<XMP><BODY></xmp> New Simpler Rank system

Added 27-11-01, Updated 21-8-18

New Simpler Rank System

The discussion of rank here reminds me of a passage in H.H Krist’s “Revolt of Gunner Asch”. In this the lieutenant reflects that he doesn’t need to command 134 men himself, since the army works by groups of 6-10 men. He has half a dozen senior NCOs that he deals with; each of them is responsible for a handful of junior NCOs, and each of the junior NCOs is responsible for a squad or gun crew.

Since its foundation the US army has doubled and possibly tripled the number of enlisted rank levels that it has. For a full history, see here. This is further complicated by at least four grades of warrant officer, which unlike in most armies are not a form of sergeant major. It’s been claimed that a sergeant in the US army is only the equivalent of a lance-corporal in the British army, partially because of the system explained here.

By contrast, the British army has got by with a smaller number of ranks for at least 400years.

At the moment I’m reading about the Tugars, a very organized nomad people on the asian steppes. Their ranking system was “leader of ten” (a squad), “leader of a hundred” (squadron), “leader of a thousand” (battalion), “leader of ten thousand” (division) and commander in chief (Emperor). For the sort of warfare they waged (raiding or mass-attack) this was ideal.

Here is a possible model for a new, simpler system:
Non-officer ranks are designated S-n, though unlike Mike Sparks’ system, this stands for “Serviceman” not “Soldier”. Soldier actually means “Serviceman”, but I’m changing the term since this system could also be used by the airforce.

There may be a case for having both PFC and lance-corporal/ bombadier ranks: in other words, having a grade of senior private. In such a case the lance corporal rank shares S3 level and has the responsibility of team leader or assistant team leader. Alternately, a case can be made for the creation of senior-lance-corporal and senior-corporal ranks to allow for some reward and responsibility before the assumption of team or squad command.

This rank structure gives a very simple and effective system.




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