home Botany American military ranks. How to distinguish the military ranks of the us army. Why should I know

American military ranks. How to distinguish the military ranks of the us army. Why should I know

Signs rank differences
soldiers and sergeants of the US Army
2002
(US Army)

Part 1

From the author. The only sources for writing this article are US Army Manual AR 670-1 (Appearance and Wear of Uniforms and Insignia), 1992 edition, as amended as of June 1999, and the official website of the US Army "Tagd On Line. The Adjutant General Directorate" , where all changes occurring in the uniform and insignia are promptly published (and not only that). Changes in insignia since 1992, unless specified in AR 670-1, are taken from this site by the author.
In addition, the author consulted with USMC Lance Corporal Ilya Lagunov, US Army Major William Snack, and US Army General Dennis Reimer.

Before proceeding to reading the descriptions of the US military rank insignia themselves, one should pay attention to a number of significant points, without which the reader risks misleading himself.

First of all, the US armed forces consist of several main branches. It:
* US Army. If in Russia this term often means all types and types of troops, excluding the navy, and often including it in the concept of "Army"; then, in relation to the United States, the phrase US Army should be translated as "US Ground Forces."
* US Marine Corps. If in Russia the Marine Corps is just one of the auxiliary services of the Navy, then in the United States it is a completely independent branch of the armed forces.
* Air Force(US Air Force). Basically, this term coincides with the Russian one, but it will also include what we call ourselves Rocket Troops strategic purpose.
* US Navy. Everything is like ours, except for the marines.
* Coast Guard (US Coast Guard). In Russia, this is called - Marine units of the Federal Border Service. In the United States, the land borders with Canada and Mexico are simply guarded by the police, the regular police. So, there are simply no border troops, such as ours, in the United States.

All these branches of the US armed forces are much more independent than ours. Hence the rather significant differences in rank systems, uniforms and insignia.

This article will only talk about the insignia of the US Army (US Army) and only soldiers and sergeants. Marines, aviation, fleet remain in the future for now.

Second. The US Army consists of the Active and Reserve Components of the Army, the Army national guard(Army National Guard (ARNG)) , reserve army (Army Reserve) (USAR)). There is also, albeit not very significant, but still a difference in insignia.

Third. In a number of cases, insignia reflect not only the ranks themselves, but also the official position of military personnel, and therefore, with the same rank, rank insignia may be different. For example, an ordinary soldier undergoing initial training wears US badges on his tunic on both sides of the tunic collar, and a soldier who has completed this training on one side wears the emblem of the military branch instead of the letters US.

Fourth. The insignia of the ranks of soldiers and sergeants of men in size, attachment points on the uniform and appearance differ from similar signs of soldiers and sergeants of women.

Fifth. In the Russian army, the only place to wear rank insignia since 1943 is shoulder straps. In the US Army, the insignia of the ranks of soldiers and sergeants, depending on the specific type of uniform, can be worn on shoulder straps (or rather, on sleeves worn on shoulder straps), on sleeves between the shoulder and elbow, on one or both sides of the collar, on headgear.

Sixth. In the US Army, rank insignia is not divided into dress, casual, and field insignia. They are divided into "non-muted" (Nonsubdued) and "muffled" (Subdued).
The former are embroidered with gold or bright yellow thread on green, blue or white fabric flaps (depending on the color of the uniform) or are green, white or blue metal badges on a pin with golden chevrons and arcs.
The latter are embroidered with dull yellow thread on black flaps or black thread on uniform color flaps, or are black metal badges on a pin with dull yellow chevrons and bows.
For each type of uniform, the wearing of unmuted or subdued insignia is prescribed.

Seventh. In documentary images of US Army soldiers and sergeants that date back to 2002, the reader may find deviations from the following. This is due to the fact that some changes in the insignia of this category of military personnel are made quite often (approximately every two to four years). Compared with the periods of the Second World War, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the insignia of the ranks of soldiers and sergeants have changed quite significantly.

Eighth. None of feature films manufactured in the USA and European countries in which American military personnel are shown, you will not find reliable rank insignia, and the uniform itself, too, except in cases where this is agreed with the HQDA (General Directorate of the Department of the Army). The signs are very similar, but not so much as to give grounds for the US Department of the Army to bring bearers of these signs to criminal liability for illegal wearing of military uniforms (policemen too), which is prohibited by federal laws of the country.

