In 1958, Congress established two additional senior enlisted pay grades. What are they?

• A. E-8 and E-9
• B. E-7 and E-8
• C. E-9 and E-10
• D. E-6 and E-7

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that Congress expanded the senior enlisted ladder to recognize more experienced leadership. In 1958 two higher pay grades were created to sit above the previous top enlisted level. Those two grades are E-8 and E-9, making them the two highest enlisted ranks and giving senior noncommissioned officers a formal path for increased responsibility, authority, and pay. This addition reflected the need for more advanced leadership roles within the services. Other options would either place a rank that didn’t exist at that time or mix in levels that were not part of the new structure, so they don’t fit the historical change.