RANKS
ALL MEMBERS OF THE 5TH RANGER BATTALION HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF ADVANCING THROUGHOUT THE UNIT. EVERYONE WITHIN THE UNIT STARTS OUT AS A CANDIDATE UNDERGOING RANGER CANDIDATE TRAINING SCHOOL. UPON GRADUATING RCTS, AND IF YOU SHOW EXCEPTIONAL SKILLS AS A PRIVATE, YOU MAY BE PROMOTED TO A HIGHER RANK IN OUR CHAIN OF COMMAND.
LIEUTENANT COLONEL
ABBREVIATION: Lt. Col.
PAY GRADE: O - 5.
THE LIEUTENANT COLONEL SERVES AS THE BATTALION COMMANDER. AS THE COMMANDING OFFICER (CO) OF A BATTALION-SIZED UNIT, A HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON IN THE UNIT, DIRECTING HIS SUBORDINATES TO ACHIEVE THE UNIT'S GOALS.
MAJOR
ABBREVIATION: Maj.
PAY GRADE: O - 4.
THE MAJOR IS THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE BATTALION. AS THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER (XO), HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ASSISTING THE BATTALION COMMANDER AND OVERSEEING AND DELEGATING WORK TO THE BATTALION SUPPORT STAFF OFFICES.
CAPTAIN
ABBREVIATION: Cpt.
PAY GRADE: O - 3.
THE HIGHEST RANK IN COMPANY HEADQUARTERS. A CAPTAIN COMMANDS A COMPANY-SIZED UNIT WITH A FIRST SERGEANT AS HIS PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT. THE COMMANDING OFFICER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON IN THE COMPANY, DIRECTING HIS SUBORDINATES TO ACHIEVE THE UNIT'S GOALS.
FIRST LIEUTENANT
ABBREVIATION: 1Lt.
PAY GRADE: O - 2.
A SENIOR PLATOON COMMANDER, AND A TRUSTED PART OF COMPANY COMMAND STAFF, HE HAS EARNED THE FULL CONFIDENCE OF HIS SUBORDINATES AND SUPERIORS WITH ANY TASK HE IS GIVEN.
A FIRST LIEUTENANT MAY SERVE AS THE COMPANY COMMANDER IN THE ABSENCE OF A CAPTAIN.
SECOND LIEUTENANT
ABBREVIATION: 2Lt.
PAY GRADE: O - 1.
THE ENTRY-LEVEL OFFICER RANK. SECOND LIEUTENANTS TYPICALLY SERVE AS PLATOON COMMANDERS WITH A PLATOON SERGEANT AND THREE MORE SECTIONS UNDER THEIR COMMAND. AS AN OFFICER, HE LEADS HIS PLATOON IN TRAINING AND COMBAT AND SETS THE TONE AND DIRECTION FOR THE PLATOON.
CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER
ABBREVIATION: CWO.
PAY GRADE: W - 2.
FOUND ONLY ONCE IN A BATTALION, THE CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER SERVES AS THE BATTALION COMMANDER'S TECHNICAL ADVISER AND IS ASSIGNED AS THE COMMUNICATION OFFICER WITHIN BATTALION HQ.
AS THE SENIOR SPECIALIST HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSEEING AND MENTORING THE BATTALION STAFF SECTIONS, ADVISING BATTALION HQ, AND ENSURING THE BATTALION OPERATES AS EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE.
WARRANT OFFICER
ABBREVIATION: WO.
PAY GRADE: W - 1.
BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN NCO'S AND OFFICERS, WARRANT OFFICERS MAY SERVE AS TECHNICAL OR TACTICAL SPECIALISTS. PERFORMING INCREASED DUTIES WITHIN A BATTALION STAFF SECTION AS A STAFF EXPERT, OR AS A DETACHMENT COMMANDER.
MASTER SERGEANT
ABBREVIATION: M/Sgt.
PAY GRADE: E - 1.
TYPICALLY FOUND ONLY ONCE IN A BATTALION, AND ASSISTS IN BATTALION HEADQUARTERS. FULFILLING THE POSITION AS FIRST SERGEANT, THE MASTER SERGEANT CAN ASSIST IN RUNNING A COMPANY.
FIRST SERGEANT
ABBREVIATION: F/Sgt.
PAY GRADE: E - 1.
