Understanding Military Rank
It is often said that the military is a well-oiled machine, comprised of various, parts and pieces, each with specific functions and constituents. And as with many other machines, while most may not be able to distinguish between a cog and a flywheel, we trust in this machine to operate, even if we don’t completely understand the particulars of its inner workings. Yet there is an important difference that sets the armed forces apart from any other man-made contraption. At first glance, this may appear to be man himself, and there is some truth to this conclusion. The human element is the most fundamental and valuable component of the military device, but while its biggest asset, it is also the machine’s most flawed. The men and women of the service are, after all, only human. Without some way to organize their efforts, to streamline and regulate their actions, these brave individuals, despite any level of skill, experience, or training, would accomplish little. In order to achieve the high functionality and methodical regularity which we have come to associate with the military, another, even more basic aspect of it exists: rank. This complex system by which authority is passed down from the top through a series of military ranks is known as the chain of command(Saunders). An often overlooked aspect of the armed forces, it is the glue that holds a nation’s defensive powers together and the structure
which gives them definition. If the military is a machine, rank is the oil it runs upon. Thus, in order to best understand the Frederick Downs’
experience in the army— and moreover, the military as a whole— we must begin with an understanding of this fundamental component of it.
The chain of command employed by the armed services traces its origins to the system used by the British Empire at that time of the Revolutionary War, when the first American army was created by the Continental Congress. However, just as the United States has developed as a nation in the centuries since 1775, so has the structure of its armed forces evolved in extent and complexity. Within such an intricate tapestry of various duties and positions, rank plays a crucial role in prescribing theduties and responsibilities of its members. Beyond the broad distinctions of Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Coast Guard, and Air Force, each branch of the military is separated into officer and enlisted personnel. Within these general classifications exist variable different stations which servicemembers can hold. These differ in authority, experience, and command, and are directly related to how the military branches are organized.
Although falling below Officers in rank, enlisted personnel form an invaluable component of the military and are vital to the success of its
missions. Making up 84% of the armed services, enlisted soldiers fill the majority of the transportation, office, mechanical, human service, and combat jobs (“Career FAQs”). While these individuals carry out much of the military’s hands-on work, their specific responsibilities depend upon their area of expertise, called a military occupational specialty (MOS) (“Enlisted Soldiers”). In the U.S. Army, there are thirteen different ranks of enlisted personnel, which move from least to greatest in the following order: Private, Private Second Class, Private First Class, Specialist, Corporal, Sergeant, Staff Sergeant, Sergeant First Class, Master Sergeant, First Sergeant, Sergeant Major, Command Sergeant Major, and Sergeant Major of the Army (“Army Ranks”).
which gives them definition. If the military is a machine, rank is the oil it runs upon. Thus, in order to best understand the Frederick Downs’
experience in the army— and moreover, the military as a whole— we must begin with an understanding of this fundamental component of it.
The chain of command employed by the armed services traces its origins to the system used by the British Empire at that time of the Revolutionary War, when the first American army was created by the Continental Congress. However, just as the United States has developed as a nation in the centuries since 1775, so has the structure of its armed forces evolved in extent and complexity. Within such an intricate tapestry of various duties and positions, rank plays a crucial role in prescribing theduties and responsibilities of its members. Beyond the broad distinctions of Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Coast Guard, and Air Force, each branch of the military is separated into officer and enlisted personnel. Within these general classifications exist variable different stations which servicemembers can hold. These differ in authority, experience, and command, and are directly related to how the military branches are organized.
Although falling below Officers in rank, enlisted personnel form an invaluable component of the military and are vital to the success of its
missions. Making up 84% of the armed services, enlisted soldiers fill the majority of the transportation, office, mechanical, human service, and combat jobs (“Career FAQs”). While these individuals carry out much of the military’s hands-on work, their specific responsibilities depend upon their area of expertise, called a military occupational specialty (MOS) (“Enlisted Soldiers”). In the U.S. Army, there are thirteen different ranks of enlisted personnel, which move from least to greatest in the following order: Private, Private Second Class, Private First Class, Specialist, Corporal, Sergeant, Staff Sergeant, Sergeant First Class, Master Sergeant, First Sergeant, Sergeant Major, Command Sergeant Major, and Sergeant Major of the Army (“Army Ranks”).
Enlisted Ranks
In general, the first four of the enlisted positions are collectively known as Junior Enlisted ranks; however, a Soldier has very little, if any command authority until he becomes a Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO), the first of which being a Corporal. Often referred to as “the backbone of the army,” NCO’s are enlisted personnel who are granted authority under another Officer and are directly responsible for the wellbeing and control of junior military members (“Army Ranks”). In terms of military organization, a corporal serves as team leader for
the smallest units in the Army, consisting of 4 soldiers, called a fire team (“U.S. Army Organization”). The highest enlisted ranks are those held by the various levels of Sergeant, who can command squads of 9-10 soldiers. Although they rank below officers, Sergeants often have the greatest direct impact on the lives of their Soldiers since they are the ones directly responsible for their men. This important relationship is demonstrated inThe Killing Zone through the important role played by Sergeant Schaldenbrand (Downs 35).
the smallest units in the Army, consisting of 4 soldiers, called a fire team (“U.S. Army Organization”). The highest enlisted ranks are those held by the various levels of Sergeant, who can command squads of 9-10 soldiers. Although they rank below officers, Sergeants often have the greatest direct impact on the lives of their Soldiers since they are the ones directly responsible for their men. This important relationship is demonstrated inThe Killing Zone through the important role played by Sergeant Schaldenbrand (Downs 35).
