First Sergeant
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First Sergeant is the name of a military rank used in some countries.
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[edit] Singapore
First Sergeant is a Specialist rank in the Singapore Armed Forces. First Sergeants are the most senior of the junior Specialists, ranking above Second Sergeants, and below Staff Sergeants. The rank insignia for a First Sergeant features the three chevrons pointing down shared by all Specialists, and two chevrons pointing up.
In combat units, First Sergeants are often given the responsibility for independently-operating detachments of support weapons. They are often given instructional billets as well.
| Rank | Third Sergeant | Second Sergeant | First Sergeant | Staff Sergeant | Master Sergeant |
| Abbreviation | 3SG | 2SG | 1SG | SSG | MSG |
| More details at Specialist | |||||
[edit] United States
In the United States, First Sergeant is the title given to holders of certain ranks and positions within the United States Armed Forces. While the specifics of the title may differ between the United States Army, Marine Corps and Air Force, all First Sergeants are non-commissioned officers and can be identified by the presence of a "French lozenge" (diamond shaped figure of four equal sides) on their rank insignia.
[edit] United States Army
In the United States Army, the rank of First Sergeant is above the rank of Sergeant First Class, below the rank of Sergeant Major, and shares the paygrade of E-8 with Master Sergeant; the rank is abbreviated as 1SG. First Sergeants are classified either to the Command Track (First Sergeant/Command Sergeant Major) or the Staff Track (Master Sergeant/Sergeant Major) when they apply to a promotion board. First Sergeants are generally the senior non-commissioned officers of company (battery, troop) sized units, and are unofficially but commonly referred to as "Top", due to their seniority and their position at the top of the company's enlisted ranks. They are also sometimes referred to as "Second Hat," in recognition that even though a company includes several lieutenants, it is more often the First Sergeant that the Company Commander will turn to when entrusting important responsibilities.
[edit] United States Marine Corps
In the United States Marine Corps, First Sergeant is one level below Sergeant Major and Master Gunnery Sergeant and is the next rank above Gunnery Sergeant. It is equal in grade to Master Sergeant, although the two ranks have different responsibilities. First Sergeant have a command responsibility while Master Sergeants have technical responsibilities. Unlike the first sergeant and master sergeant programs in the U.S. Army, no lateral movement is possible between the two ranks in the Marine Corps. In their annual performance evaluations, called "fitness reports," eligible Gunnery Sergeants indicate whether they wish to be considered for promotion to Master Sergeant or First Sergeant. A First Sergeant is then eligible to be promoted to a Sergeant Major while a Master Sergeant would be on the promotional track for Master Gunnery Sergeant.
[edit] United States Air Force
 USAF MSgt CCF |
 USAF SMSgt CCF |
 USAF CMSgt CCF |
In the United States Air Force, First Sergeant is not a rank, but a special duty held by a senior enlisted member of a military unit who reports directly to the unit commander. This billet is held by individuals of paygrades E-7 through E-9 (Master Sergeant, Senior Master Sergeant and Chief Master Sergeant), and is denoted on the rank insignia by a French lozenge. Often referred to as the 'first shirt', or 'shirt', the first sergeant is responsible for the morale, welfare, and conduct of all the enlisted members in a squadron and is the chief adviser to the squadron commander concerning the enlisted force. Most units have a Master Sergeant in this position, while larger units use Senior Master Sergeants and Chief Master Sergeants as First Sergeants.
[edit] External links
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| E-1 | E-2 | E-3 | E-4 | E-5 | E-6 | E-7 | E-8 | E-9 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Force: | AB | Amn | A1C | SrA | SSgt | TSgt | MSgt | SMSgt | CMSgt - CCM - CMSAF |
| Army: | PV1 | PV2 | PFC | SPC - CPL | SGT | SSG | SFC | MSG - 1SG | SGM - CSM - SMA |
| Marine Corps: | Pvt | PFC | LCpl | Cpl | Sgt | SSgt | GySgt | MSgt - 1stSgt | MGySgt - SgtMaj - SgtMajMarCor |
| Navy: | SR | SA | SN | PO3 | PO2 | PO1 | CPO | SCPO | MCPO - CMCPO - MCPON |
| Coast Guard: | SR | SA | SN | PO3 | PO2 | PO1 | CPO | SCPO | MCPO - CMCPO - MCPOCG |