Note. The term "chevron" in last years have become often used completely incorrectly. Unfortunately, this mistake has become widespread not only in soldier's everyday life, but even in documents. For some reason, they began to call chevron any sleeve or chest patch in general. In fact, a chevron is called a galloon (a braid made of a metal thread) or a lace (the same braid, but made of a regular thread) sewn onto a sleeve in the form of an angle with its top down or up (as well as their embroidered or otherwise applied image). For clarity, I put this figure. By the way, the modern Russian insignia of sergeants on shoulder straps, although they look like chevrons, is also unlawful to call it that, because. they are made of metal, not galloon or lace.

The uniform of the US Army is not divided, as in Russia, into dress, dress-out, everyday, field and work. It is divided into three main groups:
1. Utility and separate military uniforms (Utility and Selected Organizational Uniforms). This group includes various kinds of special uniforms (flight, for crews of combat vehicles, hospital, kitchen, sports, for pregnant women) and what we call the field, and the Americans call the combat uniform (BDU).
2. Service uniforms (Service Uniforms). it kinds of form which we call everyday.
3. Uniform (Dress Uniform). Perhaps this group of forms can be called front and front-output. Perhaps the most numerous group of forms. Here are white uniforms (something like a day off for a hot summer), and blue uniforms (something like front, front-out), and a uniform for dinners, receiving guests, evening and other high-society receptions and receptions.

It is impossible to describe the forms in more detail within the framework of this article due to their a large number(26 types of uniforms, plus each of them is divided into uniforms of generals and officers, soldiers and sergeants, plus many of them are also divided into male and female). A separate series of articles will be written about American uniforms. Therefore, we will confine ourselves to describing the insignia of ranks themselves and indicating on what types of forms how they are located.

Direct insignia of ranks.

Unmuted insignia of the ranks of soldiers and sergeants of the first type embroidered with gold thread on fabric valves in green, blue or white. These flaps (patches) are then sewn onto uniforms of the corresponding color.
The figure shows the unmuted insignia of a serviceman with the rank of Sergeant.

Their sizes are as follows:
1. Men. Valve width 76.2 mm. The thickness of each chevron and arc is 7.9 mm, between each arc and chevron (except for the lowest chevron and the upper arc 4.7 mm. Chevrons and arcs on all sides do not reach the edge of the fabric by 3.2 mm.
The height of the patch is determined by the number of chevrons and arcs.

2.Women. Valve width 50.8 mm. The thickness of each chevron and arc is 4.7 mm. Between each chevron and each arc 3.2 mm. In contrast to the male characters, the lowest chevron and the uppermost arc do not interlock with each other, and a gap of 3.2 mm remains between them. There is no such gap only on the insignia of the rank "Private First Class".

Since 1996, the division of insignia into male and female has been abolished and all insignia began to have same pattern. Their sizes have also changed. Non-muted signs of the first type have existed since that time in two sizes - 79.4 mm wide (other dimensions correspond to male signs), and 57 mm. (other sizes correspond to female signs). Larger signs are prescribed to be worn by men, smaller ones by women. In the figure, the signs of both sizes are identical.

It is permissible to embroider rank insignia of this type (chevrons and arcs) directly on the uniform. Usually these signs are attached to the sleeves above the elbow.

Unmuted rank insignia of the second type much smaller in size, made of yellow shiny metal (copper), shiny golden chevrons and arcs protrude above the background, and the background is filled with white, green or blue shiny enamel. These signs are attached to clothes (usually to the collars of certain types of uniforms and hats) with the help of clasps (two wires soldered to the back of the sign, similar to Russian stars). The width of the metal sign is 23.8 mm. The width of each chevron and arc is 2.38 mm., the gaps between them are 1.58 mm.
In certain cases, signs of this type are allowed to be embroidered directly on clothes or on a fabric flap matching the color of the clothes and then sewing this flap to the clothes. These signs are the same for men and women. There is also a variety of signs of this type, which is these signs embroidered with gold thread on black cloth muffs. These muffs are then put on shoulder straps of some types of military clothing.