Warrant Officer Ranks
Within the Army, there are two types of officer ranks: Warrant Officer and Commissioned Officer. The former are highly specialized
experts and trainers in their specific fields. They hold warrants from a service secretary and remain single-specialty officers even as they progress in rank from Warrant Officer 1 through Chief Warrant Officer 2-5 (“Warrant Officers”). In contrast, Commissioned Officers hold presidential commissions and are responsible for directing missions and seeing to the welfare, morale, and professional development of their Soldiers (“Commissioned Officers”). Holding the highest level of authority in the Army, Officers only make up about 16% of the armed forces (“Career FAQs”).
experts and trainers in their specific fields. They hold warrants from a service secretary and remain single-specialty officers even as they progress in rank from Warrant Officer 1 through Chief Warrant Officer 2-5 (“Warrant Officers”). In contrast, Commissioned Officers hold presidential commissions and are responsible for directing missions and seeing to the welfare, morale, and professional development of their Soldiers (“Commissioned Officers”). Holding the highest level of authority in the Army, Officers only make up about 16% of the armed forces (“Career FAQs”).
Officer Ranks
The various positions available to an Officer are similar in aims, differing mainly in their spheres of influence. The entry-level rank for most Commissioned Officers, including Downs, is that of Second Lieutenant. These Officers command units called platoons, consisting of three or four squads. They are similar to First Lieutenants; however, the latter are more experienced and lead specialized weapons platoons and indirect fire computation centers. Next in rank are Captains, who lead company-sized units composed of three to five platoons. Such Officers have a great amount of influence on the men of their companies, and Downs describes his Captain, Harold Sells, as “the individual who would be a dominant figure in my life for the rest of my tour in Vietnam” (Downs 27). After Captains are Majors, who serve as primary Staff Officers of brigades, followed by Lieutenant Colonels, who command battalion-sized units composed of four to six companies. Two to five battalions combine to form a brigade, which is led by a Colonel. Brigadier Generals serve as Deputy Commanders to the General overseeing their division. Divisions are groups of three of more brigades, which are commanded by Major Generals. Two or more divisions form a corps, led by a Lieutenant General, and two or more corps in addition to other units) comprise a Field Army, commanded by a General (“Officer Rank Descriptions”). The highest rank in the Army is General of the Army, also known as a “Five Star General;” however, this position is reserved for times of war and is only given out in extreme circumstances to Generals of great merit. Only five people have held this rank to date (“Army Ranks: US Army Rank Insignia”).
The chain of command is an indisputably important part of the military. Providing it with the structure and organization that it needs to function, the system of ranks employed by the armed forces is much more than a collection of names or insignia. It allows the men and
women of the service to work as one united force. This being said, rank is not always the law. When on the battlefield, such conventions at times become secondary to the overall mission and the preservation of lives; circumstances may arise in which the boundaries defined by rank must be abandoned, a concept Downs expresses multiple times within The Killing Zone. Sergeant Schaldenbrand technically didn’t have enough experience to serve as platoon sergeant, but as there was no one else to fill the position, these stipulations were overruled, outweighed by need (Downs 35). Although it was clear breach of formality, Downs praised his Radio Transmission Officer as “so good that he would often call in dustoffs or reach other people for me even before I had a chance to tell him what I needed” (Downs 34). Downs even steps outside rank himself when the gunman charged with signaling his platoon misfires, leaving Downs to take it upon himself to fire the alarm shot, even though doing so puts him and his men in danger of losing their lieutenant (Downs 130). Downs’ experiences demonstrate the somewhat dual nature of military ranks. While absolutely vital to the operation of the armed forces, at times it works best when ignored. The importance of rank cannot be overlooked or contested; however, while rank dictates rule within the military, it is not the rule, at least not always.
The chain of command is an indisputably important part of the military. Providing it with the structure and organization that it needs to function, the system of ranks employed by the armed forces is much more than a collection of names or insignia. It allows the men and
women of the service to work as one united force. This being said, rank is not always the law. When on the battlefield, such conventions at times become secondary to the overall mission and the preservation of lives; circumstances may arise in which the boundaries defined by rank must be abandoned, a concept Downs expresses multiple times within The Killing Zone. Sergeant Schaldenbrand technically didn’t have enough experience to serve as platoon sergeant, but as there was no one else to fill the position, these stipulations were overruled, outweighed by need (Downs 35). Although it was clear breach of formality, Downs praised his Radio Transmission Officer as “so good that he would often call in dustoffs or reach other people for me even before I had a chance to tell him what I needed” (Downs 34). Downs even steps outside rank himself when the gunman charged with signaling his platoon misfires, leaving Downs to take it upon himself to fire the alarm shot, even though doing so puts him and his men in danger of losing their lieutenant (Downs 130). Downs’ experiences demonstrate the somewhat dual nature of military ranks. While absolutely vital to the operation of the armed forces, at times it works best when ignored. The importance of rank cannot be overlooked or contested; however, while rank dictates rule within the military, it is not the rule, at least not always.