The first sergeant and sergeant major ranks are command oriented with marines of theses 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. It and the marine gunner are the only billets which rate modified rank insignia in place of the traditional rank insignia. The sergeant major of the marine corps is a billet and special rank conferred on the senior enlisted marine of the entire marine corps personally selected by the commandant of the marine corps.
In order to promote someone above the rank of e 3 there must be a vacancy. The marine corps takes the number of slots it has for each enlisted rank above the rank of e 3 and allocates them to the different enlisted jobs. Marine corps enlisted slots.
Marine corps customs and courtesies require junior marines to address all senior marines by their rank which is denoted by a rank insignia device usually worn on the collar. Marine corps recruits must learn all marine corps ranks from private to general including enlisted officers and warrant officers. The highest enlisted rank a soldier can achieve in the marine corps is sergeant major.
Most marines enter the marine corps as a private following successful completion of basic training and receive promotions and pay raises based on experience and leadership qualities. Marine corps has a total of twelve enlisted ranks. Staff ncos are career marines serving in grades e 6.
Often referred to as the backbone of the corps enlisted marines with pay grades of e 4 and e 5 are non commissioned officers ncos. The rank of lance corporal was permanently established in 1958 but the term dates back to the early 1800 s. Lance corporal lcpl lance corporal is the third enlisted rank e 3 in the marine corps.
It and the marine gunner are the only billets which rate modified rank insignia in place of the traditional rank insignia. The sergeant major of the marine corps is a billet and with it carries a special rank insignia conferred on the senior enlisted marine of the entire marine corps personally selected by the commandant of the marine corps.
