noncommissioned officers
Corporals and sergeants
Noncommissioned officers are military personnel who hold authority through appointment or promotion rather than a commission.
They typically rise from enlisted ranks to supervisory positions—sergeants, corporals, petty officers—forming the backbone of military leadership between officers and enlisted troops: The noncommissioned officers trained the new recruits.
Often abbreviated NCO or NCOs.
Mid-level military rank
- corporalOf the flesh
- staff sergeantNon-commissioned officer rank
- master sergeantSenior enlisted military rank
- first sergeantSenior NCO in company
gunnery sergeant · sergeant major · flight sergeant · lance corporal · drill instructor
Military personnel collectively
- soldiersMilitary personnel who fight
- ranksPositions in hierarchy
- barracksSoldiers' residential building
- deploymentOrganized distribution of resources
duty station · reenlistment · veteran · military life · service · uniform · mess hall · formation
Developing abilities through practice
- mentorshipGuidance from experienced person
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
- supervisionOverseeing people or processes
- inspectionFormal assessment of condition
counseling · evaluation · instruction · enforcement · coordination · accountability · readiness · morale
Rank increase or publicity
- career progressionUpward movement in work
- meritDeserved praise-worthiness
- professional developmentOngoing workplace learning activities
- military educationInstruction for armed services
stripe · chevron · evaluation report · service record · recommendation
Shared pride among members
- traditionCustom passed through generations
- professionalismWorkplace conduct standards
- experiencePractical knowledge from life
- respectRegard with honor
Head of small military unit
- platoon sergeantSenior enlisted unit leader
- drill sergeantTrains raw recruits harshly
- section leaderHead of a subdivision
- team leaderHead of a group
sergeant
Mid-level military rank
- corporalOf the flesh
- staff sergeantNon-commissioned officer rank
- master sergeantSenior enlisted military rank
first sergeant · gunnery sergeant · sergeant major · flight sergeant · lance corporal · drill instructor
troops
Military personnel collectively
- soldiersMilitary personnel who fight
- ranksPositions in hierarchy
- barracksSoldiers' residential building
deployment · duty station · reenlistment · veteran · military life · service · uniform · mess hall · formation · reveille
training
Developing abilities through practice
- mentorshipGuidance from experienced person
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
- supervisionOverseeing people or processes
inspection · counseling · evaluation · instruction · enforcement · coordination · accountability · readiness · morale · welfare
promotion
Rank increase or publicity
- career progressionUpward movement in work
- meritDeserved praise-worthiness
- professional developmentOngoing workplace learning activities
military education · stripe · chevron · evaluation report · service record · recommendation
esprit de corps
Shared pride among members
- traditionCustom passed through generations
- professionalismWorkplace conduct standards
- experiencePractical knowledge from life
squad leader
Head of small military unit
- platoon sergeantSenior enlisted unit leader
- drill sergeantTrains raw recruits harshly
- section leaderHead of a subdivision
noncommissioned officerscommissioned officers
Formally appointed military leaders
officers · lieutenants · captains · majors · colonels
noncommissioned officerscommissioned officers
Formally appointed military leaders
brass · flag officers · senior officers · privates · enlisted personnel
noncommissioned, officer, officers, commission, commissioned, commissioner, commissioners, commissioning, commissions