IF10684

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
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
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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

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Updated November 23, 2022

Defense Primer: Military Enlisted Personnel

E-9 3,501 2,765 1,598 2,613 10,477

Figure 1. Pay Grade, Grade, and Insignia of Enlisted Service Members

Resources Resources (continued)

https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF10684 · VERSION 14 · UPDATED

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