Is a Marine SSgt considered a senior NCO?

2015-09-04T21:21:48-04:00

I have a few buddies at work that are Marines, and one of them gets into pissing contests with the E-7's and E-8's from other branches because they tell him that he is not a senior NCO. Every other branch does not consider their NCO's to be senior until they reach E-7. Inquiring Army minds want to know!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 4 at 2015 9:28 PM

2015-09-04T21:28:39-04:00

I am going to say probably because e4 in the marines is not automatic like the army. It is earned and you are an NCO. Therefore I would say that Marine Staff Sergeant is about like making SFC in the army. Just my two cents.

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Sep 4 at 2015 9:51 PM

2015-09-04T21:51:44-04:00

A Marine that I work with says that in the Army we get our rank out of cereal boxes while Marines have to earn everything. Just one of those things that we don't agree on. lol

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 4 at 2015 9:54 PM

2015-09-04T21:54:01-04:00

Marine Corps staff sergeant is a platoon sergeant, so it's actually the same position as an Army sergeant first class, just getting paid less. Just like the rest of the Marine Corps enlisted ranks and grades. Squad leader in the Army is a staff sergeant, Marine Corps is sergeant, same job, less pay! SPC vs. LCPL.

Response by GySgt John O'Donnell made Sep 4 at 2015 9:56 PM

2015-09-04T21:56:23-04:00

The main reason a Staff Sergeant in the Marine Corps is consider a Senior / Staff Non-Commissioned Officer is due to the fact they must be selected for promotion by a convened board of senior leaderships conduct at Headquarters Marine Corps. Other branches do not do this until the E-7 grade. Additionally the responsibilities and expectations of Staff Sergeants, as well as that of Sergeants and Corporals are higher than that of other services (e.g. SSgt- Platoon Sgt, Sgt- Squad Leader, Cpl- Team leader).

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Sep 4 at 2015 10:01 PM

2015-09-04T22:01:26-04:00

Technically he's a Staff NCO. Marines don't use the term "Senior NCO", but they mean the same thing. The Marines demand more of each rank at earlier levels (not to mention promote a LOT slower). The average Marine Corporal has as much experience, knowledge and skill as a young Army SSG... Your average Marine SSG generally has as much time in, experience and knowledge as your average E7-8 in the other branches... That's kinda what happens when you promote at the speed of smell..

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Sep 4 at 2015 11:30 PM

2015-09-04T23:30:42-04:00

There's also a split on officers wherein AF, AR, MC have company/field grade splits so Majors at O-4 wear scrambled eggs. Navy and Coast Guard splits at Commander O-5 from junior to senior officer.

Response by SGT David T. made Sep 4 at 2015 11:34 PM

2015-09-04T23:34:13-04:00

I really hate the term senior or junior NCO. I prefer to simply say NCO. The rsnk structure already covers the pecking order there is no need to add an additional hierarchy to that.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Sep 5 at 2015 12:13 AM

2015-09-05T00:13:54-04:00

We break it out one further: Marines (all), NCOs (E4+), Staff NCOs (E6+), Senior Staff NCOs (Squishy but probably E8+). The Marine Corps as a more ̶e̶l̶i̶t̶e̶ expeditionary (and self selecting and smaller and etc.) force pushes responsibility lower than any other service. In the end we have the same E and O codes but everyone knows we're b̶e̶t̶t̶e̶r̶ different.

Response by SSgt David Tedrow made Sep 5 at 2015 1:16 AM

2015-09-05T01:16:58-04:00

A SSgt is a Staff NCO, not a Senior NCO, a Sgt would be a senior NCO.

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Sep 5 at 2015 1:39 AM

2015-09-05T01:39:49-04:00

Here's a non-traditional way to solve this: After work, have everyone meet at the local slopchute. The one who pays for the first round shall be referred to as the "Senior NCO." If the others don't like it, then they will have to opportunity to claim the "Senior NCO" title next week. Repeat the process for... say... 6-8 weeks. At the end of the evaluation period, the one who has paid the least, if any, for the beer is actually the Senior NCO --and he will, likely, be indifferent to the title.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2015 5:18 PM

2015-09-05T17:18:05-04:00

Marine Staff Sergeants are considered Staff NCO's. Corporals and Sergeants are NCO's the back bone of the Corps.

Staff NCO Creed:
I am a Staff Noncommissioned Officer in the United States Marine Corps. As such, I am a member of the most unique group of professional military practitioners in the world. I am bound by duty to God, Country, and my fellow Marines to execute the demands of my position to and beyond what I believe to be the limits of my capabilities.

I realize I am the mainstay of Marine Corps discipline, and I carry myself with military grace, unbowed by the weight of command, unflinching in the execution of lawful orders, and unswerving in my dedication to the most complete success of my assigned mission.

Both my professional and personal demeanor shall be such that I may take pride if my juniors emulate me, and knowing perfection to lie beyond the grasp of any mortal hand, I shall yet strive to attain perfection that I may ever be aware of my needs and capabilities to improve myself. I shall be fair in my personal relations, just in the enforcement of discipline, true to myself and my fellow Marines, and equitable in my dealing with every man.

Response by Maj Chris Clark made Oct 7 at 2015 9:04 PM

2015-10-07T21:04:59-04:00

Absolutely not. A Senior SNCO would be a 1st Sgt/MSgt or SgtMaj/MGySgt. For example on ship, SSgts are not automatically allowed in the Chief's mess. GySgt and above are. Many times, the Chief's mess will extend professional curtesys and allow SSgts to join, but it is not as I said before automatic.

Response by SP6 Michael Ring made Jul 12 at 2018 11:34 PM

2018-07-12T23:34:24-04:00

I could never understand you yanks when it comes to positions/ranks. I was a CPL in the Royal Australian Regiment. A CPL typically commands a section 7-11 men. A Australian or British Sergeant would never take charge of a section. Ranks when practical, should line up with positions of authority. Just my cents.

Response by Cpl Ian Phillips made Aug 15 at 2019 4:11 PM

2019-08-15T16:11:35-04:00

No such thing as a senior nco in the marine corps. They’re staff nco’s. Staff indicated by achieving the rank of staff sergeant.

Response by COL Jim McHugh made Aug 15 at 2019 11:53 PM

2019-08-15T23:53:04-04:00

As an example, a Staff Sergeant in USMC is a platoon sergeant. In the Army, a platoon sergeant is often a SFC. As a former Marine Captain, I can tell you that I always considered a Staff Sergeant to be a senior NCO who had a great deal of responsibility and authority.