First shirt
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
First shirt is military slang for the First Sergeant of a US military unit. The first shirt, often further shortened to "shirt," handles many administrative duties and administers minor punishments when necessary to members under the commander's authority. As the "first shirt" is on daily speaking terms with the unit commander, he or she will have more power than his rank would otherwise indicate. To be told to "see the shirt" generally means one is in trouble. The term "first shirt" is most often associated with the United States Air Force.
The term originates from the large number of military awards typically worn on the uniform shirts of first sergeants. As "first shirts" are among the most senior as well as the most outstanding members of their unit, they will generally have been awarded more military decorations than almost every other member of the unit. Acting First Sergeants may informally be referred to as "Under-shirts".
