Military Enlisted Personnel Advancement

Are you interested in a military career? How do enlisted personnel advance through the ranks?

Enlisted personnel can progress through nine pay grades during their careers. They are led, supervised, and evaluated by senior enlisted personnel and officers. Factors that qualify an officer person for promotion include:

• Length of service
• Time in present pay grade
• Job performance
• Leadership ability
• Awards or commendations
• Job specialty

Each service sets minimum standards before personnel are eligible for a promotion to the next higher pay grade. These standards include length of service and a required amount of time in current pay grade. Highly-qualified enlisted personnel can apply to become a warrant officer or technical expert in a selected field. Each service has programs that allow selected enlisted personnel to become commissioned officers. The entrance standards for these programs are high, and the competition is intense.

Collapse all | Expand all

1. Enlisted Personnel: Rank and Pay Grade by Service

    

   Pay Grade	Service
   	Air Force	Army	Coast Guard	Marine Corps	Navy
   E-9	Chief Master Sergeant	•Command Sergeant Major •Sergeant Major	Master Chief Petty Officer	•Sergeant Major •Master Gunnery Sergeant	Master Chief Petty Officer
   E-8	Senior Master Sergeant	•First Sergeant •Master Sergeant	Senior Chief Petty Officer	•First Sergeant •Master Sergeant	Senior Chief Petty Officer
   E-7	Master Sergeant	Sergeant First Class	Chief Petty Officer	Gunnery Sergeant	Chief Petty Officer
   E-6	Technical Sergeant	Staff Sergeant	Petty Officer First Class	Staff Sergeant	Petty Officer First Class
   E-5	Staff Sergeant	Sergeant	Petty Officer Second Class	Sergeant	Petty Officer Second Class
   E-4	Senior Airman	•Corporal •Specialist	Petty Officer Third Class	Corporal	Petty Officer Third Class
   E-3	Airman First Class	Private First Class	•Fireman •Seaman	Lance Corporal	Seaman
   E-2	Airman	Private	•Fireman Apprentice •Seaman Apprentice	Private First Class	Seaman Apprentice
   E-1	Airman Basic	Private	Seaman Recruit	Private	Seaman Recruit

Source: Today's Military online guide of the U.S. Department of Defense.