Muted signs are identical in size and design to non-muted badges of the second type, but the chevrons and arcs on the metal signs are dull matte yellow, and the spaces between them are matte black. These badges can also be embroidered directly on clothing with black thread or on uniform-coloured cloth flaps. Such signs are usually worn on combat uniforms and some types of special working uniforms. These signs are the same for men and women.

It should be noted that in the US military rank system there is the concept of Pay grades, which can be translated quite accurately as "tariff category". In the US Army, three senior sergeant ranks have the same pay grade - E9. Those. like they are equal to each other. However, in this case, the insignia reflects not only the rank as such, but also the official position of the sergeant.

There is always one single soldier in the rank of Sergeant Major of the United States Army in the US Army. He is in the Pentagon and is, on the one hand, the most important among all American sergeants and their chief, on the other hand, he is the representative of all sergeants to the Chief of Staff of the Army.

Pay grades E9 also has Command Sergeant Major. The highest authorities in various areas of activity in the US Army are called Command (Command). There are, for example, Command in European area, Japan Command, Zone Command Pacific Ocean, Training Command, Logistics Command. So, for each such command there is one Command Sergeant Major, who performs the same role as the Sergeant Major of the United States Army, but within this Command.

Sergeant Major (Sergeant Major), also having the tariff category E9, performs the same duties at the level of the headquarters of the corps, division, brigade.

Two sergeants have an E8 pay grade. These are First Sergeant and Master Sergeant. The first always occupies a position that we call the foreman of the company, the second usually occupies positions equal in importance to the foreman of the company.

Two military personnel Corporal (Corporal) and Specialist (Specialist) have an E4 tariff category. The second rank is usually awarded when a soldier performs a certain technical position, but for which he should not command soldiers. Once upon a time, all sergeants were divided into command and technical staff, and each sergeant was assigned the rank of specialist 4, 5. 6, 7, 8 classes. To this day, there is only one thing left, a kind of rudiment

The rank marks are as follows:
1. Unmuted signs of the first type:

1. The Sergeant Major of the United States Army (The Sergeant Major of the United States Army). 2. Command Sergeant Major (Command Sergeant Major). 3.Sergeant Major. 4.First Sergeant. 5. Master Sergeant. 6. Sergeant First Class. 7. Staff sergeant (Staff Sergeant.). 8. Sergeant 9a.Corporal. 9b.Specialist (Specialist). 10.Private first class (Private First Class). 11. Private (Private) tariff category E2.

In the rank of Private (Private) there are two tariff categories E2 and E1. The E1 soldier does not have any patches. Usually this is a soldier undergoing initial training. Figuratively speaking, Private (E1) tariff category can be considered as a "Rookie", although a trained, but undisciplined and negligent soldier of the E2 category can be transferred to this category.

2. Non-muted signs of the second type:

3.Muffled metal signs:

4.Muffled signs non-metallic (embroidered):

1. The Sergeant Major of the United States Army (The Sergeant Major of the United States Army). 2. Command Sergeant Major (Command Sergeant Major). 3.Sergeant Major. 4.First Sergeant. 5. Master Sergeant. 6. Sergeant First Class. 7. Staff sergeant (Staff Sergeant.). 8. Sergeant 9b.Corporal. 9a.Specialist (Specialist). 10.Private first class (Private First Class). 11. Private (Private) tariff category E2.

According to AR 670-1 on the insignia of the Sajant Major of the United statesami (The Sergeant Major of the United States Army) in the middle should be two stars, but the site "Tagd On Line. The Adjutant General Directorate" indicates that since 1996 the US coat of arms has also been placed between the stars.

The figure shows both versions of the sign, one on a blue background, the second on a green one. It is possible to meet both options, but rather one of them. There is only one person in this rank in the US Army!

On some types of uniforms, rank insignia are black sleeves with signs embroidered on them with gold or bright yellow thread that are identical in size and pattern to non-muted metal signs, or metal non-muted signs can be placed on the sleeves. These muffs are worn on shoulder straps, which are part of the clothing. These muffs are worn on black sweaters, on green army shirts with long or short sleeves (but only when a tie is worn), on green shirts for pregnant women (if they wish, instead of the signs on the collar). However, the right to wear these muffs is given only to servicemen from a corporal and older.

