Quote Originally Posted by JMA View Post
E5 is the fifth rank level? Who (what rank) would be the platoon sergeant?
A rifle platoon sergeant is supposed to be a SSgt (E6). Specialty platoons (weapons, mortars, snipers, etc) are supposed to be GySgt (E7). Often may be a rank lower due to shortages.

The Brit (Rhodesian) platoon sergeant would be the fourth rank level. How long does it take the average marine to make E5 or platoon sergeant? Five years? Seven years?
Based on the Marines I've worked around, promotion at the minimum times (either service or grade) are not as common as in the Army.

2001 statistics for average promotion points in the USMC:
* Private First Class (E-2) - 6 months
* Lance Corporal (E-3) - 14 months
* Corporal (E-4) - 26 months
* Sergeant (E-5) - 4.8 years
* Staff Sergeant (E-6) - 10.4 years
* Gunnery Sergeant (E-7) - 14.8 years
* Master Sergeant/First Sergeant (E-8) - 18.8 years
* Master Gunnery Sergeant/Sergeant Major (E-9) - 22.1 years

Promotion to E2 and E3 are automatic, but above that it is based on vacancies. I would expect these numbers to have been reduced somewhat since 2001, based on expansion and wartime changes. These numbers appear somewhat lower than the equivalent Army positions (USMC Cpl = US Army SGT = fire team leader; USMC Sgt = US Army SSG = squad leader).