Army ranks provide a system of leadership that indicates a Soldier's level of expertise, responsibility and authority inside that profession.
NCOs are "the backbone" of the Army. They are
responsible for executing a military organization's
mission and serve as the principal instructor for training
military personnel so they are prepared to execute those
missions.
Senior NCOs are considered the primary link between
enlisted personnel and the commissioned officers. If
they are the senior NCO in a staff section they may be
referred to as an NCO-in-charge (NCOIC). Their advice
and guidance is particularly important for junior officers,
who begin their careers in a position of authority but
generally lack practical experience.