These muffs are available in two sizes (selected by the military depending on the length of the shoulder strap on the shirt) 10.8 cm or 8.26 cm long. The width of both sizes is the same - 5.4 cm at the lower end and 4.45 cm at the upper end. The signs on the sleeves are arranged so that their lower edge is 1.6 cm from the bottom edge of the sleeve.

Placement of rank insignia on clothing. Document AR 670-1 begins the description of US Army uniforms with the Battle Dress Uniforms (BDU). Let's start with it and we.

On BDU jackets for hot and moderate weather, for cold weather signs rank distinctions are worn in the "muted" type in both corners of the collar and on the cap (Cap) and helmet (Helmet).

It is curious that in the description of the helmet (the one that is now worn) arr. 1980 (PASGT-H) states that it is not intended to wear rank insignia. Such contradictions in normative documents US armies meet more than once. Obviously, departmental disunity is also characteristic of this army.

The line of symmetry passing through the sign must coincide with the line going from the corner of the collar to the neck. The bottom edge of the badge must be 2.54 cm above the bottom corner of the collar. Drawing taken directly from AR 670-1.
It is curious that all the drawings in the document are black and white and without faces. The author only slightly tinted for clarity the insignia of ranks and the sleeve insignia divisions.

In the picture on the collar, the insignia of the rank of Command Sergeant Major is clearly visible. engineering school US army. Note the "US ARMY" patch, name patch, sleeve patch (on the left sleeve at the shoulder) of the engineering school, and the paratrooper and tactical airborne badges above the "US ARMY" patch.

Similar placement of rank insignia on Desert Combat Uniform (DBDU), Cold Weather Uniform

This uniform is not divided into men's and women's. The only thing is that the same uniform, when a pregnant woman wears it, is called not combat, but Maternity work uniform (translate as you wish).

Exactly the same signs and exactly the same wears the personnel of medical institutions on the hospital uniform (Hospital Duty Uniform), the personnel of the food service on the service kitchen uniform (Food service uniform). Both men and women wear the same. However, on the cap, in that place. where officers wear rank insignia, soldiers and sergeants wear a regimental badge (heraldic emblem assigned to a given military unit).

On the flight uniform (Flight uniform), rank insignia are worn with a headdress (a cap, but not a flight helmet and not a cap) for sure as well as on combat uniforms. The same for women and men. A 2" by 4" black leather plaque is affixed to the flight suit and flight jacket on the left side of the chest, showing enlisted rank in the third line.

The picture on the right shows the insignia on the flight uniform. On the cap, the sign of the staff sajant is visible. A chest plate is shown in the corner, where the position "pilot" is indicated at the top, "Ervin L. David" in the middle line, and the rank -SSG at the bottom. those. staff sajant and US ARMY badge.

The crews of combat vehicles on their overalls (Combat vehicle crewman's uniform) wear muted insignia the same as on the collars of the combat uniform, but the sign is one and it is located above the patch indicating the name soldier on the right side of the chest. It is recommended to make these signs sewn on, and not metal on a pin. This is necessary to prevent the sign from catching on the internal equipment of the vehicle, which is especially important in the event of an emergency exit from the vehicle. However, in practice, military personnel prefer metal signs, because. they can be put on as needed (appearance of the authorities, drill review, etc.). In other cases, they are not worn at all on this uniform.
Similarly, the rank insignia is worn on the cold weather jacket from the same uniform set.

No rank insignia is worn on the sports uniform.

The type of uniform that is usually called casual in the Russian Army is called the Army Green Service Uniform in the US Army and is divided into male (male) and female (famale).
The men's service green uniform is divided into class A (in an open tunic) and class B (in a green shirt with long or short sleeves).
On an open green tunic (i.e. on a class A uniform), the insignia of the ranks of soldiers and sergeants are worn on both sleeves in the middle between the elbow and the shoulder seam. Unmuffled signs of the first type (see above). The background color is green, i.e., matching the color of the tunic.
On green shirts with long sleeves (i.e. class B uniforms), rank insignia are worn on black sleeves worn over sewn-in shirt shoulder straps (see above). On green shirts (i.e. class B uniform second option) with short sleeves when wearing a tie, the rank insignia is the same.
If the shirt is worn without a tie (i.e. class B uniform of the third option), then the insignia are worn unmuted of the second type in the corners of the collar. Black muffs in this case are not worn on shoulder straps.

