Defense Primer: Military Enlisted Personnel
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Updated November 23, 2022
Defense Primer: Military Enlisted Personnel
Grade and Rank
Mid-level Noncommissioned Officers (NCOs) (pay
The armed forces are hierarchical organizations with clearly
grades E-5 to E-7). NCOs have significantly more
defined levels of authority. These different levels are called
responsibility than junior enlisted personnel. They lead
grades, while rank refers to the order of precedence among
small units, typically ranging from a few to several dozen
those in different grades and within the same grade (e.g.,
personnel, and serve as technical experts in their
someone who has been a Sergeant for three years outranks
occupational specialties. NCOs at this level translate orders
someone who has been a Sergeant for two years). However,
from their superior officers into action. They make up about
it is common for the term rank to be used as a synonym for
45% of the enlisted workforce.
grade. Pay grade is an administrative classification that
determines certain rates of pay, but it is sometimes used to
Senior Noncommissioned Officers (pay grades E-8 and E-
indicate grade as well. For example, a Staff Sergeant in the
9) typically serve as senior enlisted advisors to commanders
Army may also be referred to as an E-6. See Figure 1. The
or as staff NCOs. They also serve as a channel of support
Service Secretaries manage the accession, promotion, and
for the enlisted force in general. By law, the authorized
assignments of enlisted members under broad statutory
daily average of enlisted personnel in pay grades E-8 and E-
authorities.
9 may not be more than 2.5% and 1.25%, respectively, of
the number of enlisted members in a given Service on the
Numbers and Roles
first day of the fiscal year. If the number of E-9s is below
Enlisted personnel make up about 82% of the armed forces,
the cap, the difference may be applied to increase the
with officers making up the remaining 18%. Enlisted
number of E-8s. The statutory caps can be waived in certain
personnel rank below all officers. Table 1 lists the number
circumstances (10 U.S.C. §517).
of active duty enlisted personnel in each pay grade.
Insignia
Junior enlisted personnel (pay grades E-1 to E-4)
As shown in Figure 1, each enlisted grade in the armed
typically work in small units across the Department of
forces has distinctive insignia, typically worn on the sleeve,
Defense. Individuals normally serve in these grades during
shoulder, collar, and/or headgear (caps, berets, helmets,
their first enlistment term (usually four years). More senior
etc.).
enlisted personnel supervise them. Junior enlisted personnel
make up about 51% of the enlisted workforce.
Table 1. Active Duty Military Enlisted by Pay Grade (as of September 30, 2022)
Services
Air Force/Space
Pay Grade
Army
Navy
Marine Corps
Force
Total
E-9
3,501
2,765
1,598
2,613
10,477
E-8
10,694
7,249
3,946
4,788
26,677
E-7
36,702
22,890
8,361
25,915
93,868
E-6
57,742
51,172
13,361
44,857
167,132
E-5
69,861
70,452
22,314
60,411
223,038
E-4
113,412
53,894
32,654
61,854
261,814
E-3
48,339
50,210
42,271
46,138
186,958
E-2
16,340
13,085
17,434
8,032
54,891
E-1
10,994
11,799
11,147
8,872
42,812
Total
367,585
283,516
153,086
263,480
1,067,667
Source: Department of Defense, Defense Manpower Data Center.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Defense Primer: Military Enlisted Personnel
Figure 1. Pay Grade, Grade, and Insignia of Enlisted Service Members
Source: CRS adaptation of Department of Defense web page: https://dod.defense.gov/About/Insignias/Enlisted/, and insignia provided by U.S.
Space Force legislative liaison.
Resources
Resources (continued)
Chapter 31 of Title 10, U.S.C.
U.S. Air Force, The Enlisted Force Structure, May 2022.
Army Regulation 611-1, Military Occupational Classification
Structure Development and Implementation, July 2019.
NAVPERS 18068F, Volume 1, Manual of Navy Enlisted
Manpower and Personnel Classifications and Occupational
Lawrence Kapp, Specialist in Military Personnel Policy
Standards, October 2022.
IF10684
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Defense Primer: Military Enlisted Personnel
Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to
congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress.
Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has
been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the
United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be
reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include
copyrighted images or material from a third party, you may need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder if you
wish to copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.
https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF10684 · VERSION 14 · UPDATED
Updated November 23, 2022
Defense Primer: Military Enlisted Personnel
Grade and Rank
Mid-level Noncommissioned Officers (NCOs) (pay
The armed forces are hierarchical organizations with clearly
grades E-5 to E-7). NCOs have significantly more
defined levels of authority. These different levels are called
responsibility than junior enlisted personnel. They lead
grades, while rank refers to the order of precedence among
small units, typically ranging from a few to several dozen
those in different grades and within the same grade (e.g.,
personnel, and serve as technical experts in their
someone who has been a Sergeant for three years outranks
occupational specialties. NCOs at this level translate orders
someone who has been a Sergeant for two years). However,
from their superior officers into action. They make up about
it is common for the term rank to be used as a synonym for
45% of the enlisted workforce.
grade. Pay grade is an administrative classification that
determines certain rates of pay, but it is sometimes used to
Senior Noncommissioned Officers (pay grades E-8 and E-
indicate grade as well. For example, a Staff Sergeant in the
9) typically serve as senior enlisted advisors to commanders
Army may also be referred to as an E-6. See Figure 1. The
or as staff NCOs. They also serve as a channel of support
Service Secretaries manage the accession, promotion, and
for the enlisted force in general. By law, the authorized
assignments of enlisted members under broad statutory
daily average of enlisted personnel in pay grades E-8 and E-
authorities.
9 may not be more than 2.5% and 1.25%, respectively, of
the number of enlisted members in a given Service on the
Numbers and Roles
first day of the fiscal year. If the number of E-9s is below
Enlisted personnel make up about 82% of the armed forces,
the cap, the difference may be applied to increase the
with officers making up the remaining 18%. Enlisted
number of E-8s. The statutory caps can be waived in certain
personnel rank below all officers. Table 1 lists the number
circumstances (10 U.S.C. §517).
of active duty enlisted personnel in each pay grade.
Insignia
Junior enlisted personnel (pay grades E-1 to E-4)
As shown in Figure 1, each enlisted grade in the armed
typically work in small units across the Department of
forces has distinctive insignia, typically worn on the sleeve,
Defense. Individuals normally serve in these grades during
shoulder, collar, and/or headgear (caps, berets, helmets,
their first enlistment term (usually four years). More senior
etc.).
enlisted personnel supervise them. Junior enlisted personnel
make up about 51% of the enlisted workforce.
Table 1. Active Duty Military Enlisted by Pay Grade (as of September 30, 2022)
Services
Air Force/Space
Pay Grade
Army
Navy
Marine Corps
Force
Total
E-9
3,501
2,765
1,598
2,613
10,477
E-8
10,694
7,249
3,946
4,788
26,677
E-7
36,702
22,890
8,361
25,915
93,868
E-6
57,742
51,172
13,361
44,857
167,132
E-5
69,861
70,452
22,314
60,411
223,038
E-4
113,412
53,894
32,654
61,854
261,814
E-3
48,339
50,210
42,271
46,138
186,958
E-2
16,340
13,085
17,434
8,032
54,891
E-1
10,994
11,799
11,147
8,872
42,812
Total
367,585
283,516
153,086
263,480
1,067,667
Source: Department of Defense, Defense Manpower Data Center.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Defense Primer: Military Enlisted Personnel
Figure 1. Pay Grade, Grade, and Insignia of Enlisted Service Members
Source: CRS adaptation of Department of Defense web page: https://dod.defense.gov/About/Insignias/Enlisted/, and insignia provided by U.S.
Space Force legislative liaison.
Resources
Resources (continued)
Chapter 31 of Title 10, U.S.C.
U.S. Air Force, The Enlisted Force Structure, May 2022.
Army Regulation 611-1, Military Occupational Classification
Structure Development and Implementation, July 2019.
NAVPERS 18068F, Volume 1, Manual of Navy Enlisted
Manpower and Personnel Classifications and Occupational
Lawrence Kapp, Specialist in Military Personnel Policy
Standards, October 2022.
IF10684
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Defense Primer: Military Enlisted Personnel
Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to
congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress.
Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has
been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the
United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be
reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include
copyrighted images or material from a third party, you may need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder if you
wish to copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.
https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF10684 · VERSION 14 · UPDATED