Sergeant - Master Sergeant

[Salem4]

I saw a movie recently and wondered what the difference between theese are. In Norway, you go straigt from Sergeant to "Fenrik" (ensign, second lieutenant, lieutenant pilot officc).

[John Carter]

Speaking only of US Army forces, the enlisted (non-officer) grade structure is as follows:

Pay grade E1 Recruit Has not finished basic training

Pay grade E2 Private Just finished training

Pay grade E3 Private First Class (grunts, do most of the work, have the least responsibility)

Pay grade E4 Specialist (little leadership responsibility)

Pay grade E4 Corporal ( first of the Non-commissioned officer grades, team leader)

Pay Grade E 5 Sergeant (Team/section leader)

Pay Grade E 6 Staff Sergeant (Squad leader)

Pay Grade E 7 Sergeant First Class (Platoon sergeant)

Pay Grade E 8 Master Sergeant (not top NCO in company-sized unit, considerable responsibility)

Pay Grade E 8 First Sergeant (top NCO in a company-sized unit)

Pay Grade E 9 Sergeant Major (senior NCO at higher level staffs)

Pay Grade E 9 Command Sergeant Major (chief unit NCO at levels battalion and above, brigade, division, corps, army)

Enlisted soldiers may enter officer training, if qualified, at any grade up to age 37.