Military personnel in the ranks of "private" and "private first class" do not have the right to wear insignia on muffs. In all cases, they wear collar marks on their shirts (if this shirt is not worn under a tunic).

For soldiers and sergeants, there is another variation of this uniform, the so-called "Army Green Dress Uniform". It is worn only outside the service and is a kind of uniform for visiting, attending official and informal events, etc. You can call it an output form outside the service. This form is different in that under the same green open tunic, instead of a uniform green shirt, a white shirt of an arbitrary style is put on, but approaching uniform style and a regular black or black bow tie. But this kind of uniform is worn only with a tunic.

With these types of uniforms, headdresses are:
* Pilotka (rank insignia are not worn on it),
* A cap, by the type of emblem on which it can be distinguished that the serviceman is not an officer, but the insignia of ranks on the cap is not worn,
* Beret (who is prescribed to wear a beret). On the beret of soldiers and sergeants, rank insignia are not worn, but various types of emblems are worn.

Similarly, the wearing of rank insignia on the green service uniform of women soldiers and sergeants (on the tunic the insignia themselves are somewhat smaller in size (see types of insignia above)).

1 female sergeant in a class A army green uniform (in an open tunic); 2 - in the army green uniform of class B (in a green shirt with long sleeves and a black tie); 3- in the army green uniform of class B (in a green shirt with short sleeves and a black tie); 4 - in the army green uniform of class B (in a green shirt with short sleeves without a tie).

An exception is made for pregnant women - they can (optionally) wear rank insignia on black sleeves worn on shoulder straps and on shirts without a tie and on shirts for pregnant women.

The white uniform of men's soldiers and sergeants (Army White Uniform) refers more not to uniforms, but to uniforms. If it is worn as a service (Army White Service Uniform), then a black tie is put on it, and if as a uniform (Army White Uniform Dress), then a black bow tie. As interpreted by AR 670-1, in this case this is an army white uniform and is equated with a civilian summer tuxedo.But in all cases, the insignia are worn unmuted of the first type on a white fabric flap on both sleeves in the middle between the elbow and the shoulder.

This type of uniform does not provide for walking without a tunic and no rank insignia is provided on white shirts.

With a white uniform, headdresses are:
* The cap is white, by the type of emblem on which it can be distinguished that the serviceman is not an officer, but the insignia of ranks on the cap is not worn,
*Winter hat (when worn with a black all-weather coat). By the type of emblem on the cap, it can be discerned that the serviceman is not an officer, but the rank insignia on the cap is not worn.

Similarly, rank insignia are worn on blue uniforms, white and blue secular uniforms. These types of uniforms do not provide for walking without a tunic and no rank insignia is provided on white shirts.

Similarly, wearing insignia on white, blue; white, blue and black secular uniforms of women soldiers and sergeants (the signs themselves are somewhat smaller in size (see above for types of signs).

In the US Army, outerwear such as overcoats, raincoats, windbreakers and warming such as sweaters, pullovers is not an independent uniform like Russian army("Winter everyday for building in an overcoat", "Winter front door out of order in an overcoat", etc.). These items are considered "Uniform Accessories" and are worn over all kinds of uniforms simply as a means of protection from cold and bad weather. In many cases, rank insignia are also placed on these garments.

On the black all-weather coat, which comes in two types (see picture), rank insignia are worn at the corners of the collar. These are non-muted signs of the second type (metal).
The same signs are worn on a black windbreaker.

The windbreaker and all-weather coat are made of water-repellent fabric and are designed to protect against rain, wind, bad weather.

In addition to the insignia of ranks, no other signs are allowed on these types of clothing. With the rank insignia removed, the all-weather flip and windbreaker may be worn as civilian clothing.

The last type of military clothing to wear rank insignia is a pullover type sweater. The rank insignia on it are black sleeves with rank insignia (from corporal and above), worn on the shoulder straps of the pullover. These are the same sleeves that are worn on the green uniform shirts of the type B green service uniform. In addition to them, a plate with the name of the serviceman is attached to the chest, and above it is the emblem of the unit.

