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Army Staff Sergeant

E-6 Noncommissioned Officer, U.S. Army
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How to get promoted to Staff Sergeant History of the Army Staff Sergeant Rank

A Staff Sergeant is a Noncommissioned Officer in the United States Army at DoD paygrade E-6.

The rank of Staff Sergeant was introduced to the U.S. Army in 1920, following the First World War. The new Staff Sergeant rank combined several previously-existing "staff" NCO ranks, including mess sergeant, supply sergeant, and stable sergeant.

Following this consolidation, Staff Sergeants served as section leaders, platoon guides, and platoon sergeant (although the rank of platoon seargeant did not yet exist). During World War 2, Staff Sergeant became the standard rank for rifle squad leaders, resulting in the modern duties of the Staff Sergeant.

Want to learn more? Read about the Army's Staff Sergeant rank on Military-Ranks.org.


History of the Army

The Army is the oldest and most senior among the branches. The Army's heritage is traced back to the Revolutionary War, when each State of the Union had its own Army, lended to the command of General George Washington. Almost 250 years have passed, but the organizational structure and naming is largely the same. The Army is still divided into Divisions, Brigades, Regiments, Battalions, Companies, and Platoons.