At what enlisted rank is the greatest impact made on troops? Why do you think so?

I agree, who recommends awards, promotions, and training for soldiers; the platoon sergeant.

shit... if you're an E4 and don;t know what ot do, you need to get your ass whooped. You've been around long enough to know how things work. I'd say E4 is the PRIME example to E1-3. 4's know how things work and can explain to high command what things are going down.

The perspective is based on overall impact are you saying that an E4 can cohesively train a PLT and lead 30+ men and women on a mission in combat. I agree a 100 percent that the E4?is the catalyst for getting the job done, and motivating those left and right, but they do not have the training nor experience to pull it all together. One cannot exist without the other, but only one can pull them all together. Thank you for your service.

An E4 normally ,has no information ,regarding type of training,mission,and other pertinent information required to run a platoon.As a squad leader,I sometimes had to rethink my approach.The PSG has earned these rights through time,training, and command experience.

But then wouldn't E-5 be the key rank, in that it is on the other side of the E-4 sham-shield filter?

SGT (Join to see) - IMHO, they are either sold on the Army or not whilst behind the shield.

yes sir! I wish I could smash that thumbs up button.

Some do,some don't !

I emphasized that first line supervisor would get to know their soldiers. SGT Ronald Audas

MAJ Ken Landgren - I agree! Some are first, line some are not.It is rare to see an E5 rise higher than a squad leader.That limits his interaction with a lot of troops. The question was what rank has the most influential effect.I believe that the bigger the field,the more influence.My opinion was Platoon Sgt.If all ranks were the question,l would have placed you above the Platoon Sgt.