Chapter Four [Ranks and What They Do]

Ranks and What They Do

This is a part of the 44th Infantry Handbook that explains all the ranks we use in this unit. We shall start off with the Enlisted ranks and move our way up to the officer ranks.

-Enlisted Ranks-

Recruit (Rec.) - The rank held by those who haven't completed Basic Combat Training. Also are not a part of the Unit completely until they become a Pvt.

Restrictions: Rifle Only

(No Insignia)
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Private (Pvt.) - In the U.S. Army, Private (PVT) is used for the two lowest enlisted ranks, just below Private First Class. The lowest rank (officially known as Private E-1 (PVT) and sometimes referred to as recruit but also held by some soldiers after an Article 15 or prisoners after conviction until they are dishonorably discharged) wears no uniform insignia

Restrictions: Rifle Only

(No Insignia)
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Private First Class (Pfc.) - In the U.S. Army, Private First Class is the second lowest enlisted rank, just above Private and below Corporal or Specialist in the Army, and is equivalent to NATO Grade OR-3. In the U.S. Army, it is in Paygrade E-3.

Restrictions: Rifle, and BAR


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Corporal (Cpl.) - A Corporal rank shares the same pay grade (E-4) as a Specialist. Unlike a Specialist, however, a Corporal is a junior non-commissioned officer and may direct the activities of other soldiers. It is common for a Corporal to lead a fireteam; however, if a soldier is promoted to Corporal and there are too many soldiers of that rank, the new Corporal will stay in his current position.

Restrictions: Rifle, BAR, and Machine Gun


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Technician Grade 5 (T/5) - Those who held this rank were addressed as Corporal, but did not have the authority to give commands as a corporal would. The wearers of the rank were often called "Tech Corporal". But If there is not a Corporal in the squad a T/5 can and usually will take its spot. This rank also can use more weapons than the Corporal.

Restrictions: Rifle, BAR, Rocket, MG


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Sergeant (Sgt.) - Marine Sergeants are the fifth enlisted rank in the U.S. Marine Corps, just above Corporal and below Staff Sergeant. The rank Sergeant is the oldest rank in the Marine Corps. Once a Marine reaches Sergeant, their promotion does not rely upon a composite or cutting score anymore. Instead, they receive a Fitrep (Fitness Report). Sergeants serve as squad leaders in an infantry company

Restrictions: Rifle, Assault, BAR, Machine Gun, Rocket


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Technician Grade 4 (T/4) - Those who held this rank were often addressed as Sergeant, as they shared the same pay grade. Technicians possessed specialized skills which were rewarded with a higher pay grade. These skills could be directly related to combat, such as a tank driver or combat engineer, or be a support function such as a cook or mechanic. Depending on their function, they might be called upon by an officer to command a group of men in doing a specific task, they were non-commissioned officers as were sergeants. And like a T/5, a T/4 can take the place of a Sgt. as a squad leader.

Restrictions: No Restrictions


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Staff Sergeant (SSgt.) - He may also be tasked as a company gunnery sergeant, or a platoon commander if required. He is the senior tactical advisor to a platoon commander by virtue of time in service, previous deployments, and experience and is responsible for the proficiency, training and administrative issue of his Marines. He is always to be referred to by his complete rank

Restriction: No Restrictions


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Technician Grade 3 (T/3) - Those who held this rank were often addressed as Staff Sergeant, as they shared the same pay grade, but technicians did not have the authority to give commands as a staff sergeant would.

Restrictions: No Restrictions


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Technical Sergeant (TSgt.) - typically in charge of coordinating logistics for a company-sized group of Marines, or about 180 personnel. Junior Gunnery Sergeants usually serve as platoon sergeant for weapons platoons. A U.S. Army Sergeant First Class shares the same pay grade as a Gunnery Sergeant, but not the same responsibilities. A Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant's job is to be the operations chief of a company of Marines.

Restrictions: No Restrictions


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Master Sergeant (MSgt.) - In the U.S. Marine Corps, master sergeants provide technical leadership as occupational specialists at the E-8 level. General command leadership at this paygrade is provided by the separate rank of first sergeant.

Restrictions: No Restrictions


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First Sergeant (FSgt.) - It is equal in grade to Master Sergeant, although the two ranks have different responsibilities. First Sergeant have a command responsibility while Master Sergeants have technical responsibilities. Unlike the First Sergeant and Master Sergeant programs in the U.S. Army, no lateral movement is possible between the two ranks in the Marine Corps. A First Sergeant is then eligible to be promoted to a Sergeant Major while a Master Sergeant would be on the promotional track for Master Gunnery Sergeant.

Restrictions: No Restrictions


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-Officer Ranks-

Second Lieutenant (2Lt.) - a second lieutenant typically leads a platoon-size element (16 to 44 marines). Second lieutenant is typically the entry-level rank for most commissioned officers.

Restrictions: No Restrictions


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First Lieutenant (1Lt.) - the second-lowest ranking commissioned officer. It is one grade above the rank of Second Lieutenant (O-1) and one grade below a Captain (O-3). These positions can include leading a specialty platoon, or assignment as the Executive Officer for a company-sized unit (65-150 soldiers)

Restrictions: No Restrictions


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Captain (Capt.) - A Captain generally commands company-sized units. When given such a command, they bear the title Company Commander. Captains also instruct at service schools and combat training centers and are often staff officers at the battalion level. Marine captains also serve as Officer Selection Officers, commanding recruiting stations for commissioned officers.

Restrictions: No Restrictions


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Major (Maj.) - Typically serves as a battalion executive officer or as the battalion operations officer (S-3). A major can also serve as a primary staff officer for a brigade or task force in the areas concerning personnel, logistical and operations. In addition, majors command augmented companies in Combat Service and Service Support units

Restrictions: No Restrictions


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Lieutenant Colonel (LtCol.) - a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. Lieutenant colonel typically commands a battalion-sized unit (300 to 1,000 soldiers), with a Command Sergeant Major as principal NCO assistant. A lieutenant colonel may also serve as a brigade or task force Executive Officer.

Restrictions: No Restrictions


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Colonel (Col.) - usually command infantry brigades, USAF groups or wings, and USMC regiments. Like the Lieutenant Colonel, a Colonel typically commands brigade-sized units (3,000 to 5,000 Soldiers), with a Command Sergeant Major as a senior non-commissioned officer advisor.

Restrictions: No Restrictions


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All of the ranks on this list are important and are all valuable members of the unit. Although I listed LtCol. and Col. they are not generally used as ranks in the realism community. So if you see one in a server it usually means their unit has a lot of people.