Among the items of uniform of soldiers and sergeants of the US Army there are also knitted jackets, blue and black capes, blouses, etc. However, no rank insignia is worn on them.

In addition to signs that directly indicate the military rank of a soldier or sergeant of the US Army, in some cases there are signs and other signs in one way or another indicating the rank or belonging to the Enlisted personell category (soldiers and sergeants). For example, sergeants of the two highest sergeant ranks (E9) instead of insignia of military branches wear special emblems indicating their rank, more precisely, rank + official position. The nature of the headgear and the placement of the insignia on them, the type of insignia placed, the placement of the insignia, and the absence of additional decorations may also indicate, though not the titles themselves. but for belonging to the Enlisted personell category (soldiers and sergeants).

For indirect insignia of the ranks of soldiers and sergeants of the US Army, see Part 2 of this article.

In the American army, the gradation of ranks differs from the Soviet / Russian system and instead of the usual sergeants and foremen, junior and senior officers with generals, there is the following:

Commissioned Officers, certified superiors. Actually officers in the Russian analogy. They, in turn, are divided into:

General Officers, the main authorities. In the USSR / RF, this is a general
- Field Grade Officers In the USSR / RF, these are senior officers
- Сompany Grade Officers, bosses of the company category. In the USSR / RF, these are junior officers

Warrant officers. The translation is quite tricky - the authorities of the warrant. In the USSR / RF, these are ensigns. The US Air Force does not have this category at all.

Non-Commissioned Officers, not certified superiors. In the USSR / RF, these are sergeants and foremen.

Enlisted, conscript, employee in general. In the USSR / RF, these are privates.

From left to right.

1 row

Major General - Brigadier General*
lieutenant general - Major General
Colonel General - Lieutenant General
General
Marshal of the Russian Federation - General of the Army**

* Of course, this is a purely conditional comparison, since there is no brigadier general in the RF Armed Forces. A brigade within a division is commanded by a colonel, and a separate brigade by a major general.
** Marshal of the Russian Federation - honorary title, General of the Army - reserved.

2nd row

major - Major
lieutenant colonel - lieutenant colonel
Colonel - Colonel

3rd row

ml. lieutenant - no analogue
Lieutenant - Second Lieutenant*
Art. Lieutenant - First Lieutenant
captain - Captain

* In general, the word Lieutenant and the Russian lieutenant that came from it, is translated as deputy, assistant. So the lieutenant is much more Russian.

Art. ensign - Chief Warrant Officer 5
Ensign - Chief Warrant Officer 2
Stashina - first sergeant
Art. sergeant first class
Sergeant - sergeant
ml. sergeant - corporal*
Corporal - private first class
Private - private**

* in the US Army, this rank does not apply to NCOs, but to Enlisted
** In the US Army there is also the concept of "recruit". This is the same private, but passing, speaking in Russian KMB. It has no insignia, so you won't see it outside of the US.

In addition, there are three more sergeant ranks older than 1st sergeant in the US Army: Sergeant Major, Command Sergeant Major and Sergeant Major of the United States Army. But, these are more positions than titles.

Sergeant Major is considered the head of the entire sergeant staff of one specific unit: a separate battalion or regiment, as well as a brigade or division. In fact, he is the foreman of a battalion or regiment most often.
The Command Sergeant Major performs similar duties but at the level of the Command, which can conditionally be equated to our military district.
Well, Sergeant Major of the United States Army performs the same duties at the level of all ground forces. There is only one person in this rank in the ground forces.

Most of us know $D1but from films in which the military knows no reproach, no fear, no pride. Attentive people must have noticed that the United States is quite different from Russia. For example, for Russians, a sergeant is the same soldier, but with a little more power, and a captain is a low rank of an officer. And if we consider the same ranks, but only in the USA, it turns out that their sergeant is a big and powerful person, and the captain is something distant, almost sky-high.

General of the Army is the highest military rank in the United States. Its counterpart in other countries are marshal and field marshal. As a rule, it is assigned during the war.

Commodore is a rank belonging to the officer corps. This is a step more than a captain, but less than a rear admiral. Canceled in 1899, but when the second World War, then some US military ranks were temporarily restored, among them Commodore.

