4 Facts to Know About the Difference Between Military Ranks

A lot of good comes from serving in the military like patriotism and even better race relations, but the military is full of complexities like military ranks. There are numerous military ranks within the US Military that are hard to keep up with like Sergeant, Corporal, or Private, just to name a few. The following are four facts that you should know about the differences between military ranks.

1. Pay is Different

One major difference between military ranks is pay. This is quite common around the world. For example, a Lieutenant will earn more than a private. This was not always the case as some military systems tried to do away with these differences like the communists who considered ranks as forms of hierarchy that worked against morale. These ideas were later abandoned because it caused disruptions and confusion among army personnel.

The reason some are paid more than others could be boiled down to many factors, such as experience or even education. Insignia Depot said, “All of these ranks serve their purpose and carry their own responsibility.” High-ranking military personnel with more responsibility usually end up getting paid more. Of course, this is just one difference between military ranks because there are others.

2. Knowledge is Key

Another major difference between ranks is the amount of knowledge officials have. This is not so different from any other type of a job. People expect the manager to know more than the employee. The same thing goes in the military. Officers know a lot more than a private. This is done to help those who are in charge of others make informed decisions.

Some may mistakenly think this is done to keep those under others in the dark, but it is more about simplicity. It is easier to have a direct and clear order than to worry about the complexities of a decision. Trusting those with more knowledge makes the military run smoothly, which is why rank difference is so important.

3. Degrees in Combat

Education, like other areas in life, is also important in the military. Many enlisted soldiers may be offered a different position in the military with time, but that will only take you so far. The fastest route to earning a decorated rank is to educate yourself.

Those in the army can take classes to earn degrees in different aspects of the military and combat. These degrees grant better positions in the military, which means more responsibility. The pay, as mentioned earlier, is a lot better and the reason why many of these service persons decide to make military service a career. Privates and other lower level ranks cannot expect much if they stay in the lower ranks.

4. Authority Changes

Another different between ranks is the amount of authority one has over the other. An organization as large as the military is bound to have people who disagree with each other. This could mean chaos, and it would be hard to make decisions if everyone’s opinion mattered equally. Ranks help ensure that a decision can be made without someone objecting.

The military can be in tough spots and indecisiveness could be detrimental to the entire unit, which makes this particular difference of the utmost importance. This does not mean there are many disagreements between the ranks, but it ensures that decisions can be made and carried out when needed. You can think of this as a decision-making safety net. It should be noted that those who are given more responsibility also have more to lose if something goes wrong during an operation. The risk that those who have more authority take is definitely something to consider.

These are just some of the differences between military ranks. Each person enlisted is important, no matter the rank. What you should remember is that each piece is part of a bigger machine, and the goal is to keep the machine moving at all costs.