I'm trying to understand how the military ranks work. Can someone tell me what the highest enlisted rank is? Does it vary by branch, and how does one achieve that rank?
Sure, in the United States military, the highest enlisted rank varies by branch but they're generally equivalent to each other. Here's a rundown:
1. In the Army and Air Force, the highest enlisted rank is Sergeant Major of the Army and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, respectively.
2. In the Navy and Coast Guard, it's the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy and the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard.
3. The highest enlisted rank in the Marine Corps is the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps.
In terms of achieving this high rank, it's important to note that enlisted ranks are earned through years of service, ongoing education, skill level, leadership abilities, and performance evaluations throughout an individual's military career.
Highly ranked enlisted members are typically responsible for ensuring that the soldiers under their command are trained and made ready for deployment and other duties. They can also serve as key advisors to high-ranking officers.
It's also worth mentioning that each branch has a singular position for the absolute highest-ranking enlisted member. Those are Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, Sergeant Major of the Army, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard.
Do keep in mind that while these positions hold the same pay grade as their respective branch's highest enlisted rank, they carry a level of prestige and responsibility above and beyond the norm, and there is only one holder of each position at a time.
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