The master sergeant is part of the sergeant corps of the US Army and many other countries. This rank is in eighth place in the military hierarchy.

First sergeant is a rank referring to the non-commissioned officers of the US Army. This is practically the same as the master sergeant.

Private first class - a simple rank of a conscript or a higher one for an ordinary soldier. It is the third rank in the ground forces. It is located between the private and the corporal (or specialist).

Sergeant First Class - refers to the sergeant staff of the US Army and several other countries. Ranks seventh in the ranks, between staff sergeant and first sergeant or master sergeant.

Sergeant major (ground forces) - a rare military rank that applies to sergeants.

Specialist is a military rank of private in the US Army. It is similar to the rank of corporal, but it is not included in the sergeant's ranks.

A senior lieutenant is a junior in the army of many states, including Russia.

Staff sergeant - the rank of the army, which is part of the sergeant staff. In the United States, it is at the sixth step and is between the ranks of sergeant and sergeant first class.

In addition, US military ranks have another, called conditional, term - cadet. This is a student of the Military Academy of the United States of America "West Point".

The uniform and equipment of the US Army may vary depending on the rank and the event taking place. The easiest way to determine the rank is to look at the insignia that each member of the army has on his uniform. Each rank will have its own unique insignia, and the symbols of the captain or officer will be clearly different from the enlisted and non-commissioned officers. Familiarize yourself with these differences to learn how to quickly recognize the ranks of army members.

Steps

Definition of enlisted and non-commissioned officers

You must know where to look for the insignia. Enlisted and non-commissioned officers' uniforms include the field dress uniform (ACU), which is usually made of camouflage-colored fabric, and the "green" uniform, which usually consists of a tunic and trousers or a rough cloth skirt. Distinctive signs are located in different places, depending on the type of form:

Look at the field cap. For privates and sergeants, the insignia is located in the center of the cap.
The insignia patches will be located in the chest area of the field uniform.
On the "green" uniforms of privates and sergeants, the stripes with insignia are located on the upper part of the sleeves.
Privates and sergeants do not display their insignia on their berets. Instead, their unit is marked on the front of the beret.

Lieutenant Colonel S. Novikov

The assignment of military ranks to American servicemen determines their promotion and transition to a new category.

When assigning the next military rank to a member of the US Armed Forces, the presence of vacancies in specific military specialties, the total period of military service, the length of service in the previous rank, educational and professional level, command recommendations, the results of qualification tests, attestation conclusions, the availability of awards, incentives, and others are taken into account. factors.

Military ranks for servicemen of categories E-1 - E-4 (from private to corporal in the Army and Marine Corps, senior private in the Air Force and petty officer of the 3rd class in the Navy) have the right to assign commanders (chiefs) with a military rank of categories O- 3, O-4 (captain, major); military personnel of categories E-5, E-6 (sergeant and staff sergeant in the army and their corresponding ranks in other types of armed forces) - commanders (chiefs) with a military rank of categories O-5 (lieutenant colonel) and above; military personnel of categories E-7 - E-9 (sergeant 1st class, master sergeant and chief sergeant in the army and their corresponding ranks in other branches of the armed forces) - ministers of types of the armed forces. To obtain the next military rank, servicemen of categories E-1 - E-8 have established certain general terms of military service and terms of service in the previous military rank (see table).

General terms of military service and terms of service in rank for privates and non-commissioned officers
category	Ground troops		air force		Navy		Marines
category	General term military services	Service life would in pre- the previous rank	General term military services	Service life would in pre- the previous rank	General term military services	Service life would in pre- the previous rank	General term military services	Service life would in pre- the previous rank
E-1	6 months	-	6 months	-	6 months	-	6 months	-
E-2	1 year	4 months	1 year	6 months	1 year	9 months	9 months	8 months
E-3	2 years	6 months	1 year	8 months	-	1 year	1 year	8 months
E-4	3 years	8 months	3 years	6 months	-	3 years	2 years	1 year
E-5	7 years	10 months	5 years	18 months	-	3 years	4 years	27 months
E-6	-	-	8 years	24 months	-	3 years	6 years	3 years
E-7	-	-	11 years	24 months	-	3 years	8 years	4 years
E-8	-	-	14 years	24 months	-	3 years	10 years	3 years
E-9	Up to age limit

Military ranks to servicemen of categories E-1 - E-4 are assigned almost automatically after the expiration of the established terms of service (provided that they have proven themselves with positive side in service and discipline). Military ranks for servicemen of categories E-5 - E-9 are assigned on the basis of the conclusions of specially created selection commissions, taking into account all the factors listed above.

