several staff sergeants who work under his direct leadership. During the Vietnam era, the platoon sergeant was referred to affectionately as the "Plat-Daddy," and although the term has since faded, the role remains that of the "Father of the Platoon.

The master sergeant is the principal NCO at the battalion level, and often higher. They are not charged with all the leadership responsibilities of a first sergeant, but are expected to dispatch leadership and other duties with the same professionalism.

When you are talking about the first sergeant, you are talking about the lifeblood of the Army. For more details, see this Army rank to GS grade conversion table.

To see a list of military medals and decorations that can be earned by servicemembers in the Army and other branches of the military, see our list of military decorations and medals. Civilian Payscales. Military Discounts. Decorations In Order.

Decorations By Class. Decorations By Branch. Military Rack Builder. Housing Allowances. BAH Calculator. Military Dictionary. Military Occupational Specialties. Army Ranks. Army Command Sergeant Major.