Annually, more than 180,000 people enlist in the armed forces, and another 20,000 people become officers. The requirements, commitments and responsibilities are different for enlisted service members vs. officers.
Enlisted personnel have specialties within the Military. They perform specific job functions and have the knowledge, skills and abilities to ensure the success of their unit’s mission. Officers manage enlisted personnel; they plan missions, provide orders, and assign tasks. They are the problem solvers, influencers and planners who lead the enlisted personnel.
Enlisted service members sign a contract between them and the Military. Enlisted personnel serve until their contract ends, and then renew it or leave the Military.
Officers fall into one of two categories: Commissioned or non-commissioned. A commissioned officer holds a commission from the President of the United States and can command those under him or her, both officers and enlisted personnel. They include first and second lieutenants, captains, majors, colonels, lieutenant-colonels and generals.
A non-commissioned officer (e.g., a sergeant) is outranked by all commissioned officers. However, he or she can command the enlisted personnel, privates, corporals and lower-ranked sergeants under his or her command. The biggest difference between commissioned and non-commissioned officers is their level of authority.