| Staff
Noncommissioned Officer (SNCO) Rank Structure |
|
Sergeant Major of the Marine
Corps (SgtMajMC) |
Sergeant Major (SgtMaj) |
Master Gunnery Sergeant (MGySgt) |
First Sergeant (1stSgt) |
Master Sergeant (MSgt) |
Gunnery Sergeant (GySgt) |
Staff Sergeant (SSgt) |
|
E-9 |
E-9 |
E-9 |
E-8 |
E-8 |
E-7 |
E-6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) Rank Structure |
|
Sergeant (Sgt) |
Corporal (Cpl) |
|
E-5 |
E-4 |
|
|
|
|
Enlisted Rank Structure |
|
Lance Corporal (LCpl) |
Private First Class (PFC) |
Private (Pvt) |
|
E-3 |
E-2 |
E-1 |
|
|
|
no insignia |
Enlisted Marines with paygrades
of E-4 and E-5 are considered Noncommissioned Officers (NCOs)
while those at E-6 and higher are considered Staff
Noncommissioned Officers (SNCOs). The E-8 and E-9 levels each
have two ranks per pay grade, each with different
responsibilities. Gunnery Sergeants (E-7) indicate on their
annual evaluations, called "fitness reports", or "fitreps" for
short, their preferred promotional track: Master Sergeant or
First Sergeant. The First Sergeant and Sergeant Major ranks are
command-oriented, with Marines of these ranks serving as the
senior enlisted Marines in a unit, charged to assist the
commanding officer in matter of discipline, administration and
the morale and welfare of the unit. Master Sergeants and Master
Gunnery Sergeants provide technical leadership as occupational
specialists in their specific MOS. First Sergeants typically
serve as the senior enlisted Marine in a company, battery or
other unit at similar echelon, while Sergeants Major serve the
same role in battalions, squadrons or larger units. The Sergeant
Major of the Marine Corps is a rank conferred on the senior
enlisted Marine of the entire Marine Corps, personally selected
by the Commandant of the Marine Corps.
The gold stripes on red flash are worn on the Dress Blue coat.
Green stripes on red flash are worn on the Service "A" uniform
coat. The stripes are worn on the upper sleeve of both coats.
The khaki shirts use green stripes on khaki material, and again
are worn on the upper sleeves. Combat uniform rank insignia are
black metal pins and are worn on the collars. They follow the
same pattern, but connect the chevrons and rockers with vertical
bars, and all ranks except Private and Private First Class have
the crossed rifles or other interior compartment device
connected to the lowest chevron.
Unlike other branches of the military, it is incorrect to refer
to enlisted Marines above the rank of Sergeant as "Sergeant".
For instance; even informally, a Marine Staff Sergeant will be
called "Staff Sergeant Jones" rather than "Sergeant Jones".
Similarly, Lance Corporal is never shortened to "Corporal" when
addressing a Marine of this rank, nor is a Private First Class
properly addressed as Private as he or she would be in the Army,
instead "PFC" will be used. However, seasoned Marines (ones
who've been around them long enough) unofficially call Gunnery
Sergeants, "Gunny" and Master Gunnery Sergeants, "Master Guns"
out of adoration.
|
