United States Army enlisted rank insignia The chart below represents the current enlisted rank insignia of the United States Army . This chart represents the United States Army enlisted rank insignia with seniority increasing left - to - right inside a given pay grade . All enlisted ranks of Corporal and higher are considered non - commissioned officer s ( NCOs ) . The rank of Specialist is a soldier of pay grade E - 4 who has not yet attained non - commissioned officer status . It is common that a soldier may never be a Corporal and will move directly from Specialist to Sergeant , attaining NCO status at that time . History . From the creation of the United States Army to 1820 , enlisted rank was distinguished by worsted epaulettes . An infantry corporal wore one epaulette on his left shoulder , a sergeant wore one on his right , whilst Quartermaster Sergeants and Sergeants Major wore two epaulettes . The mark of rank used by the military , worn on the shoulder or lapel , is the chevron . From 1820 to 1903 the insignia was worn with the point down . From 1903 to 1905 there was some confusion and rank could be worn with the point either up or down . The War Department Circular 61 of 1905 , directed that the points be placed up and designated certain colors for each branch of the military for uniformity . On 22 July 1919 , the military approved " an arc of one bar " for a private first class . In 1942 , there were several changes in rank order and color . The rank of third , fourth , and fifth grade technician was added with a " T " placed at the bottom . 1948 , saw more changes including the deletion of the Technicians rank . In 1951 , the pay grade was reversed and the rank of Master Sergeant became E - 7 instead of E - 8 . In 1955 ( dated 2 July 1954 ) , new grade structures were announced reactivating the specialist rank . A Master Specialist ( E - 7 ) , Specialist 1st Class ( E - 6 ) , Specialist 2nd Class ( E - 5 ) , and Specialist 3rd Class ( E - 4 ) . In 1958 , as part of a rank restructuring , two pay grades and four ranks were added . E - 8 , which included First Sergeant and Specialist 8 and E - 9 , which included Sergeant Major and Specialist 9 . In 1965 , the ranks of Specialist 8 and Specialist 9 were discontinued . In 1968 , the rank of Command Sergeant Major was established . In 1978 , the rank of Specialist 7 was discontinued . In 1979 the rank of Sergeant Major of the Army was established . In 1985 , the ranks of Specialist 5 and Specialist 6 were discontinued . Command . In each command of company - sized units , there is assigned a senior enlisted who is the monitor and advocate of the enlisted personnel to the commanding officer . This position is known as the " First Sergeant " , though the person carrying that title does not have to be the rank of first sergeant ( it is the highest ranking enlisted person in the company ) . In a battalion or larger unit , the senior enlisted Soldier is a Command Sergeant Major . The rank of sergeant major is usually carried by the senior enlisted person of the S - 3 staff section in a battalion or a brigade , and in most staff sections in larger units . In terms of command , the rank of a person typically determines what job and command the Soldier has within a unit . For personnel in US Army mechanized infantry , a Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle ( M2A2 ) is commanded by a Staff Sergeant , the gun is manned by a Specialist or Sergeant and the driver is Specialist or below . For the Armor , the Abrams Main Battle Tank ( M1A2 ) is commanded by a Captain , Lieutenant , Sergeant First Class or Staff Sergeant , the gunner is a Staff Sergeant or Sergeant , the driver is a Specialist , Private First Class , PV2 or PV1 , and the loader is a Specialist or below . Address . Formal terms of address specified in Army Regulation 600 - 20 " Army Command Policy " are " Sergeant Major " for all Sergeant Major ranks , " First Sergeant " for First Sergeants , and " Sergeant " , for Master Sergeants , Sergeants First Class , Staff Sergeants , and Sergeants . Corporals and Specialists are addressed by their rank . Privates First Class and Privates can all be addressed as Privates . In some cases , informal titles are used . " Top " is commonly used by NCOs as an informal address to First Sergeants , or anyone serving as a Company 1st Sergeant . In Field Artillery , a Platoon Sergeant ( usually an E - 7 ) is referred to as " Smoke " , and squad leaders ( usually an E - 6 ) are called " Chief " ( some squad leaders discourage this , as " Chief " is also a common term of address for Warrant Officers ) . In some smaller units , with more tight - knit squads , soldiers might call their squad leader " Boss " , or a similar respectful term . A habit that has all but died out is the addressing of a Platoon Sergeant , in any unit other than Artillery , being affectionately called a " Platoon Daddy " in casual conversation or in jest ( but never in any official communication of any type ) . In training units ( Basic Combat Training and AIT or OSUT ) , trainees are called " Private " , regardless of the rank worn . Special titles , such as " Drill Sergeant " are specific to certain jobs , and should not be confused for actual rank . Other services differ , such as the Marines , who address each other by full rank . Some terms are used jokingly when referring to a soldier ' s rank . For instance , Specialists are sometimes jokingly referred to as " The E - 4 Mafia " , " Command Private Major " , " Specialist Major , " " Full - Bird Private " , " Sham shield " , " PV4 " , or " Spec - 4 " ( in reference to the old Specialist grades , which at one point went up to Specialist 9 ) . An E - 1 Private may be referred to as " E - Nothing " , " E - Fuzzy " , " Fuzzy " , " Drill Private " , or " PV - Nothing " ( as opposed to PV2 , the next rank ) due to the lack of rank patch on the velcro portion of the Army Combat Uniform ( ACU ) .