Rank Structure

Between 1946 and 1958, there were only three major alternations in the enlisted rank structure. First, the Career Compensation Act of 12 October 1949 turned the pay-grade numbering system upside down by placing privates in pay grade E-1 and master sergeants in grade E-7. Second, the Marine Corps announced in December 1954 the establishment of two additional titles within grade E-7. The rank of sergeant major was to take precedence over the newly resurrected first sergeant, who, in turn, was placed above the master sergeant. This last change was made to give recognition to noncommissioned officers acting in these important billets; the job of first sergeant or sergeant major was too important to be classed merely as an administrative specialty. This re-emphasis on the role of the senior noncommissioned officers was followed by a sweeping revision of the enlisted ranks and grades of the Marine Corps in 1958, after Congress amended the Career Compensation Act of 1949 and authorized two new pay grades, E-8 and E-9. This revision was designed to relieve the crowding at the E-7 grade, caused by the rapid World War II output of noncommissioned officers and, since then, by the moving up--appropriately enough--of the specifically skilled men which every service was recruiting more and more. The end result, however, was an unbalanced structure, too heavy at the top.

By 1958, the proportion of NCOs in the Marine Corps had climbed to 58% of the total enlisted strength, a startling figure when compared to the 25% of 1941. It is even more startling when one considers that the Marine Corps from its founding until World War I never had a proportion higher that 18.8%, with the usual percentage ranging between 13 and 15%. The increased mechanized nature of World War I, however, had shown the need for military technicians in modern warfare, From then on, an increase in the proportion of NCOs resulted. By 1937, it had reached 27%, and a staggering 40% by 1954.

This compression at the top, 58% in 1958, led to rank imbalance and confusion. There were E-7s supervising other E-7s, while some corporals continued doing the same job after promotion as they did before. In short, the prestiege of the NCO, traditional and necessary to any military service, was declining at the very time when it should be increased.

The solution to this imbalance, plus other desirable changes, was ordered by the Commandant on 25 November 1958, to be effective 1January 1959. Substantially, it followed the recommendation of a study by the Enlisted Rank and Pay Structure Board, convened to adapt the new legislation to the Marine Corps. Besises revisions of rank structure, adjustments of proficiency pay were made in an attempt to meet competition for critical skills without inflation of rank, develop and maintain a balanced work force, and reward outstanding individual achievement.

A transitional period of dual grade structure, to end entirely on 1 January 1965, was worked out to insure that no Marine would lose stripes. This was achieved by establishing "acting" ranks, so that all Marines would be able to retain their existing titles, insignia, and privileges. Upon promotion, they would assume the new rank titles. The prefix "acting," however, was abolished by the Commandant on 1 August 1960, and the end of the transitional period for all grades was moved up to 1 July 1963.

In this revision of 1958, the ranks of corporal through master sergeant were upgraded one pay grade each, making room for an additional private rank.