The primary officer rank - second lieutenant (in the Navy - ensign, O-1) is assigned to graduates of military academies (schools), officer candidate schools (SV and Navy), officer training schools (Air Force), as well as graduates of non-military training courses at civilian higher educational establishments.

Subsequent military ranks - first lieutenant - colonel (servicemen of categories O-2 - O-6) are assigned on the basis of the conclusions of the selection committees, taking into account the above factors.

The primary officer rank of warrant officer 1st class (category W-1) is assigned to sergeants (in the Navy - petty officers) who have served in the Armed Forces for 10 years or more, after they complete the appropriate training course. The military rank of Senior Warrant Officer 4th Class (category W-4) is awarded to Warrant Officers with at least 15 years of service.

Military ranks for servicemen of categories W-1 - W-5 are assigned by the ministers of the branches of the US armed forces.

To obtain the next military rank, officers in all branches of the US Armed Forces have established certain general terms of military service (length of service): upon receipt of a military rank of category O-2 - 1.5-2 years; O-3 - 3.5-4 years; O-4 - 10 years; O-5 - 15 years; O-6 - 22 years old.

At the same time, the minimum terms of service in the previous military rank are: in the rank of second lieutenant - 18 months; first lieutenant - two years; in the ranks of captain, major, lieutenant colonel - three years; colonel and brigadier general - a year, major general and above - at least two years.

Military ranks are assigned to: servicemen of category O-1 (second lieutenant) - ministers of the branches of the armed forces; categories O-2 and O-3 - the President of the United States; categories O-4 and above - the president with subsequent confirmation by the Senate.

The military rank of a serviceman of category O-11 (general of the army in the army, general of the air force in the air force, admiral of the fleet in the navy) is assigned only in war time for outstanding services to the country and the armed forces.

The selection of candidates for the assignment of higher officer ranks is carried out by attestation commissions convened once a year for the types of armed forces separately to consider candidates for the assignment of military ranks of brigadier general, major general and lieutenant general. The members of these commissions are officers who have a military rank at least one rank higher than that of the candidates in question.

The main conditions for the selection of candidates are professional competence and a conclusion about the prospects for use in general (admiral) positions, as well as a total length of service of at least 23 years. In addition, an officer cannot be nominated for the military rank of brigadier general (rear admiral junior) if he did not serve in a staff position. Colonels (captains) selected as candidates for the general (admiral) rank must pass the Capstone Higher Courses officers at the National Military College (Fort McNair, Washington, DC).

General ranks are assigned upon appointment to the following positions (on the example of the ground forces):
- brigadier general - brigade commander, deputy (assistant) division commander, deputy head of department, head of department in the joint headquarters of the KNSh, headquarters of the US Army, joint and special commands;
- Major General - division commander, deputy corps commander, head of department at army headquarters
US, Joint and Special Commands;
- lieutenant general - corps commander, chief of staff of the joint or special command, deputy chief of staff of the US Army, chief of the joint headquarters of the KNSh;
- General - Chairman of the KNSh or his deputy, commander of the joint command, chief of staff of the US Army or his first deputy.

The following documents are submitted for each candidate:
- private bussiness:
- report from immediate supervisor:
- a questionnaire of 20 points, one of which reflects the opinion of subordinates about the candidate;
- certificate of trustworthiness.

After the decision is made by the attestation commission, the lists of candidates approved by it are published in the official publications of each type of aircraft. The decision of the attestation commission is approved by the chief of staff of the armed forces and sent to the minister of defense, who presents it to the president of the country.

In accordance with the law, before the expiration of 18 months after the assignment of the military rank of Brigadier General, the President may cancel this assignment. The law also allows brigadier generals and major generals to be early dismissed when they reach four years of service in that rank. The President is also given the right to extend the terms of service of major generals, lieutenant generals and generals in excess of the norms established by law.