Ranks & Insignia

From Private to General, see the ranks and insignia Soldiers, Warrant Officers and Officers wear on their uniforms.

Active Duty or Army Reserve?

Get to know the differences and similarities between serving on Active Duty and in the Army Reserve.

Enlisted Soldier Or Officer?

Learn how these two types of Soldiers are different, yet work together to create the world's strongest fighting force.

About the Army
Soldiers saluting.

Structure

Because the Army is made of such a large number of Soldiers, it must be organized into units, each with its own leaders and reporting structure. Each unit—whether it’s a squad or division—was created to respond to any mission, regardless of size or complexity.


Source: Soldiers Almanac, January 2004

Composition

The Army is made of two major components: the Active Duty and Army Reserve. Those who serve in either component are Enlisted Soldiers, Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs), Warrant Officers or Commissioned Officers.

Pie Graph of the composition of the U.S. Army
Source: FY05 Army Profile, September 2005