美軍士官兵職階中，最複雜的當屬士官長。因三軍兩兵種各自規定不同，常令人如霧裡看花，完全看不懂。在此特別以陸軍連士官長First Sergeant，譯為一等士官長，而往上下推，將E-9的Sergeant Major譯為特等士官長。

因Sergeant Major為每單位只有一人的職位，而分為好幾級。從最基本的營士官長，一直至三軍兩兵種司令的私人顧問-特等特級士官長，其禮遇等同中將，月薪高達近八千美元，且多為First Sergeant擔任。

但在空軍First Sergeant卻為職位，而非階級。由E-7至E-9士官長，分別擔任各單位最高階士官長的First Sergeant。

全美最高等級Sergeant Major，為三軍聯合參謀會議主席私人顧問，至今只有兩人獲此職位，只好譯為超級士官長。

注意軍階中'等'在'級'之上，例如一等一級，一等二級，故不宜將一等士官長，譯為一級士官長。

此版本應較之前版本正確，但不保證。

     
新兵 (E-1)        陸軍    Private, PVT.
                      空軍    Airman Basic, AB.
                      海軍    Seaman Recruit SR.
                      海防    Seaman Recruit SR.

二等兵(E-1)      陸戰隊 Private, PVT.
二等兵(E-2)       陸軍    Private 2nd Class, PV2.
                       空軍    Airman, AMN.
                       海軍    Seaman Apprentice, SR.
                       海防    Seaman Apprentice, SR.

一等兵(E-2)      陸戰隊 Private First class, PFC.
一等兵(E-3)       陸軍    Private First class, PFC.
                       空軍    Airman First class,A1C.
                       海軍    Seaman, SN.
                       海防    Seaman, SN.

上等兵(E-3)       陸軍    Lance Corporal(已廢除)
                      陸戰隊  Lance Corporal, LCPL.
              

下士  (E-4)       陸軍    Corporal, CPL. Specialist E-4.
                      陸戰隊  Corporal, CPL.
                      空軍    Senior Airman, SrA..
                      海軍    Petty Officer 3rd Class,PO3.
                      海防    Petty Officer 3rd Class,PO3.

中士  (E-5)     陸軍    Sergeant, SGT.
                    陸戰隊  Sergeant, Sgt.
                     空軍    Staff Sergeant, SSgt.
                     海軍    Petty Officer 2nd Class,PO2..
                     海防    Petty Officer 2nd Class,PO2..
              

上士  (E-6)     陸軍    Staff Sergeant, SSG.
                    陸戰隊  Staff Sergeant, SSgt.
                     空軍    Technical Sergeant, TSgt.
                     海軍    Petty Officer 1st Class,PO1.
                     海防    Petty Officer 1st Class,PO1.
              

三等士官長(E-7) 陸軍    Sergeant First Class, SFC.(1958前叫作Technical

                                 Sergeant)
                     陸戰隊    Gunnery Sergeant, GySgt
                     空軍       First Sergeant 1(三等一級) ,
                                  Master Sergeant, MSgt(三等二級).
                     海軍       Chief Petty Officer, CPO.
                     海防       Chief Petty Officer, CPO.

二等士官長(E-8) 陸軍    Master Sergeant,MSG.
                       陸戰隊   Master Sergeant, MSG.
                       空軍     First Sergeant 2(二等一級) ,
                                  Senior Master Sergeant, SMSgt(二等二級).
                       海軍     Senior Chief Petty Officer, SCPO.
                       海防     Senior Chief Petty Officer, SCPO.

一等士官長(E-9) 陸軍     First Sergeant(E-8),1SG.
                       陸戰隊   First Sergeant(E-8),1stSgt.
                       空軍      First Sergeant 3((一等一級)).
                                   Chief Master Sergeant(一等二級).
                        海軍     Master Chief Petty Officer,MCPO.
                        海防     Master Chief Petty Officer,MCPO.

特等士官長(E-9)  陸軍   Sergeant Major of the Army(特等特級).
                                  Command Sergeant Major(特等一級).
                                  Sergeant Major(特等二級).
                      陸戰隊 Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps(特等特級).
                                Sergeant Major(特等一級).
                                Master gunnery Sergeant(特等一級).
                      空軍  Command Master Sergeant of the Air Force(特等特級).
                              Command chief Master Sergeant(特等一級).
                      海軍  Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy(特級).
                              Fleet/Force Command Chief Petty Officer(特等一級).                              
                              Command Master Chief Petty Officer(二級).   
                      海防  Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard(特級).
                              Command Master Chief Petty Officer(一級).