A KEY ADVISER TO THE COMPANY COMMANDING OFFICER, THE FIRST SERGENT IS OFTEN THE MOST RESPECTED MEMBER OF THE COMPANY. INFORMALLY KNOWN AS THE "COMPANY BOSS" BECAUSE OF HIS SINGULAR POSITION, AND HAS MUCH EXPERIENCE UNDER HIS BELT. ALL NCO'S LOOK TO HIM FOR LEADERSHIP AND DIRECTION.
TECHNICAL SERGEANT
ABBREVIATION: T/Sgt.
PAY GRADE: E - 2.
A SEASONED LEADER WHO TYPICALLY SERVES AS A PLATOON SERGEANT, THE KEY ADVISER TO THE PLATOON COMMANDER. AN EXPERIENCED LEADER MANAGING CRITICAL UNIT FUNCTIONS.
STAFF SERGEANT
ABBREVIATION: S/Sgt.
PAY GRADE: E - 3.
AS A PLATOON SERGEANT, A STAFF SERGEANT TYPICALLY HAS TWO SECTION LEADERS UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP. RESPONSIBLE FOR HELPING DEVELOP OTHER NCO'S AND ACHIEVING THE PLATOON'S FULL POTENTIAL.
TECHNICIAN THIRD GRADE
ABBREVIATION: T/3.
PAY GRADE: E - 3.
EQUIVALENT TO A STAFF SERGEANT, THIS RANK SPECIALISES IN A CERTAIN AREA, SUCH AS HEAD OF A PARTICULAR OFFICE AT COMPANY-LEVEL, IN HEADQUARTERS PERFORMING CLERICAL DUTIES, OR IS EVEN A HIGHLY PROVEN COMBAT ENGINEER.
SERGEANT
ABBREVIATION: Sgt.
PAY GRADE: E - 4.
TYPICALLY COMMANDS A SECTION OF 12 SOLDIERS. THEY LEAD SOLDIERS INTO BATTLE AND ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCING UNIT POLICIES, TRAINING SUBORDINATES, AND SETTING AN EXAMPLE FOR THOSE UNDER THEIR COMMAND.
TECHNICIAN FOURTH GRADE
ABBREVIATION: T/4.
PAY GRADE: E - 4.
EQUIVALENT TO A SERGEANT, THIS SOLDIER IS A PROVEN SPECIALIST IN A PARTICULAR FIELD OF WORK, AND IS OFTEN IN CHARGE OF TRAINING OTHER SPECIALISTS UNDER HIM.
CORPORAL
ABBREVIATION: Cpl.
PAY GRADE: E - 5.
THE ENTRY-LEVEL NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER RANK. A CORPORAL IS THE FIRST RANK AT WHICH A SOLDIER WILL BE IN A LEADERSHIP POSITION. TYPICALLY ASSISTS A SERGEANT IN LEADING A SECTION OF 14 SOLDIERS.
TECHNICIAN FIFTH GRADE
ABBREVIATION: T/5.
PAY GRADE: E - 5.
EQUIVALENT TO A CORPORAL, A TECHNICIAN FIFTH GRADE HAS BEEN QUALIFIED TO SPECIALISE IN A CERTAIN AREA, SUCH AS TECHNICAL WORK, CLERICAL WORK, BATTLEFIELD SUPPORT, OR USE OF SPECIAL WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT.
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS
ABBREVIATION: Pfc.
PAY GRADE: E - 6.
THIS RANK IS AWARDED TO PRIVATES WHO HAVE PROVEN VALUABLE TO THEIR SECTION LEADERS. THEY ASSIST IN DRILLS, SHOWING OTHER SOLDIERS THE ROPES, AND ARE NEXT IN LINE FOR LEADERSHIP OR TECHNICAL POSITIONS.
PRIVATE
ABBREVIATION: Pvt.
PAY GRADE: E - 7.
THE BACKBONE OF THE 5TH RANGER BATTALION. AFTER COMPLETING RANGER CANDIDATE TRAINING SCHOOL SOLDIERS ARE THEN PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF PRIVATE AND ASSIGNED A PLATOON AND A SECTION, THEIR JOB IS TO CARRY OUT ORDERS TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY.
CANDIDATE
ABBREVIATION: Cdt.
PAY GRADE: ------
CANDIDATES ARE UNINITIATED MEMBERS OF THE UNIT. THEY ARE AWAITING OR COMPLETING THEIR RANGER CANDIDATE TRAINING SCHOOL (RCTS) TO EARN THE PRIVELEGES OF A FULL MEMBER OF THE UNIT. UPON COMPLETION OF RCTS, THEY ARE PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF PRIVATE.
COPYRIGHT © 2003 - 2026 FIFTH RANGER BATTALION
