The U.S. Army has three basic categories of soldiers, enlisted and commissioned (officers) and the third, warrant officers. Officers are commissioned by the authority of the U.S. Congress. Warrant officers are appointed by military authority (officers). Enlisted soldiers are all others, aka "other ranks". Non-commissioned officers or NCOs are enlisted soldiers above the rank of private who have been selected for certain degrees of authority as set out in regulation and by officers. It is not our intent to lay forth the whole history of rank in the U.S. Army but we will attempt to illustrate the various ranks so that our readers can compare the ranks to see the equivalents for the various time periods. Very little change has taken place in the officer ranks although at one time there were ranks such as 3rd Lieutenants, Subalterns, and Ensigns. However, the enlisted structure has had a number of changes, due in part to the changing responsibilities of the NCO corps. The first chart shows all services (excluding the Space Force) while the other charts are Army only.
Currently:
1958:
WWII:
WWI:
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| Regimental Sergeant Major | Band Leader Until December 1917 | Band Leader December 1917 to May 1918 | Band Leader After May 1918 | Supply Sergeant, regimental | Battalion Sergeant Major |
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| First Sergeant | First Sergeant (Drum Major) | Assistant Band Leader until December 1917 | Assistant Band Leader December 1917 to May 1918 | Assistant Band Leader After May 1918 | Sergeant Bugler Until December 1917 |
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| Sergeant Bugler December 1917 to May 1918 | Sergeant Bugler After May 1918 | Color Sergeant | Sergeant | Supply Sergeant Until May 1918 | Supply Sergeant after May 1918 |
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| Mess Sergeant Until May 1918 | Mess Sergeant After May 1918 | Stable Sergeant until May 1918 | Stable Sergeant After May 1918 | Band Sergeant Until December 1917 | Band Sergeant After December 1917 |
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| Corporal | Corporal Bugler After July 1918 | Band Corporal Until December 1917 | Band Corporal After December 1917 | Cook | Saddler |
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No Insignia | No Insignia | No Insignia | 
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| Wagoner | Musician First Class Until May 1918 | Musician Second Class Until May 1918 | Musician Third Class Until May 1918 | Musician First Class After May 1918[3] | Musician Second Class After May 1918[3] |
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No Insignia | |
| Musician Third Class After May 1918[3] | Bugler First Class After July 1918 | Bugler After December 1917 | Private First Class | Private |
Confederate Service - Civil War:
