In today’s post, I’d like to cover what I believe are the top 5 most important jobs in the Army. Of course, this list is just my opinion. By all means, we can agree to disagree.
First and foremost, every job in the Army is important. The Army is a team sport. We all rely on each other to accomplish our overall mission. Regardless of what job you have, always do your best.
It’s not politically correct to say that some jobs in the Army are more important than others, but it sure does make an interesting blog post.
Top 5 Most Important Jobs in the Army
In the paragraphs below, I’ve done my best to rank the top five most important jobs in the Army. This information was compiled from personal experience, interviews, and online research. I’ll start with # 5 and work my way down to # 1. Let’s begin.
# 5: Recruiter
Recruiters have a very important job in the Army. Without recruiters, there wouldn’t be Soldiers shipping out Basic Training and filling the Army’s ranks. Recruiting is a tough job, especially in today’s world. A good recruiter is worth A LOT of money to the Army. Recruiters screen candidates, conduct interviews, coordinate and set up ASVAB testing, and counsel potential candidates on their career options. They work long hours, including many nights and weekends.
More importantly, recruiters have more “interaction” with the public than any other job in the Army. They deal with the public on a daily basis. Their character, personality, actions, and professionalism can either help or hurt the Army’s overall reputation.
# 4: The Drill Sergeant
Drill Sergeants transform recruits into Soldiers. This is a HUGE job with an enormous responsibility. In most cases, the Drill Sergeants are the best-of-the best within the NCO Corps. They put in long hours and do whatever it takes to get the job done. If you’ve been to Basic Training before, I’m sure you still remember the names of your Drill Sergeants (mine were Maxwell, Medina, and Maldanado). That just goes to show you how influential they were.
As a drill sergeant you are responsible for coaching, counseling, and mentoring of hundreds, if not thousands, of Soldiers as you transform them from a civilian to a combat-ready Soldier. A typical day as a drill sergeant starts before dawn and you are with your Soldiers until it is time for lights out. ~ Official Army website
# 3: The NCO
While it’s not a specific job per se, the NCO Corps runs the Army. They are the backbone of the Army. As a former officer myself, I’d like to give officers some credit, but without the NCOs we wouldn’t even have a job. NCOs handle all aspects of the day-to-day operations in the Army. NCOs enforce standards, train Soldiers, advise officers, complete missions, put out fires, and just about anything else you can think of.
NCOs are responsible for communication between soldiers, the unit, and their officers. They maintain and enforce established standards, support and implement policies established by the chain of command, and they must know what’s going on in their soldiers’ lives. ~ AUSA
# 2: Team Leader / First Line Supervisor
Team Leaders have the most important leadership job in the Army, as I see it. They are where the rubber meets the road. Team Leaders typically work with three to five Soldiers and they handle 99% of the Soldier issues. Team Leaders are first line leaders. They normally hold the rank of Corporal or Sergeant and typically have two to three years experience in the Army.
Team Leaders have a direct impact on the training and success of his/her subordinates that he/she is charged with taking care of. As a Team leader, you have duties and responsibilities which include leading and taking care of your Soldiers. A Team Leader does this by developing a genuine concern for their well-being. A leader must understand their Soldiers well enough to train them to a high level of proficiency as an individual and to bring the skills of each soldier together to function efficiently and effectively as a larger unit and to have confidence in their ability to perform well under difficult and demanding situations. Successful accomplishment of unit missions begins at the individual level and the supervisor of those individuals; the Team Leader. ~ NCO Worldwide
# 1: Infantryman
Nope, I’m not a grunt, and never have been, but I have the utmost respect for these guys (and gals). Why? Because at the end of the day it’s up to them to fight and win our nation’s land wars. Yes, it is a combined team effort. Yes, the grunts can’t do much without the support of everyone else. I understand that. But pretty much everyone else in the Army exists to support the infantrymen. Many folks don’t like to admit that, but it is the truth.
It’s the infantryman that will be boots on the ground securing the objective. It’s the infantry that will fight hand-to-hand against the enemy. For that, I salute you and put you in the top position on this list of the most important jobs in the Army.
Final Thoughts
In summary, these are the top five most important jobs in the Army as I see it. Once again, the Army is COMBINED TEAM effort. Just because I didn’t put your job on this list doesn’t mean that I don’t think your job is important. Whatever job you have, do it with pride and excellence!
What are your thoughts? What do you think is the most important job in the Army and why? Leave a comment below to share your thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you.
Chuck Holmes
Former Army Major (resigned)
Publisher, Part-Time-Commander.com
Email: mrchuckholmes@gmail.com
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I think an important soldier in the army is the medic because if a soldier or civilian gets injured the medic will be there and without medics, the wounded soldiers will die so I think that the medic is an important type of soldier
Yes, the medics have a very important job. I have mad respect for them.
The inclusion of #1 really spoke to me. A lot of people overlook the work the infantrymen do – it really is them who fight the wars. Their boots are on the ground. It isn’t the administrators in Washington. It’s the grunts. Although my Grandfather wasn’t a grunt, he too talked of the work they put in and he as well respected them more than anyone.
Yes, the infantry has a very important job in combat.
As you said at the start of this post, every job is very important in the Army. I do have to slightly disagree on a couple of points. Infantryman should be on the list, but at #2. You may not like what I am about to say, but when you really consider it, I am right. If you remember trying to get chow in Basic Training and coming up with the right answers, you will probably find your Drill Sgt saying I am right on this also. The most important job in the Army is someone who doesn’t even wear a uniform. It is someone who is elected to their position. It is the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces…The President of the United States.
Next, I must say an Army cook should be on that list also. If soldiers and officers don’t eat, what good are they?
Just my opinions—ok give me some shots on that one–LOL
Good points, Greg.
We can agree to disagree and I am cool with that.
I like the cooks myself, but in most units the cooks don’t even exist. They are outsourced to civilian contractors.
Wow, that is new to me. I didn’t realize the Army was outsourcing the cooks now. I guess my age and when I was in is showing.
I also must mention that his job is the most important, but that doesn’t mean I have much respect for the one in that position at this point in time. I really am wondering what is going to happen with Russia and the Ukraine.
Your thoughts?
No idea. I hope the US stays out of it and lets them figure it out on their own.
I had to pipe back in; well it looks like we are sending heavy loads of troops to Eastern Europe at this time over this Russia and Ukraine conflict. I do agree that we should keep our noses out of it, but we do need to make sure the Baltics and Poland are left alone by Putin and his forces.
I had to also say that Recruiters are also very important. Without them, the Army would probably be very shorthanded.
My unit utilizes the cooks a lot, but not nearly as much as we probably want to. They are very highly utilized during AT and most drills, but the last deployment, not all of them got to perform their MOS. Some of them did, and were working in the JVB hotel, which was a great experience. By and large, cooks are outsourced as Chuck said.
I think Team Leaders are definitely right on up there, like you said!!! And no team leader is better than an infantry team leader. That CPL has the weight of the world on his shoulders, and any team leader for any job is so responsible for so many things. I admire that level of leadership and I rely on my team leaders a lot more than they know!
I think being an Infantry Team Leader would be awesome. You get to work real close with three to seven Soldiers and really make a difference.
Those CPLs have more influence on their Soldiers than anyone I know. There’s a reason that their Soldiers have more fear of them than, say, their commander. Reasonably speaking, they shouldn’t even be on a familiar level with their commander beyond the normal, and they should be doing everything in their power to act right, lest their team leader sees them do something wrong. Nothing beats a young, rabid, eager team leader!
I agree!
On another note, we are all here to support the warfighter. This isn’t diminishing anybody’s role in the military, but we are here to support grunts and that is the bottom line. I feel even more pride doing that, I certainly do not feel diminished in any way.