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Updated November 7, 2018
Defense Primer: Military Enlisted Personnel
Grade and Rank
supervise them. Junior enlisted make up about 53% of the
The armed forces are hierarchical organizations with clearly
enlisted workforce.
defined levels of authority. These different levels are called
grades, while rank refers to the order of precedence among
Mid-level Noncommissioned Officers (NCOs) (pay
those in different grades and within the same grade (e.g.,
grades E-5 to E-7). NCOs have significantly more
someone who has been a Sergeant for three years outranks
responsibility than junior enlisted personnel. They lead
someone who has been a Sergeant for two years).However,
small units, typically ranging from a few to several dozen
it is common for the term rank to be used as a synonym for
personnel, and serve as technical experts in their
grade. Pay grade is an administrative classification that
occupational specialties. NCOs at this level translate orders
determines certain rates of pay, but it is sometimes used to
from their superior officers into action. They make up about
indicate grade as well. For example, a Staff Sergeant in the
44% of the enlisted workforce.
Army may also be referred to as an E-6. See Figure 1. The
Service Secretaries manage the accession, promotion, and
Senior Noncommissioned Officers (pay grades E-8 and E-
assignments of enlisted members under broad statutory
9) typically serve as senior enlisted advisors to commanders
authorities.
or as staff NCOs. They also serve as a channel of support
for the enlisted force in general. By law, enlisted personnel
Numbers and Roles
in pay grades E-8 and E-9 may not be more than 2.l5% and
Enlisted personnel make up about 81% of the armed forces,
1.25%, respectively, of the number of enlisted members of
with officers making up the remaining 19%. Enlisted
a given Service who are on active duty (10 U.S.C. §517; if
personnel rank below all officers. Table 1 lists the number
the number of E-9s is below the cap, the difference may be
of active duty enlisted personnel in each pay grade.
applied to increase the number of E-8s).
Junior enlisted personnel (pay grades E-1 to E-4)
Insignia
typically work in small units across the DOD. Individuals
As shown in Figure 1, each enlisted grade in the armed
normally serve in these grades during their first enlistment
forces has distinctive insignia, typically worn on the sleeve,
term (usually four years). More senior enlisted personnel
shoulder, collar, and/or headgear (caps, berets, helmets,
etc.).
Table 1. Active Duty Military Enlisted by Pay Grade (as of September 30, 2018)
Services
Pay Grade
Army
Navy
Marine Corps
Air Force
Total
E-9
3,508
2,641
1,580
2,640
10,369
E-8
10,580
6,620
3,920
5,075
26,195
E-7
35,769
21,294
8,635
25,388
91,086
E-6
54,188
49,237
14,145
39,695
157,265
E-5
65,544
67,876
26,022
61,672
221,114
E-4
106,466
51,965
35,626
51,545
245,602
E-3
50,488
42,796
42,503
55,267
191,054
E-2
27,491
15,408
20,869
7,192
70,960
E-1
25,571
12,821
10,783
10,504
59,679
Source: Department of Defense, Defense Manpower Data Center.
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Defense Primer: Military Enlisted Personnel
Figure 1. Pay Grade, Grade, and Insignia of Enlisted Service Members
Source: CRS adaptation of Department of Defense webpage: https://dod.defense.gov/About/Insignias/Enlisted/.
Relevant Statute
Other Resources (continued)
Chapter 31 of Title 10, U.S.C.
NAVPERS 18068F, Volume 1, Manual of Navy Enlisted
Manpower and Personnel Classifications and Occupational
Standards, July 2018.
Air Force Instruction 36-2618, The Enlisted Force Structure, July
Other Resources
5, 2018.
Department of Defense Instruction 1304.30, Enlisted Personnel
Management Plan (EPMP) Procedures, March 14, 2006.
Army Regulation 600-20, Army Command Policy, November 6,
Lawrence Kapp, Specialist in Military Manpower Policy
2014.
IF10684
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Defense Primer: Military Enlisted Personnel
Disclaimer
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